A0040409P

Newsletter Number 83, December 2002

PO Box 3,
Central Park,
3145, Victoria.
61-3-95721784 fax
E-mail: Neil Phillips

IRF Team

President: Neil Phillips
Secretary/Treasurer: Rod Phillips
Promotions and Development: David Stephens
World Rogaining Championships Manager: Gordon Birch

Czech Republic: Jaroslav Vavra, Miroslav Seidl
Finland: Iiro Kakko
Canada: Alan Stradeski
United States of America: Eric Smith, Clinton Morse, Bob Reddick
Australia: David Stephens, Rod Phillips, Gordon Birch, John Berwick, Neil Phillips
Founders Representative: Bob Reddick

Observer status
Estonia: Andres Kaar
Sweden: Lars-Åke Svenk
New Zealand: Peter Squires, Michael Wood
Russia: German Shestakov
China: Jianping Zhang
6th WRC: Peg Davis

Tomas Prokes, Czech Rogaining Association Inaugural President

Tomas Prokes, founder of the Czech Rogaining Association and co-ordinator of the 5th World Rogaining Championships, has been succeeded as Czech representative on the IRF by Miroslav Seidl. Tomas, who announced his intention to step down many months ago, was first introduced to rogaining at the Most Awesome Rogaine in Alberta, Canada in 1990, and since that time has been a top-class competitor in European events, and one of the key leaders within the IRF. His contribution to rogaining, both in the Czech Republic and worldwide, has been substantial over the past six years. The founding of the Czech Rogaining Association and the success of the recent 5th World Rogaining Championships will remain as permanent reminders of his vision, leadership, and organizational ability.

Welcome to Miroslav Seidl, the new representative of the Czech Rogaining Association. He was second overall in the recent 5th WRC, and winner of the 2001 Perm Rogaining Championships. Jaroslav Vavra remains as the other Czech representative on the IRF.

IRF Elections

IRF elections for two positions are now complete. Each position is for four years.
President: Neil Phillips
Promotion and Development: David Stephens.

This step is important because it now means that most of the IRF have been recently elected to their positions. Next year, elections will be held for the Technical Convenor, and for the World Championships Manager in the following year.

IRF Newsletters No. 78-82

These five newsletters contain the full results of the five World Rogaining Championships. The results are available through the website (above) and have not been forwarded to members in hard copy form.

2002

2002 has been an important year for international rogaining with highlights being the World Rogaining Championships in the Czech Republic, successes in New Zealand since forming NZRA, and ever-strengthening membership of the IRF. The remainder of this Newsletter is devoted to developments in New Zealand.

Very best wishes to all for the New Year, and another successful year in 2003.

New Zealand 2002

The 12 hour Raggedy event on August 19th was the first event organized under the auspices of the New Zealand Rogaining Association. The Heights of Winter rogaine was the first rogaine organized directly by the NZRA. All told, the decision to establish a rogaining association appears to have provided a catalyst for more events to be organized and also for more people to express interest in organizing rogaines.

NZ Annual General Meeting

The association's first AGM was held on 9th October. Outcomes were:

Approval of the association as an Incorporated Society.

Election of officers:
President: Pete Squires
Secretary: Tom Barnfield
Treasurer: Bruce Meder
Committee: Andy Buchanan, Dave Laurie, and Alan Stow.
Website and Membership list sub-committee: Bill Kennedy and Jude Elliot.
Since the AGM, the committee has co-opted three regional representatives onto the committee: Alan Holdaway, Annie Sanderson, and Bruce McLeod.

The following motion was passed at the AGM:

"NZRA to affiliate to the International Rogaining Federation subject to agreement with the IRF on fee scale."

New Zealand - Coming Events

2003 New Zealand Rogaining Championships

Peter Squires, president of the New Zealand Rogaining Association has announced details of the 2003 New Zealand Rogaining Championships to be known as the Roxburgh Ramble.
Date: 15th - 16th March 2003
Duration: 24hrs
Location: Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand

This is a classic 24hr event, and all are welcome. As usual, Australians will get a very warm welcome and a great time is guaranteed. Peter Squires is the co-ordinator and he reports that an excellent site has been found. The landscape is rolling hills and gullies, relatively free of impassable vegetation, and with a variety of grass cover from tussock to sown grasses. It should be possible to travel in any direction on the map.

New Zealand Rogaining Association (Inc)
http://www.rogaine.org.nz/

Hawkes Bay Rogaine

This event, organized by the Hawkes Bay Orienteering Club, is to be held on 7th December. There will be 12, 8 and 4-hour events.

Cyclic Saga Rogaine

Organized by Ground Effect, this 2-day mountain bike rogaine is planned for 8th - 9th March 2003. Duration is 7hrs on Saturday and 6hrs on Sunday.
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