MORE than 200 competitors navigated to checkpoints deep within Lower Bucca State Forest as part of Coffs Harbour’s first “Rogaining” event.
Rogaining is a long-distance orienteering sport that involves navigating between checkpoints, marked by a flag, within a time limit.
The goal is to score the highest by visiting the most checkpoints.
This Rogaining event featured a six or 12 hour event with 47 controls on offer to find.
Over 80 teams travelled from Sydney and Brisbane to compete.
In the six hour event, Andrew and Nicole Haigh collected 1,590 points – just over half of all possible points – to win the overall division.
John Bulman and Chris Frain finished second with 1,200 points and Chris Stevenson and John Clancy collected 1,110 to come third overall.
In the 12 hour event, it was a battle between states with Glenn Wilkinson and Dave Schloss from Queensland collecting 2,610 to win ahead of Ivan Koudashev and Tristan White from NSW with 2,600.
With only 10 points separating the top two teams, this is the equivalent of two minutes over a 12 hour event.
Melissa Robertson and Andrew Brown were third overall with 2,390 points.
Competitors had to battle heavy rain, swollen creeks and many leeches to find the checkpoints.
“The event was a huge success, with an excellent turnout and praise about the course setting,” said event co-organiser Keelan Birch.
“Every control out there was difficult to find.
“The heavy rain for 10 hours out of the 12 hours of the event posed a real challenge.
“The creeks rose significantly and the leeches came out in force.
“Despite that, everyone reported to have a good time and were grateful for the catering put on by Coffs Harbour Scouts afterwards.”
The event was also the first interstate challenge between NSW and Queensland rogaining communities.
NSW emerged victorious scoring a total of 41.5 points to Queensland’s 28.5 points.
The organiser extended their thanks to all the volunteers who helped bring the event together.
Results from the event, and future upcoming events, can be found on the NSW Rogaining website.
