7-8 NOVEMBER 2020

Following the postponement of the rogaine on 31 October-1 November the event was run on November 7-8.

----

The premier bush event on the ACT calendar - whether you want to have a camping weekend, or go hard and stay out all night.

The event will be in Yanununbeyan NP near Captain's Flat, less than an hour from Canberra. This is an area of unburnt open forest over a range of hills between Queanbeyan and Captains Flat south-east of Canberra. The bush looks great after the rain and there are lots of happy, noisy frogs in the watercourses. The setters have been finding lots of spring flowers and hopefully some will still be around by the end of the month. Check out the photos in the gallery.

Armchair setter Ron Simpson - from Norway - has set a good course and passed this over to David Baldwin and Julie Quinn to ensure the flags are out and the Hash House organised for you. To ensure a covid-safe event there will be a few small changes around the Hash House and we will be reminding you about social distancing. Hartley Lifecare will be providing an awesome feed during and after the event, just like old times!

If for any reason due to COVID-19 you are not able to get to the event, you will be able to get a full refund, so don't let that put you off entering! Late fee of $10 per person applies from midnight Sunday 1 November. Entries close Wednesday 4 November but please don't leave it until then as it makes it very hard for us to estimate catering, water for the course etc. Entry is $55 concession, $70 full rate and free for under 14.

The 8 hour event will start 1 hour after the 24 hour at 1PM and run until 9PM.

 

Final Instructions

 Important

Please take extreme care when driving along Woolcara Lane. The road was damaged in last week's rain and the NPWS have put in a temporary repair to allow access. Being temporary it needs you to drive carefully on it to prevent further damage.

COVID-19 Measures

• First and foremost, if you have recently returned from overseas, if you have travelled from a known COVID-19 ‘hotspot’ without a designated period of quarantine/isolation, or if you are awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test, or if you are feeling unwell, or have flu-like symptoms, please stay home.
• We have tried to make this event as contact-free as possible. The obvious signs are no prize ceremony, but gloved organisers will also be handing out/collecting maps and tags with as few touches as possible. Please drop your team-numbered flight plan directly into the box provided. Touch points at the toilets will be cleaned regularly. Water drops will have hand sanitiser available - please use when you arrive and before you leave.
• Please maintain a safe 1.5m distance from other teams at all times - including while doing your route planning, at the briefings, at the start and finish, and when approaching controls - a few extra seconds now could save a life later. 
• We have made the navlights hands-free by strapping them to the same feature as the control flag, mounted perpendicular to the feature and ready to use without needing to touch it with your hands - just present your navlight wrist tag to the reader so the navlight flashes in the usual way.

Please bring to the event a printed and completed indemnity form located here. Check the team list for your relevant event on the home page to ensure that all details for your team including category are correct. 

• Ensure that all team members sign a separate indemnity form. Parents or guardians must sign for people under 18. Also provide registration number(s) of your car(s) at the Hash House.
• Present your completed indemnity form at the registration desk.
• Medical advice: All competitors should consider advising their partner of any pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, susceptibility to anaphylaxis) that may require first-aid action on course. This should include a description of the symptoms, the required first-aid action, and the location in their bag of any medication (such as sugar, ventolin, epi-pen, anti-histamines).

 Where

The Hash House is located on Woolcara Lane, about a 40 minute drive from Queanbeyan. Follow the Captain's Flat Rd for 18.5km from the King's Highway roundabout, then turn right onto Woolcara Lane. Follow the gravel road for 14.7km taking care at cattle grids. Things to note as you travel the 14.7 km:
1. The road goes through Woolcara Station, with the first cattle grid for the station approximately 1 km after the left turn to Koombahlah Road.
2. At 5.3 km along Woolcara Lane, 400 m from the first cattle grid bear left so you don't end up at the Homestead.
3. There will be stock on the road, and recent rain has caused road damage, so drive carefully.

After entering the bush you will pass the National Park day use area at Apple Box Flat and the HH is around 1km further.

A google map is here.

You are welcome to camp at the Hash House site on Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night. There will be portaloos (BYO hand sanitizer) but bring everything else you need, including water. Direction signs will be put out on Friday. 

 

 Registration, Map Availability, Start Times

The 24-hour Championship event will commence by way of a mass start at 12:00 pm sharp on Saturday, with a final briefing at 11:50 am. Registration for the 24 hour event will open at 9:00 am.
The 8-hour event will commence at 1:00 pm sharp (1 hour after 24 hour), with a final briefing at 12:50 pm. Registration for the 8 hour event will open at 10:00 am.

To register, one person only per team to register and collect maps. That person will need to bring:

• first aid kit, so that it can be checked; see below for what it must contain
• one completed indemnity form per team member.

Electronic scoring: As this event is using the Navlight system of scoring, each team member will be issued with a wristband and tag upon registration.

You will also be given pre-marked maps, control descriptions, course setter's notes and a small copy of the map to be used as a flight plan. We recommend that you arrive at least an hour prior to the start of the event to allow enough time for final preparations and route planning. Each team must mark their intended route on the flight plan and hand it in before starting. 

 Map Details

There will be one A2 map (640x420cm), 1:25,000 with 10 m contour interval. Magnetic north lines are marked on the map. Out of bounds areas are marked in pink shading. It contains mainly native bush with small areas of cleared land. The course setters notes and control descriptions have been printed on the back. The altitude ranges from approximately 800 to 1200 m.

 Water

Please bring enough water for Hash House use and for at least 5 hours on course. There are 5 water drops on course. At each water drop there is a pump that screws into the top of the water container to use. We do not recommend drinking any water found on course without sterilisation, but there is likely to be water in the larger creeks. Water drops will have some fruit and cake for the 24 hr competitors as there is no All Night Cafe.

 Please Bring to the Event

• completed indemnity form
• map will be printed on Teslin waterproof paper with control descriptions on reverse side. Contact or map case optional.
• Coloured pens, pencils, scissors, highlighter pen, table and chairs or board for map preparation. The marquee will not be available for planning so think about how you might sit in your car or tent if it is raining during your planning time.
• Some food for before and/or during the event.
• Your own plate, bowl, cup and cutlery for catering.
• Water for your use at the Hash House and to start the event with (there is no running water on site)

 Carry on Course

Mandatory Equipment

• Whistle (per person)
• Basic first aid kit (that includes 2 compression bandages and 1 wound dressing) (per team)

Other items we recommended that you carry

• food for the event
• water for 5 hours. 
• compass
• gaiters
• watch
• head torch and spare batteries
• Mobile phone for emergencies.
• Space blanket (per person)
• Sunscreen, sun-hat, sunnies
• raincoat, warm jacket
• thermals + a spare if it is wet
• gloves
• beanie

The bush is generally quite open with little undergrowth, although there are always exceptions to this. We recommend wearing knee length gaiters for both the vegetation and for snakes.

 Mobile Phone Coverage

Phone coverage is a bit patchy across the course, but ok on higher ground, mainly Telstra network. Please carry your phone for use in an emergency (remember, you can't use it for anything else such as taking photos or timekeeping). The emergency phone number will be printed on the front of the maps. One or two of the further water drops will have a phone for emergency use at the drop - we will advise which at the final briefing.

 Restrictions

• No pets; no alcohol; no firearms: no fires
• No altimeters, pedometers or GPS-capable devices such as watches and smartphones.
• Sealable bags will be available from admin to carry GPS for logging or mobile phone for safety (turned off).
• Smartphones may be carried for emergency use only in sealed bag - they cannot be used for time-keeping or photography.

 Summary of Event Rules and Scoring

• The only navigational aids permitted are the maps we provide together with your compasses.
• Teams consist of 2 to 5 competitors and must remain within earshot of each other at all times. All members must simultaneously get to within 5m of each control point.
• All team members must punch their Navlight tags at each control to score points.
• If a Navlight punch has failed, record the three letter code visible inside the end of the punch.
• Competitors must not enter out-of-bounds areas; gates must be left as found; stock must not be disturbed.
• The organisers may disqualify a team if it acts against these rules or against the spirit of the event.
• A team can retire a member at the hash house. This will finish that team's event. A new team can form but it must start with zero score.
• Late Penalty: 10 points per minute (or part) late. Disqualification if more than 30 minutes late.
• If teams score equal points then the first team home will have a higher rank.

Catering

 Hartley Lifecare will provide a meal at the conclusion of the 8hr event and dinner, breakfast and Sunday lunch for the 24 hr event. Please bring your own plate, bowl, cup and cutlery.

Presentation and Awards

• Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no printed results or prize presentations will be available on the day.
• Jean Douglass has made some prizes for the winners that will be available soon after the event when she is back in Australia and free from quarantine.

If you have queries contact Julie.