The Stoneyard Staggers

24hr and 7hr Rogaines

(incorporating the New Zealand Championships)

INSTRUCTIONS TO COMPETITORS

Thank you for your entry. Please ensure all your team members read this document which is available as pdf here. It contains important information.

See the event website for a list of competitors and your team number (please remember it and note it above and on your Indemnity Form). The Indemnity and Emergency contact form at the end of that PDF document must be completed by all members of your team and handed in at registration.

Directions to the Event Center

The event center is at the El Dorado woolshed at the end of El Dorado (Mt Watkin) Road. From just south of Waikouaiti travel west on Ramrock Rd for 3km to Mt Watkin Rd, then north/north-west 14km to the end of El Dorado (Mt Watkin) Rd. Mt Watkin road is mainly unsealed however it is perfectly suitable for a road vehicle. Some distances:

Hash House Facilities

The Event HQ/Hash-house is a woolshed with adjacent camping and parking. Camping is available from 5pm Friday through to Monday 10am.

Toilets and drinking water will be available at the event centre. There are no shower facilities.

There is some under-cover shelter in the sheep yards but be prepared to do your planning in your tent or vehicle. Chairs and a table could be useful when planning your route.

During the 24hr event, soup and light food will be available at the HQ/Event centre from 7.00 pm Saturday to 10.00 am Sunday, and the main meal will be available from 12.30 until 13:30 on Sunday.

Fires, smoking, dogs, and guns are not permitted anywhere at the Rogaine venue: campsite, administration area, or on the course.

Depending on the rainfall leading up to the event, water may be in short supply at the hashhouse. Please use it sparingly for drinking and cooking. It is not to be used for washing gear.

Event Timetable

24hr 7hr
Friday 26th February
Registration at the event centre 18:00 - 20:00
Saturday and Sunday Saturday Sunday Saturday
Registration opens 08.00
Maps distributed 09:00 09:00
Briefing - compulsory for all competitors 11:45 10:45
Start 12:00 11:00
Hash-house food begins 19:00
Hash-house food closes 10:00
Finish 12:00 18:00
Meal available 12:30 18:00
Results 13:00 18:30
Meal finishes 13:30 19:00

Registration

At registration your team (one member) must present a completed Indemnity and Emergency Contact Form signed by each team member. Check your team number is on the form. If no money is owing, the team will be issued electronic wrist tags for each team member. Any changes in team composition must be advised at registration.

Map and Course

The map is printed on two A3 landscape sheets overlapped by 4km. (Bring scissors to cut off the paper margin to align the two sheets). There will be a set of maps per competitor. Map orientation is grid north with magnetic north lines overprinted, scale is 1:40 000, and contour interval 20m. The map is premarked with checkpoint locations and out of bounds areas are overprinted. The map will NOT be printed on waterproof paper. A3 ziploc plastic bags will be available but you might like to bring your own map covering.

The terrain is open farmland and tussock country with woodlots and some pine plantation. It is cut by deeply incised valleys with gorges and numerous scrub-filled gullies. There are old volcanic cones (basalt) along with schist country and numerous rock outcrops. Avoiding excessive height gain and loss will be the key to good planning.

Streams are drinkable in the higher tussock country and water drops are provided on the farm country. The water drops are identified on the map and noted on the checkpoint description sheet.

As usual, tracks and fences exist which are not marked on the map, and others are mapped that no longer exist or are discontinuous on the ground. Tracks and fences may serve as useful navigational aids, but you should not assume their detailed accuracy.

There are electric fences on the course. In some areas these are new and very lively!! Cross with care or use gates. Use your map (in its plastic bag) to hold the wires down while you cross them. Assume all electric fences are on.

Two deer-fenced areas are marked as out of bounds. These MUST not be entered.

Remember there is a distinction between “the” and “a” in describing. checkpoint locations. For example, “The” lone pine means it is marked as a tree on the map, whereas “A” lone pine means that one exists, but it isn’t marked on the map.

Moon and Sun

Moonrise: 22:31 Saturday Sunset: 20:31 Saturday

Moonset: 12:09 Sunday Sunrise: 07:11 Sunday

The full moon occurs on Tuesday 23rd February. The phase of the moon on 27th February will be waxing gibbous with 87% of the moon's visible disk illuminated.

Scoring

There are about 70 checkpoints, numbered between 10 and 104. The value of a checkpoint is the “tens” value of its number, so for example 37 is worth 30 points, 53 is worth 50 points, and 103 is worth 100 points.

All team members must visit each checkpoint that you claim and must punch their tags. The checkpoints are marked with an orange/white flag tied to a bush, post, tree or other object. They are not hidden and most should be visible from at least 10 metres away depending on your approach, but some flags in potentially windy exposed sites have been tied low down in bushes. As they have been placed in the field up to four weeks before the event we cannot be certain that all checkpoints are still intact. If a checkpoint is missing, you must be able to describe its location to the score keepers to be credited with the points.

Navlight electronic punching will be used. At a checkpoint each competitor must place the punch in their wrist tag until a red flashing light is seen. (Less than 3 seconds, and probably half a second). If the punch doesn’t flash, write down the 3-letter code visible inside it. Most punches are protected in a plastic pipe about 20 cm long, so look for the white string and replace the punch in the pipe. (See the top right of the homepage of the website www.rogaine.org.nz for further details on ‘NAVLIGHT’).

All the wrist tags of a team’s members must record a visit to a checkpoint to gain points for that checkpoint. If you suspect that a wrist tag has failed continue to punch it at all checkpoints and notify the official who removes your tag at the finish. Provided we are able to verify that the tag has indeed failed your team will be credited with the points recorded on the tags of other team members.

Do not stop at a checkpoint any longer than necessary to record your visit. If you want to stop for a rest or a discussion you must move at least 100 metres away from the checkpoint so as not to give its location away to another team (it spoils their fun).

There is a late penalty of 10 points per minute or part thereof after the finish time of your event. If you are more than 30 minutes late you are recorded as LATE and your score is zero.

If you return to the headquarters during the event you must use a FINISH punch at the administration desk, even if you intend to go out again. If you do subsequently go out for more checkpoints, use a DEPART punch at the administration desk and use a FINISH punch again when you return.

Start Procedure

Maps, checkpoint descriptions, flight plans, and any relevant course notes will be issued at 9am. Plan your route and mark it, including the direction of travel, on the flight plan. The event will not start until all flight plans have been lodged in the box provided at the administration desk. You may subsequently modify your route according to conditions as you progress, but the flight plan will give us some idea of where to start looking if you are in trouble. Don’t forget to put your team number on the flight plan.

All competitors must attend the compulsory briefing for their event. As you enter the briefing area a team of officials will check the security of your Navlight wrist strap and activate your tag. Make sure your wrist tag is activated as failure to do so will result in a reduced or cancelled score.

Unless advised otherwise at the briefing, if the start of your event is delayed for any reason the finish time will be delayed by the same amount so that the event duration is as advertised.

If you have never been in a Rogaine before novice instruction will be available. Please talk to the people at the registration desk.

Finish Procedure

At the finish, punch your electronic tag with a FINISH punch. The tag will then be cut from your wrist by one of the administration staff. Your entire team must finish together; the finish time will be that of the last team member to use a FINISH punch. Remember, the penalty for finishing late is 10 points per minute.

Wait for your printout as your tag is read and check your results. If there is anything you disagree with see the event organiser, NOT the person reading the tags. The organiser will decide on any adjustments, will write the request on your printout, and return it to the person doing the scoring.

Extremely Important: On no account leave the event without handing in your wrist tag. This is our check that you are off the course. If we don’t have a tag a search for you will be mounted.

Weather and Equipment

The weather on the east coast of Otago is unpredictable at this time of the year and is subject to rapid changes. Be prepared for anything from hot, dry NW conditions to cold SW weather with squalls of hail and sleet. In some weather conditions rain, low cloud and mist can cover the high ground very rapidly. This is a particularly exposed site with potentially severe wind-chill. Carry an additional thermal layer.

For a list of clothing and equipment see the Safety Sheet below. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of your clothing or equipment please ask an organiser.

Other Gear

You will need a plate, cup, and utensils for eating at the hashhouse. There are minimal rubbish facilities so please bring your own rubbish bag. A tent and sleeping bag are essential if you think you might stop overnight. Consider bringing a small table and chairs for use when planning your route. There will be a limited area available within covered yards, otherwise you should use your tent or car for planning.

Safety

Please carefully read the Safety Sheet below. Also be aware that supplementary safety advisories, either written or verbal at the compulsory briefing, may be issued on the day.

All roads are open to the public and you must obey normal road rules and etiquette. We recommend that you wear a reflective garment for road safety at night.

If you are driving after competing in the 24hr event please have a sleep first.

Rules of Competition

The Stoneyard Staggers will be run under the competition rules which are available at http://www.rogaine.org.nz/main/CompetitionRules.htm.

Important rules, with a few elaborations, include:

All competitors must agree to abide by the NZRA Code of Conduct which may be viewed at http://www.rogaine.org.nz/main/CodeofConduct.htm

Protests

Reports of breaches of the rules, or protests against the event organisers, will be considered and determined by a three person jury. Such protests must be lodged in writing within 45 minutes of the nominated finish time of the event. The jury panel for the Championships will be selected from members of the NZRA committee, NZRA regional contacts, the NZOF Rogaining committee, or other experienced rogainers. It will exclude the course planners and vetters, who may however be consulted by the jury. The fee for lodging a protest is $20 which will be refunded if judgement is in your favour.

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the sixteen landowners who have so willingly allowed us to use their land. Without their cooperation we would not have an event. In particular, we thank Murray and Leslie Eason of El Dorado Station for allowing us to use their woolshed/yards area as the base.

Stephanie Scott has coordinated the catering arrangements on behalf of the Waikouaiti play-centre.

We also thank and acknowledge:
Landowner liaison and planner - Bob Cunninghame
Setters - Laurie Kennedy, Dave Laurie, Andy Buchanan, Pete Squires, and Bob Cunninghame
Vetters - Jim Cotter, Pete Squires, and Laurie Kennedy
Website and Entry administration - Wayne Millow, Emma de Lacey