A0040409P

Newsletter Number 98, October 2004

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

IRF Team

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

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

Observer status
Estonia: Andres Kaar
New Zealand: Michael Wood
Sweden: Lars-Åke Svenk
Russia: German Shestakov, Sergey Yaschenko
South Africa: Pieter Mulder
6th WRC: Peg Davis
7th WRC: Andy Mein

Rogaining in Estonia

Estonian OK Orion will organize their third 24 hour rogaine on 18-19 June 2005.

Estonia is a recent European Union member so has visa freedom for most European countries. Popularity of rogaining in the region is increasing, and a rogaine was held in mid 2004 in nearby Latvia. The recent Estonia TAOK 8hr Rogaine attracted 629 participants in 239 teams. http://www.rogain.ee/eng/index.php

Rogaining in Ukraine

The first major Ukrainian rogaine was held on August 29th, 2004. The coordinator, Efim Shtempler, is an experienced map maker who attended the 6th World Rogaining Championships in Arizona in May and found it a fantastic experience. The rogaine was held near Chernovtsi over 10 hours (daylight only). The area covered about 70 sq. km. The map provided to the participants was based on a topographic map at 1:30000. In addition, participants were provided with six maps of the area scaled at 1:10000 and 1:15000. The total of 32 checkpoints were located in the terrain. 19 teams participated. Full details with photos, the map and reports of participants can be accessed via http://www.rogaining.com.

2005 Ukrainian Rogaining Championships

These are scheduled for 27-28 August, 2005. This is two days after the multi-day orienteering event GRANDPRIX BUKOVINA 2005. In 2005, Ukraine is celebrating 40 years of cross country navigation sports in Bukovina, and guests will be very welcome.

Rogaining in Russia

Rogaining started in Russia in the Perm region immediately west of the Ural Mountain range, and 1000 km east of Moscow. The first rogaine was a 10 hour event in 1998, followed by a 24 hour rogaine in August 1999. Over twenty rogaines have been held since 1998, and over 500 Russians have been rogaining. In the last winter season, 192 rogainers competed in ski rogaines. Russia rogainers have been represented at 5WRC in the Czech Republic and 6WRC in the USA.

Rogaining is active in several towns of the Perm region: Aleksandrovsk, Berezniki, Vereshagino, Verhnechusovskie Gorodki, Krasnokamsk, Kungur, Kudimkar, Lisva, Perm, Solikamsk, Chernushka.

German Shestakov is a founder of the sport in Russia, and president of Perm Rogaining Association. The Perm Rogaining Association of Russia has a new website http://www.rogaine.permonline.ru which includes an English version. The new email address is rogaine@permonline.ru.

Rogaining in New Zealand

Several rogaines are on the New Zealand calendar for the second half of 2004:

HOT ROCs 8hr Rogaine with a 4hr option – Saturday 30th October.
Rimutaka Rogaine – Saturday 13th November, 12hr & 6hr options, Rimutaka Forest Park.

The Prophets Rock E.P.I.C. – Saturday 20th/21st November. A Bruce McLeod 24hr and 12hr special near Clyde, Central Otago.

New Zealand Championships 2005 - "The Nenthorn Nemesis". Classic 24hr event on Saturday/ Sunday 26th/27th February in the historic Middlemarch area, Central Otago. Despite the title of NZ Championships this event is for anyone who wishes to enter. It is not limited to elite athletes and there will be many “ordinary mortals” enjoying the chance to explore some extremely interesting country.

Many rogainers have traveled to New Zealand for their major rogaining events, and then combined the visit with hiking, ice climbing, sea kayaking, whale watching, caving, and camping.

NZRA website www.rogaine.org.nz.