The 2024 Australian Intervarsity Rogaining Championships are being held in Western Australia on 7-8 September 2024, in association with the Aus Champs. This event is a chance for teams from universities across the country to compete.
Â
We know it can be expensive to get to events, particularly so far across the country. The Nigel Aylott Memorial Sports Foundation helps one team from each State or Territory with entry fees and travel to the event. ACTRA are using the ACT Champs as a selection race. If you are keen, all you need to do is put your university team (you must be at the same uni) together, enter the ACT Champs and let Julie know. If you can't go to the ACT Champs but are keen, send Julie an email and tell her why you should be selected.
Â
Who Was Nigel Aylott?Â
Nigel Aylott (pictured) showed some talent as a long-distance runner at school but at university got into the full range of outdoor activities available through the Monash BushWalking Club, which included skiing, kayaking, and rogaining. As his endurance and navigation skill developed, so did his success at rogaining, eventually winning the World Rogaining Championships in 1998 and the Australian Rogaining Championships in 2000 and 2001.
Â
As adventure racing developed, Nigel saw it as the natural progression from long-distance running and rogaining. He loved experiencing the different locations in which the adventure races were set. Nigel competed in several Southern Traverse and EcoChallenge events before teaming up with Tom Landon-Smith, Alina McMaster, and Matt Dalziel to form the successful team AROC. Nigel was tragically killed in the 2004 Primal Quest race after being hit by a large boulder dislodged at the top of a gully.
Nigel was highly regarded in the community and friends encouraged Nigel’s family to set up this foundation to leave a legacy by supporting the sports Nigel loved and gave so much to.