History of rogaining in the Czech Republic by Tomas Prokes
Tomas Prokes is president of the Ceska Asociace Rogainingu (Czech Republic Rogaining Association), a member of the national orienteering team, winner of the prestigious Swedish 3-day Fjällorienteering and a sports instructor with the Czech army.
Members of
the Czech Republic orienteering team, including Jaroslav Kacmarik and
myself, participated in the 1990 Most Awesome Rogaine in Alberta as part
of the major World Cup programme in western North America that season.
In 1996, a group of us including Vaclav Zakouril decided to establish
an independent sport association and to organize rogaining and mountain
orienteering events in the Czech Republic.
In September 1996, the Ceska Asociace Rogainingu was officially founded
and the first two events were held in Branzez and Liberec. The following
year, the 1st Czech Championship was organized as a 24 hour and 12 hour
rogaine under the leadership of Honza Vokurka. This rogaine attracted
45 teams including the eventual winning Czech-Finnish team of Seidl and
Kakko (the latter subsequently a world rogaining champion).
An important step in development came when the Ceska Asociace Rogainingu
became part of the International Rogaining Federation in 1997. The next
year, several Czech members took part in the 3rd World Rogaining Championships
in Kamloops, Canada. The 5th World Rogaining Championships are to be held
in the Czech Republic in 2002.
The constraints on rogaining in the Czech Republic differ from other established
rogaining countries. Areas with suitable geographical conditions for 24
hour rogaining are limited. Dense population, a network of roads, few
forest areas and tight restrictions on some nature reserves restrict use
of much available land. However, the country is centrally situated in
Europe so travel is relatively easy both to an annual Czech classic rogaine
and to rogaines in neighbouring countries.
Copyright 2007 International Rogaining Federation Inc. ..All rights reserved.