Hi all, welcome to a new rogaining year. Here is a round up of news from Australia and the world.

Early Bird entries close this Sunday 16 Feb

Australasian Rogaining Championships 15-16 March 2025

Experience the open plains and high-country bush of Northern Kosciuszko National Park on 15-16 March 2025. The ACT Rogaining Association is hosting the event and have 24 hours of fun organised for you and your friends. The

course is around the headwaters of the Murrumbidgee River. You don't need to be an elite competitor or highly skilled at navigation to enter. It is open to anyone who would like to explore this beautiful area and compete in a national

championship.

Information you need to know:
Early-bird entries until 11:59 pm Sunday 16 February 2025. Regular entries until 11:59 pm Sunday 9 March 2025. There will be NO late entries accepted after entries close on 9 March.

Full entry fee: Early bird $150, Regular $165 (after 16 Feb). Concession entry fee: Early bird $120, Regular $135 (after 16 Feb)

Event bus leaving Canberra 2 pm Friday afternoon returning Sunday afternoon for $50.

A carpooling service is also available on the website.

We have now opened orders for event t-shirts in a technical fabric in bright blue with the event logo for a bargain $30 each. Limited stock. https://arc2025.rogaining.au/about-event/event-t-shirt 

ACTRA have a partner finder service if you are looking for a partner.

Visit the website at https://arc2025.rogaining.au/

PS where are all the Victorians? As the largest rogaining club in the country, surely more than 10 of you can make it along to the Australasian Champs! :)

Entries Open in the 2025 World Rogaining Championships

All rogainers are invited to enter the 2025 World Championships, which will be held in northern Spain on 5-6 July 2025: https://wrc2025.org/

You don't have to be an elite rogainer to enter - open to all. If you are planning to attend, please let us know by return email so we can fit you out with a promotional t-shirt for the 2027 WRC to be held in Australia!

2027 World Rogaining Championships

Early planning continues for the 2027 World Championships, which will be held in the Flinders Ranges. If you are keen to get involved, let me know by return email.

https://www.rogaining.org.au/news/world-rogaining-championships-for-2027-awarded-to-australia

From the WARA archives: The Future of Rogaining

Shane Lewis recently pulled this cracker of a newsletter from the WARA website archives. Published in February 2000, it ponders the future of rogaining in 2020. 'The Future of Rogaining' was written by 'Mr Rogaine' Ian Thomsett, who

was a beloved WARA life member.

NSWRA Quiz

Have some fun testing out your rogaining knowledge with the NSWRA Quiz!

IRF News

Recent voting decided that Russia and Belarus will continue to be banned from hosting the WRC and the European Rogaining Championships until the end of 2025, and decided that individual competitors from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete, but not under national flags.

Two bids have been received for the 2026 European Rogaining Championships, from Czech Republic and Latvia. 

ARA Grants

One application for financial support was received, from ACTRA, for co-investment in a new trailer. The ARA supported the application. Applications are due in November each year, according to the Grants Policy.

I hope to see you all at the Australasian Championships soon!
Paul Guard

ARA President

The International Rogaining Federation has announced that the 20th World Rogaining Championships will be hosted by the Australian Rogaining Association. The Championships are planned for 16-17 September, 2027 in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia near Wilpena Pound, a spectacular and popular destination for visitors from around the world.
The course will offer technically challenging navigation amidst spectacular scenery.
More information in the attached Press Release.

The 2023 Australian Rogaining Championships were held on Wiradjuri country in Goobang National Park and adjacent private land on 30th September/1st October. NSWRA did a great job organising the event in challenging conditions with temperatures over 30 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.

The overall and mixed winners were Julie Quinn and David Baldwin (ACT), second and winning mens team were Eric Lambers (VIC), Paul Monks (VIC) and Tim Cochrane (ACT). First womens team were Shelley Bambrook and Deanna Blegg (VIC).
The Intervarsity Championships was won by the team of Xavier Scott and Will Whittington and  from University of Tasmania. The Interstate Challenge Trophy was a tie between NSW and ACT.

Organiser was Trevor Gollan, and the course setters were David Williams and Ronny Taib. The event website with results, analysis and photos is: nswrogaining.org/2023-aus-champs.

Australians performed outstandingly at the 2023 World Rogaining Championship held on 29/30 July at Lake Tahoe, California, USA. A superb performance from the "Dream Team" of Joanna George, Abigail George and Meredith Norman to again win Womens’ Under 23. Two Aussie teams Rod Gray and Geoff Lawford, Richard Robinson and Vivienne Prince, took home 2 trophies, won against much younger competitors.
The Northstar ski resort was surrounded by 250sq km of hilly pine forest from 1900 to 2600 metres elevation. Most teams survived the expected hot dry summer weather during daytime and moved faster in the night, especially with the help of the reflective controls.
The top teams overall were from Estonia, Spain, Latvia, USA and Ukraine. The following were the Australian placings:

• Joanna George, Abigail George, Meredith Norman - 1st Women Under 23
• Gill Fowler, Elizabeth Dornom – 1st Women Veteran
• Thorlene Egerton, Christine Brown – 1st Women Super Veteran, 2nd Women Veteran
• Rod Gray, Geoff Lawford – 1st Men Ultra Veteran, 1st Men Super Veteran
• Richard Robinson, Vivienne Prince (NZ) – 1st Mixed Ultra Veteran, 1st Mixed Super Veteran
• David Baldwin, Julie Quinn – 2nd Mixed Veteran
• Sharon Crawford, Robin Spriggs (USA) – 2nd Women Ultra Veteran