Newsletter Number 65, January 2001
PO Box 3,
Central Park,
3145, Victoria.
neil.phillips@bigpond.com, 61-3-95721784 faxIRF Executive
President: Neil Phillips
Secretary/Treasurer: Rod Phillips
Promotions and Development: David Stephens
World Rogaining Championships Manager: Gordon BirchEuropean Rogaining Championships
Russia has announced its intention to organize the first European Rogaining Championships. This development has been initiated by the rogainers from Perm, and after discussions with the Czech 6WRC organizers and IRF, they have decided to schedule the rogaine for 2003 to avoid the World Rogaining Championships year. Russia has also indicated their interest in applying for 7WRC.
President's end-of-2000 Report
The last six months has been one of the most active and productive in the eleven year history of the International Rogaining Federation. It has been a pleasure to work with a small group of totally dedicated people who have a common focus of achieving a few critical goals. For the IRF Inc., these goals have been a Constitution, membership, and Incorporation, and I can report at the end of this year that these are achieved, or well underway.
The Constitution was accepted on 30 June 2000. The formal certificate of Incorporation is dated 31 October 2000, and the current IRF Members and Observers represent eight countries. Significant progress has been made with the World Rogaining Championships by working with the Australian Rogaining Association to appoint Gordon Birch as World Rogaining Championships Manager (see separate report).
Selection of the venue for 6WRC is well underway, and full proposals have been called for by 31 January 2001.
Having attended rogaines in three states of Australia and the World Rogaining Championships in New Zealand, I have asked many people what they want from an international rogaining organization. Requirements that feature regularly include:
- quality rogaines in various countries
- uniformity of rules and culture globally
- a contact point for international rogaining
- development of rogaining in new countries
- rogaines held in good countryside for walking/running
- retention of the hash house atmosphere
- professional and friendly organization of rogaines
- blend of elite and recreational competition.
Any additions or changes to this summary are always welcome and it is important that such comments reach the IRF. It is these opinions that guide the IRF Executive when it sets its priorities and direction for the organization and sport.
World Rogaining Championships Manager's end-of-2000 Report
In August 2000, Gordon Birch was appointed the IRF World Rogaining Championships Manager, and in November joined the executive team.
The WRC Manager has been in contact with the Czech team organizing the 5th World Rogaining Championships. Early focus has been on the proposed course area. No visit to Czech is planned until May or June 2001 when weather conditions will be closer to those expected during 5WRC.
The 5WRC organizing team have a map on their web page which shows a portion of the area that they intend to use. The WRC Manager has received a copy of a hiking map of the area, which is in the process of being updated. The area that they have selected for 5WRC has never been used for a rogaine before.
The map indicates that the area is of rolling hills, with no dangerous gullies and many hand rail navigation features. There are no excessively high hills with the highest being 900m above sea level. The "bush" area indicated on the maps is mainly open forests and cross country navigation in a straight line should be possible.
There are some issues on which the WRC Manager would like Members and Observers feedback:
-The organizers have stated that all streams are drinkable and are not planning water drops at this stage.
-They are planning to use sportident electronic software. The organizers have been asked to verify that WRC5 will not be the first time they use the system. If anyone knows the system and has useful ideas, please discuss these with Gordon. gordonb@supernova.com.au.
The plan is for the WRC Manager to visit the Czech Republic in May-June 2001 and attend an event on the 6th of June to see the organization at work. This will also be an opportunity to assess facilities for accommodation, travel to 5WRC site, and learn if any facilities will be available at the course for international visitors, e.g. a changing area.
Voting on progression of 6WRC preliminary bids
IRF Members voted unanimously to ask all three 6WRC bidders to prepare full bid documents by 31 January 2001. These full documents will then be circulated widely so that rogainers can question each bid before the IRF Members vote on which country will hold 6WRC (Voting details- Moved: Gordon Birch, Seconded: Rod Phillips, In favour: David Stephens, John Berwick, Tomas Prokes, Allan Stradeski, Jaroslav Vavra. Not represented yet: USA and NZ. Does not vote: Neil Phillips).
World Rogaining Championships
Several issues have emerged recently that relate to future World Rogaining Championships, and opinions are sought before any changes are made.
1. The process of preparing WRC bids and the voting for all WRC up to and including 6WRC has been overseen by the IRF President. With a WRC Manager in place, it will be more appropriate that this person manages the WRC awarding process from 7WRC onwards.
2. The awarding process up to and including 6WRC has been a two-stage proposal and bid exercise requiring a short-form proposal of one page, a selection process to go to the next stage of a full bid proposal, and then voting on the award of the WRC. It should be possible to move straight to a full bid proposal and eliminate the short-form stage. The concept of the Manager assisting all nations with their bid would be retained as an effective way to address obvious questions very early and ensure voting Members see near-complete documents.
3. The period between the first two WRC was four years. The period between subsequent WRC has been around two years (2.5 years between 4WRC and 5WRC). The IRF rules allow the WRC to be held annually, but the longer cycles have been to safeguard against poor quality Championships, or over-taxing any one nation. The situation in world rogaining has changed dramatically since 1WRC in 1992, and there is strong competition to hold each WRC. What has also been clear is that the sport has enormous marketing power. By carefully using its major international rogaines, these can be strategic meeting points that form the platform for new developments in several countries. Consideration is being given to move towards a flexible 1-2 year interval between WRC.