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ACT ROGAINING ASSOCIATION BULLETIN |
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Metrogaine entry closing soon! |
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The Metrogaine will be held on Sunday 17 August in Gungahlin, which according to AI chatbots is known for its convenient amenities, recreational spaces like Yerrabi Pond, and proximity to nature. It offers a mix of urban and natural attractions, numerous public art installations and uncountable parks and playgrounds making it an appealing place to run (or walk) during a Rogaine. The well-planned streets and pedestrian friendly pathways provide a navigable yet engaging course and the flat to undulating terrain also make it accessible for participants of varying fitness levels.
Entries are open to 11:59 pm Sunday 10 August without late fees. Entries received between then and final close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 13 August incur a late fee of $10 per person.
Wendy Emerton is the event coordinator and the course was set by Wendy and Leigh Haversekara. |
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Night/Day/Cyclegaine on 6-7 September |
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The annual rogaine known as the 'ANU Inward Bound rogaine' is always marked by the youthful energy (and chaos) of the many ANU students training for the ultramarathon to be held in October. This year the rogaine will be held in classic IB training territory of the Lower Cotter Catchment, with the Hash House in Laurel Camp. Adding to the theme, the event is being coordinated by 2023 IB Race Director, Natali Heil Koerbel and set by 2024 Course Setters, Ben Grace and Jackson Jolly.
The Lower Cotter is perfect for cycling with its many forestry roads, but the navigational challenge remains with the everchanging layout and poor visibility within the pines.
Event information and entries will be added to the website shortly. Remember, you will be allowed to sign up to both the night and day events. |
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Intervarsity Championships Bursary - call for nominations |
The 2025 Australian Intervarsity Rogaining Championships will be held in conjunction with the NSW State Rogaining Championships on 13-14 September. Travel bursaries are available for university students - details provided below.
About the Intervarsity Championships To participate in an Australian Intervarsity Rogaining Championships, students must be in teams consisting of 2-5 students from the same university. Both part-time and full-time students are eligible. There is no age restriction, ie. under-graduate, mature age and post-graduate students qualify.
Travel bursaries are available to cover the travel costs of one team from each state/territory to compete at the Intervarsity Rogaining Championships.
The Nigel Aylott Memorial Sports Foundation (NAMSF) provided a perpetual trophy for the winning Intervarsity team named ‘The Nigel Aylott trophy’. For many years the Foundation paid the travel costs for one university team from each state so that there can be a well-represented national competition. The Foundation left a generous legacy to the Australian Rogaining Association to enable continuation of this support.
ACTRA will select a team to receive the ACT bursary. To apply, please contact Kelvin Peh using the form below. Briefly outline who your team is, what university you are representing, your rogaining experience and why you believe you would do well at the championship.
If multiple high quality nominations are received, we may opt to give partial bursaries to multiple teams. |
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Nigel Aylott Memorial Sports Foundation The Nigel Aylott Memorial Sports Foundation was set up in memory of Nigel Aylott to encourage engagement in the outdoor sports of rogaining and adventure racing. The Foundation left the Australian Rogaining Association a generous donation to enable us to continue the valuable work of the NAMSF in the promotion and development of youth participation in rogaining.
Who was Nigel Aylott Nigel Aylott 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.
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 the foundation to leave a legacy by supporting the sports Nigel loved and gave so much to. |
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ACTRA Secretary Profile - Leanne Haupt |
I was introduced to rogaining in my uni days back in the 1990’s. MUMC (Melbourne University Mountaineering Club) was quite active in the sport and I have vivid memories of wandering around the Flinders Ranges in the 1997 Aus Champs as part of a larger MUMC cohort that went to the event.
My introduction to the world champs was in 1998 when a group of us from the Victorian Rogaining Association headed over to Alaska first to do a warm-up 24 hour rogaine, then to Kamloops for the “real-deal”. Our group included the legendary Nigel Aylott (see photo below). Nigel is second from the right next to me. |
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I’ve done quite a lot of rogaining since those early days – I love the challenge of route finding in the bush and the reward of finding a control. Some of my most memorable events were:
- Organising the catering for Victoria's 50 hour event with the MUMC crew
- Fighting the lawyer vines at a 6 hour event in Gympie
- Competing with my sister in the 2005 world championships at the Warrumbungles
Nowadays, you'll see me around as part of a womens and/or vets team, or with one or both of my boys (Sandy and Ross). |
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