A0040409P

Newsletter Number 85, January 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

IRF focus for 2003

Some of the major activities ahead of the IRF for the 2003 year include:
- planning 6th World Rogaining Championships
- site selection for 7th WRC
- increase the public profile of rogaining
- new membership of IRF
- growing the sport globally
- headquarters building for IRF
- land access issues worldwide
- new strategic plan for rogaining.

The IRF Executive is developing a list of roles and responsibilities to address these priority areas, and welcomes input to assist our progress.

New Zealand Rogaining Championships

One of the outcomes of the formation of the New Zealand Rogaining Association (Inc.) in 2002 is the first New Zealand Rogaining Championships in March 2003. Another outcome has been a significant increase in the number of rogaines in New Zealand run by a wider range of volunteers than in the past.

The Roxburgh Ramble is a 24 hour rogaine on 15-16 March 2003 near the Clutha River in the south of South Island, and will comprise the first New Zealand Rogaining Championships. The Championships are open to all participants not simply New Zealanders, and overseas entrants are particularly welcome. As those who attended the 4th World Rogaining Championships in New Zealand in 2000 are already aware, the locals go out of their way to be hospitable and friendly, and their countryside offers huge scope for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities.

The terrain for the 1st New Zealand Rogaining Championships is described as rolling spur-gully farmland, a mix of grazed pasture and open tussock grassland with a few forest plantations. Altitude of the course ranges from 80 to 1000m with little flat country – see website for pictures. All competitors need to be prepared for cold nights and/or very cold wind, rain or snow, although fine weather is the norm at this time of the year.

Entries are due by 20 February 2003 with forms available via www.rogaine.org.nz. General enquiries to Peter Squires: p.squires@xtra.co.nz and entry enquiries to Bill Kennedy: kennedy@xtra.co.nz.

Litepac Powerbar rogaine - Sweden - 16 November 2002

The fifth annual Litepac PowerBar Rogaine (previously Fjällräven Rogaine) had a new co-head sponsor in PowerBar. A late decision by the organizers of the first four rogaines not to run the event meant Nick Barrable (two times winner of the event) and Tomas Albinsson (last year’s mixed winner) stepped into the planner and organizer roles with the help of their orienteering club, OK Ravinen. The race utilized OK Ravinens club hut in Hellasgården (aptly named – ´Hells Garden´ in English!), south-east of Stockholm, as a Hash House.

Come the start at noon on Saturday 16 November, there were 49 teams with 111 competitors who set off for the 6-hour race. The competition area was predominantly forest, although there were some urban areas. There were various roads, tracks and lakes too. Crossing of lakes was forbidden as the ice was not yet strong enough. The temperature during the race was about 4 degrees. As darkness fell about 4 p.m., many had head-lamps on from the start.

The straight-line course was planned to cover 48 km, and the winning team managed all but one control. Vidas Armalis, Saulius Andrekus and Svajunas Ambrazas from Hellas Orienteering Club, won by 40 points (1680 points) out of a maximum of 1730. All three are members of Lithuanias National Orienteering Team. Second were Team Silva Multisport 3, Aaron Prince (NZ) and Mattias Abelsson, who scored 1640, and ahead of Söders SOL (an Orienteering club) Per Ek and Robert Söderberg with 1600 points.

The women’s class saw a very comfortable victory for Eva Jurenikova and Emelli Tillegård from Team Silva Multisport with 1310 points. In the larger mixed class Lars Palmquist and Sofia Pålsson from Järfälla OK won (1570 points) ahead of a strong challenge from Edgaras Voveris and Giedre Voveriene, Hellas (1320pts). Only two veteran teams entered this year.

The link to the 1st European Rogaine Championships was displayed on the Invitation and it is hoped some Swedes will venture to rogaines farther afield!

At present there are two rogaines in Sweden each year, the Litepac PowerBar Rogaine, and the Sävedalens Rogaine in February near Gothenborg.

Thanks to Per Sjögren at Litepac and Fredrik Kuoppa at PowerBar for their support.

Check out OK Ravinen website next summer for details of the Litepac PowerBar Rogaine in the middle of November 2003!
www.svenskidrott.se/a/okravinen