It is already the end of July, and this is the first opportunity for me to sit down and update our membership about the changes and events which have occurred so far this year.
At our March 4-hour twilight event, SARA conducted the AGM where I was elected President. Big shoes to fill after Zara Soden decided to step down after four years in the role. For those who do not know me, I am a 67-year-old retired electrical contractor. I have been involved in Orienteering since 2000 and been participating in Rogaining since 2005 with my wife, Evelyn. Since then, we have enjoyed travelling interstate to National championships and overseas to World Rogaine Championships as well as competing in our local SA events.
Whilst Evelyn joined the Rogaining committee almost immediately, it was a number of years before I got involved with the SARA committee and it was due to Evelyn hosting the committee meetings at our residence. Since then, I gradually became more involved, both in the mapping area, utilising some of the CAD skills I had from my previous working life, and in the administration of events. One of the main reasons for us staying involved in Rogaining at the committee level for so long, is our association with so many wonderful people past and present who make it so interesting and worthwhile, and to keep events occurring and our sport alive.
This year has been a remarkably busy one for the committee and me, in particular. In March, SARA held the 4-hour twilight event at Noarlunga, set by Meredith Norman, highlighting some lovely parts of the southern metropolitan area and the Onkaparinga River estuary. Just after Easter, Bruce Greenhalgh took us to the hills around Mt Pleasant (aptly named) for the annual 4-Hour Velogaine. Following this, our association again visited Parnaroo (east of the Barrier Hwy and Oodla Wirra) for the third year running, to assist with the eradication of the “Wheel Cacti” which have been infesting properties in that region. Many thanks to Richard Sprod for organising this with the local landowners and to all the SARA volunteers who came up and camped on site and assisted for a few days.
Our annual 15-hour roving event was held in May on Craig Phelp’s property at Parnaroo and was organised by Richard Sprod with Mike Broadbent being the lead setter assisted by John Nitschke. Mike put an enormous amount of work into this event which was held in perfect weather and was enjoyed by many participants who appreciated the warm campfires in the chilly evenings and the interesting landscape dotted with ruins (and dying or dead cacti).
Whilst all the above was occurring Evelyn and I were busy trying to gain land access for the 2024 State Championships. Initially we were investigating the “Worlds End” area near Burra, but due to several landowners not allowing access, we shifted our attentions further north finally settling on the “Three Creeks” station owned by the Hilder family. A site visit to talk to the landowners in April finalised the location of the event and we returned with the setting team over the June LWE to check
all the pre-planned control locations. The weather was perfect during our June visit with sunny days, however, when we returned in the week leading up to the event to hang all the controls the weather gods were against us and we experienced extremely cold and wet conditions, culminating in gale force winds on the night before the event that made life rather difficult for the participants camping on site. Fortunately, we had access to the Three Creeks shearing shed which offered some relief from the weather for the campers, where they could prepare meals, sleep, and do their course planning on the Saturday morning. This event only came together and was so successful due to the work of many SARA volunteers and the goodwill of the landowners.
We were extremely pleased with the high participation numbers for this event which included two NZ teams, a number of interstate rogainers, as well as the current Australian Championship team of Julie Quinn and David Baldwin who won the event visiting all the control sites, racking up just over 100kms with 3000m of elevation with two and half hours to spare in the 24-hour championship. They are pictured right, with the ‘Three Creeks’ landowners, Amanda and Simon Hilder.
At this event we trialled using a 1:30,000 scale for the map on a SRA3 sized waterproof Teslin sheet which was printed at our local Kwik Kopy supplier on both sides (eastern portion on one side with the western portion on the reverse with the HH shown on both sides). While this may have been a bit controversial, the map was easier to read at this scale and appears to have been acceptable to the competitors. A 1:40,000 one sided map was also provided for course planning and using as a team “Flight” plan for the organisers. For this event we were unable to secure assistance from any local community group to help run the Hash House, so this was also run by the SARA volunteers, a number of whom were there only because they were part of a family group or there to support friends or had to pull out of the event at the last minute due to injury.
For those un
aware of the International Rogaining scenario, Australia placed a bid to host the 2027 20th World Rogaining Championship last month and I have been advised that the International Rogaining Association delegates have unanimously accepted the Australian bid. South Australia and the Flinders Ranges were identified by the ARA as prime locations for the event. As such, the SARA committee were an integral part of the bid preparation as our state will be heavily committed when preparing for and hosting the event. Like the 2016 World Rogaining Championship held at Ross River in the NT, all state Australian Rogaining Associations will be assisting with the preparation and running of the event. Local rogainer, Mark Corbett has been selected as the lead setter for the event, with Evelyn Colwell assisting. As the SARA President, I have been given the role of Event Coordinator and during the last few months I have been in discussions with various landowners in the Flinders Ranges and key stakeholders, as well local and interstate rogaining personnel to assist with the running of the event. Even though the championship is still three years away, time will quickly pass and hosting an event of this magnitude, to the standard we expect, will require a considerable amount of work and attention to detail.
Next up on the rogaining calendar, is the Australian Rogaining Championship in September, being held by the WA Rogaining Association. I know of at least three SA teams that will be competing. Not only is it a good chance to mix with interstate rogainers and see how another state association conducts their events, but it is a wonderful time of year to visit the west for a holiday and see the vast array of native wildflowers and orchids.
Later in September, Jo Powell will be heading the team organising the “Bush” 6-hour rogaine that will be in and around the Onkaparinga River NP. We have not rogained in this area for about 15 years and I can still remember having to swim to one of the previous event’s control locations. This is bound to be an extremely popular event. As always, we will need some wonderful volunteers to staff the admin desks and help with the serving of food, so if you are unable to compete due to injury or just like to be involved, please consider volunteering.
Cheers
Craig Colwell
President
