A0040409P

Newsletter Number 84, New Year 2003

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

President’s Report 2002

This is the second year since incorporation of the IRF, and the 14th year since the International Rogaining Federation was formed.

Highlights of the 2001-2002 rogaining year include:
- 5th World Rogaining Championships in the Czech Republic with 392 competitors from 20 countries
- formation of the New Zealand Rogaining Association
- major rogaining championships
   o 23rd Australian Rogaining Championships
   o North American Rogaining Championships
   o 1st United States Rogaining Championships
   o 1st Russian Rogaining Championships.
- 5th World Rogaining Championships overseen by IRF Manager (Gordon Birch)
- 1562 people rogaining on International Rogaining Weekend, 15-16 July 2002
- 25th Anniversary Rogaine in the Strathbogie Ranges at Ancona (Australia)
- IRF meetings at Prague and Lesna (Czech Republic) in conjunction with 5WRC
- production and distribution of eight IRF Newsletters
- success of the IRF electronic vote process
- election of IRF Secretary/Treasurer
- constitutional changes
- operation of the IRF website.

The financial position of the IRF has strengthened following the success of the 5th World Rogaining Championships. The IRF has net assets approaching $AUD1000.

Important long-term issues that are on-going include land access for rogaining globally, a new strategic plan for rogaining, awarding of 7WRC, continuing improvement of every WRC, and the public profile of the sport.

Neil Phillips
President
International Rogaining Federation Inc

Treasurer’s Report and Auditor’s Statement

(appended for Members)

11th Arizona Rogaine

Peg Davis, coordinator of 6WRC, has announced plans for the 11th annual Arizona Rogaine to be held on 15th March 2003. This will be a combined 6, 12 and 24 hour rogaine run by the same team that are organizing the 6th World Rogaining Championships. Details:
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~mc/rincon/index.html

First Oregon (USA) Rogaine

The Columbia River Orienteering Club is running the first rogaine in Oregon State in NW USA. For details see Croc's web page www.croc.org and
//www.croc.org/events/rogaine/bigmuddy.doc

1st USA Metrogaine

Bob Reddick, organizer of the first rogaine in USA in 1989, has announced plans for the first US metrogaine in Bremerton, Washington on the 26th April 2003. The course will cover sites of historic interest and beauty. Initiating this event was another example of the global rogaining network in action, with John Gavens and Heather Leslie of the Victorian Rogaining Association volunteering useful information and their own experiences regarding these shorter events. Details: www.rogainingusa.org.

New South Wales – 20th anniversary

Congratulations to the New South Wales Rogaining Association who celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2003. NSWRA have come a long way since their 1983 annual rogaine in the Liverpool Ranges near Murrurundi with its continual storms and plenty of 800m climbs. Their first state championships in 1984 run by Peter Tuft attracted 156 starters and was won by Ken Miller and David Rowlands. David won the recent 5WRC in the Czech Republic and Peter is still a regular rogainer.

24th Australian Rogaining Championships

The 2003 Australian Rogaining Championships were held in central Tasmania near the township of Ross and close to the site of the first Tasmanian rogaine. In 1982, Gordon and Gail Davis organized a 24-hour rogaine attracting 25 entrants – some of whom flew across Bass Strait in light aircraft and landed in the paddock next to the main hash house. An old fence across the airstrip and a potential downwind landing were mere challenges for the intrepid pilots cum rogainers.

The Australian Rogaining Championships at Ross in 2003 were much larger than 1982 with around 250 participants, an accurate, challenging course in hot summer weather, and full backup support from State Emergency Services and First Aid at the hash house. Most Australian states were represented as well as New Zealand.

Future Australian Rogaining Championships timetable

The provisional timetable for future Australian Rogaining Championships is:
2004: South Australia – no date set
2005: Queensland
2006: Victoria
2007: Northern Territory
2008: New South Wales
2009: Tasmania

6th World Rogaining Championships

Arizona, USA 2004

Gordon Birch, IRF WRC Manager, is already working with the course setters, and will be going to Arizona in May 2003 to meet with organizers. The final course area has not been selected; and the selection process has been influenced by serious bushfires over the last year and the variable likelihood of snow in different areas. The full moon is 4th May 2004, and the date for the 6th World Rogaining Championships is:

8-9 May 2004
6WRC
Arizona, USA