About Rogaine

About Rogaining

an endurance sport combining tramping, navigation, competition, and strategy. Events cater for all levels of fitness and enthusiasm, and usually finish with a feast. Based around a Hash-house, they are like a tramping treasure-hunt, and usually have a time limit of 6, 12, 18, or 24 hours.

Rogaines usually use the standard 1:50,000 NZ topomaps that trampers will be familiar with. The events are often on hill country farmland, and present a great opportunity to explore surprisingly interesting country not normally accessible to individuals.

What is Rogaining?

Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation, in which teams of two to five people visit as many checkpoints as they wish in a set time period. The checkpoints are free-choice and have different point values so strategy and route selection becomes a vital component.

The traditional Rogaine is 24 hours in duration but there are also shorter events of 6, 8, 12 and 18 hours. Events that include a night section are generally scheduled to coincide with a full moon – leading to much magical meandering in the moonlight. Rogaines are normally on foot and are usually navigated with standard 1:50,000 topomaps. Rogaining is a challenging sport and is a lot of fun.

Origin of Rogaining

Rogaining evolved 20 years ago from the 24-hour walks held by the Melbourne University Tramping Club. These competitive events were based on tramping-style navigation and walking skills, with everyone seeking the same sequence of checkpoints. Rogaining was a solution to the “follow-the-leader” problem they were getting with large numbers of walkers, and was devised by ROD, GAIL, and NEIL Phillips. Hence the name ROGAINE.

The 24-hour walks organised by the Canterbury University Tramping Club annually since 1967 also have their roots in Melbourne University.

Rogaining is now a big activity in Australia with many State Associations boasting memberships in excess of 1,000 people.

Where are Rogaines held?

Usually Rogaines are held in hilly country on farmland. However there is a fair measure of regional dependency.

How Rogaining Works

Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation in which teams of two to five members visit as many checkpoints as possible in the time allotted to the event. Usually teams travel entirely on foot, navigating by map and compass between checkpoints in terrain that varies from open farmland to steep hilly bushclad country-side. For events that are 12 hours or more it is usual to have a central base camp (Hash House) where hot meals are provided and to which teams may return at any time to eat, rest, (or even sleep in the longer events). Teams travel at their own pace and anyone from children to grandparents can experience the personal satisfaction that comes from cross-country navigation at their own level of competition and comfort.

The traditional rogaine is 24 hours in duration but there are also shorter events of 6, 12, and 18 hours. Events with a night section are usually scheduled to coincide with a full moon.

The planning of your route begins between 1 and 3 hours (depending on the length of the event) before the start of the event. You are provided with a map with all the checkpoint locations marked on it, and a description of each checkpoint and its point value. You choose your own route to get whatever checkpoints you want but the idea is to maximise the total point value obtained. But, you need to make sure that you get back before the time limit expires as there are hefty points penalties for being late. At each checkpoint there is a punch with which you pierce your control card in the appropriate numbered square for that checkpoint; this proves you have been to the checkpoint. (In some Rogaines commonly known as “shoestring” you may be asked to provide a description of some feature at the checkpoint to prove that you have been there). Rogaining is a team sport and the team MUST stay together at all times.

Rogaining is a team activity for people of all ages and levels of fitness. Everyone from elite athletes to families with young children can enjoy rogaining. New rogainers are always welcome and event organisers are willing to help you get started. The parts of the course you visit are entirely up to you and your team members. There are no set routes and you don’t have to spend the whole time on the course. You can return to the Hash House at any time for some hot food and rest or even a sleep, before heading out again. Some competitive teams may cover 50km in a 12 hour event and 80km or more in an event of 24 hours duration. However, the distance you travel is entirely up to you. The satisfaction comes in finding your way around the course according to the route that you have chosen, and navigating back to the finish within the time limit.

All you need is some basic outdoors gear including comfortable and warm clothes and shoes, compass, whistle, pencil, some food and a water bottle, a torch for night events, and a basic team first aid kit, all carried in a light pack or bumbag. On the longer events you may also wish to bring along camping gear so you can spend some of the night at the Hash House.

Entry fees cover hot food during and after the event, your map, information sheets and facilities at the Hash House. The food after the event is usually a decent meal.

Beginners Guide

Planning

A good mix of planning and navigation skills, and fitness, is the rogainer’s secret. Planning your course thoughtfully and understanding the map are at least as important as fitness.
Plan your day well before the physical stuff starts. Estimate how far you think you can travel (don’t expect to visit all check points). Pick a circuit you think is within reach, remembering you must be back by the finish time, and that some travel may be in darkness. Perhaps 12 hours is too long for the first time? There is no need to be out for the full duration.
As a guideline, top teams fairly consistently cover about 45 km, measured as straight-line distance between checkpoints on the map, over 12 hours. One grid square on the map is 1 km on the ground. Add more for the ups and downs and the wiggles. Don’t get too optimistic and end up having to walk or run back from the middle of nowhere to keep within the deadline.
To help your planning, colour in the check points according to their point values. Stick pins into the map over cardboard and trace cotton around them to measure distance. Draw circles out from the start point to show distances involved. How far? How much climbing? (Climbing means crossing the brown contour lines, upwards.)
Think about how to link checkpoints to minimise the distance you travel, including climbing and descending, while maximising points. Be prepared to adjust your course as the day progresses, depending on progress.
Check last minute instructions and map corrections on the whiteboard at the start.

Using the Map

The map is your main navigation aid. You might use a compass to keep the map oriented (lined up so that features on the map are in the same direction as they are on the ground). You are unlikely to need a compass for fine navigation to find checkpoints, except in fog and darkness.
Get to know what the map symbols mean and visualise what they look like on the ground. Brown contour lines (close together means steep ground), fences, streams, forest patches, saddles, rock outcrops, etc. are important.
To ORIENTATE the map, either:
- visually line up features (e.g. streams, fences, forest patches, ridges) on the map with the corresponding features on the ground. Usually this is adequate in feature-laden terrain and with good topographical maps, or
- lay the compass on the map with its north-south engraved markings parallel to the map north-south grid lines. Rotate the map and the compass together until the compass needle is parallel with the magnetic north pointer on the map margin or the overprinted magnetic grid lines running top right-bottom left (not the published ‘up and down’ grid lines of the map).
Topographical maps with relief shading can trick us when read upside-down. You may see ridges as valley floors and vice versa. To avoid this, keep the map with the northern edge uppermost and the writing up the right way. This means you cannot always keep it orientated and you will need to rotate the image in your mind as you flip-flop from map to the ground.
The map is a snapshot in time. The shape of the land won’t change much, but don’t be perplexed when you discover a track that is not marked on the map, or you find extra fences, or fences have gone, etc. Vegetation can change too.

On the move

Take it easy at the start. It takes time to build the judgement to relate the map to the ground, and to get your eye in for relating map distance to ground distance. Be especially careful to find the first checkpoint. It’ll build your confidence and eye for country. Don’t uncritically follow the team in front. If they drop you, you’ll lose whatever sense-of-landscape you had developed.
When departing one checkpoint for the next, first determine the general direction in which to travel, using the orientated map. Then pick your route – it may be along an obvious feature such as a spur, stream or fence. A track if you’re lucky. If there is no obvious route, identify some middle-distant feature in the direction of the checkpoint, both on the map and on the ground. Monitor your progress towards the target. Keep tabs on each recognisable feature (e.g. streams, fences, spurs) that you pass on the map (orienteers call it “thumbing the map”). Once you lose track of individual features it is hard to sort out where you are.
Use linear “collecting” features such as fences, streams or ridges to navigate and follow – they allow you to monitor progress and to keep on a particular line. Pace counting may help you judge the distance travelled.
It often helps to deliberately aim to one side of your target. Then you can be sure that the checkpoint lies out to one particular side, rather than not knowing whether to look to the left or the right as you approach it.
Rogaining check points are not hidden in the landscape, and are usually visible from at least 20m away. They should be located very close to the centre of the circle. Descriptions are straightforward. “The …” on a checkpoint description sheet means that the particular feature (e.g. “The tree”) is depicted on the printed map. “A tree” means the specific tree is not marked on the map, but it will be clearly visible in the field.
If you can’t immediately locate the checkpoint, check and double-check your position, even if it means some backtracking. Once found, it will give you greater confidence to proceed, and a known location from which to navigate onwards.
Occasionally, checkpoint flags get removed or blown away between course setting and the event. If this happens, sign the intentions sheet (if present) and describe on your card some distinctive feature near where you think the checkpoint should be. Do the latter if you’re convinced the checkpoint is in the wrong place. (It happens).
Ensure you reach the finish by close-off time. If not you’ll incur severe points penalty. It’s a safety matter as well.

Always

Heed all safety instructions and landowner-courtesy advice in mail-outs and briefings, and use your common sense. Your safety and the future of rogaining might depend on it. Rogaining enjoys excellent landowner and rural community support.
Enjoy your day, and remember it’s as much about enjoyment, and learning about navigation and the landscape, as about competition.

The Navlight System

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The Tags

The navlight scoring system will be used. Each team will be issued with two tags which must be fitted using the supplied wrist-band to two team members. For a mixed team one member of each sex must wear a tag. Each of these team members must record their visit at each punch. The last to register is the allocated time.

The NavLight system has two main components; the Punches and the Tags. The Punches are powered by one AA battery and hang from a cord at each checkpoint. The Tags are un-powered and are worn on the wrist by the competitors. They are attached with a security band.

When you visit a checkpoint you record your visit by inserting the Punch into the Tag; a process which typically takes half a second. A red light flashes regularly to indicate that your visit has been recorded.

Apart from the Checkpoint Punches, there are some special-purpose punches which you MUST be aware of. They look the same as normal Punches but have been allocated a special Status.

Use a BRIEF Punch before the event start.
Use a FINISH Punch whenever you return to the Administration area.
Use a DEPART Punch if you have returned and go out again.

After you have used the FINISH Punch at the end of the event an organizer will remove your tag from your wrist (do not remove it yourself) and it will be scored. Wait for your printout which will look something like this: (Start time was 6:40:00 PM.)

Team No. 62       Tag ID = ACBA     Tags=0017

Line #      PunchID  Value    Time Punched           Split Time.
   1  66        21/12/2005  6:35:41 PM              BRIEFING. Score reset.
   2  26   20   21/12/2005  6:44:43 PM    0:04:43  
   3  21   20   21/12/2005  6:58:12 PM    0:13:29  
   4  30   30   21/12/2005  7:01:18 PM    0:03:06  
   5  48   40   21/12/2005  7:06:30 PM    0:05:12  
   6  37   30   21/12/2005  7:17:30 PM    0:11:00  
   7  53   50   21/12/2005  7:27:21 PM    0:09:51  
   8  38   30   21/12/2005  7:33:51 PM    0:06:30  
   9  38        21/12/2005  7:33:52 PM    0:00:00   Punched on Line 8
  10  41   40   21/12/2005  7:44:20 PM    0:10:28  
  11  60   60   21/12/2005  7:56:10 PM    0:11:50  
  12  55   50   21/12/2005  8:02:56 PM    0:06:46  
  13  44   40   10/12/2004  1:05:20 PM           Before Event Start.
  14  61   60   21/12/2005  8:50:26 PM    0:47:30  
  15  28   20   21/12/2005  8:59:33 PM    0:09:07  
  16  64        21/12/2005  9:42:46 PM    0:43:13   FINISH TIME.
  17  65        21/12/2005  9:42:52 PM    0:00:06   FINISH TIME Ignored.

END
Recognised finish time 21/12/2005  9:42:46 PM

Time on course   3:02:46
  490 Points Scored.
   30 Late Penalty.
  Nil Manual adjustment.

FINAL SCORE = 460

Note that on line 13, the recorded time was a year early. This happens if the battery has been momentarily disconnected in the Punch sometime before you got to it. Although the time is wrong, you still get the points.

The function of special-purpose Punches is described in more detail below.

TEST Punch. This is available at Registration for you to try your Tag to see how the system works. It has no effect on your score. If the red light flashes even once, it has worked.
BRIEF Punch. One or more BRIEF Punches will be available shortly before the event start. You will usually find the BRIEF Punch as you enter the Briefing area; hence the name. Officials may inspect your Tag to ensure it is properly fastened on your wrist so it is important that each Tag is registered on one of these Punches BEFORE you start the event.
FINISH Punch. Several of these will be available at the finish line. ALL team members with Tags MUST use one as you finish, as it records your finish time. For a team, the finish time is taken as the time of the last Tag to finish. If you return during the event, you should still use a Finish Punch. It doesn’t matter if you subsequently go out for more checkpoints, as long as you use a FINISH Punch again when you return. Earlier Finish times will be ignored.
DEPART Punch. If you visit the administration area during an event, and use a FINISH Punch when you arrive, you must use a DEPART Punch when you leave again.

Fitting the Wristbands

The wristbands are made from a rugged vinyl material and can not be removed from the wrist without breaking them. Wear them quite loosely; you should be able to fit two fingers comfortably between the band and your wrist. Over a 24-hour period, a tight strap will cause irritation.
Thread the band through your Tag, wrap it around your wrist, then close the clasp through one of the holes in the strap.

There is a loose end which you can pull off carefully.

What if Something Goes Wrong

PUNCH FAILURE:

If you encounter a Punch which fails to operate, write down its internal 3-letter Code as evidence that you have visited the checkpoint. This 3-letter code is visible through the transparent plastic cover.

There is a possibility that the punch has temporarily lost its power. If so, you may have to wait for up to three seconds for a response.

TAG FAILURE:

Again, you can only record the internal 3-letter Code inside each Punch you visit. If you are in a team with more than one Tag, you can rely on the other Tags to record your visit, but tell the boss when you finish.

Rules

Details of the rules of Rogaining can vary from event to event. The common theme is that teams stick together, find checkpoints quickly and efficiently by good map reading and navigation, and must return to base by the event finish time or be penalised.

New Zealand Rules of Rogaining

Rogaining is an amateur sport to be enjoyed by social and competitive participants and event organisers. These technical regulations have been drafted with simplicity and enjoyment as primary guides and govern the conduct of all rogaining events. The regulations are composed of three parts as follows:

Preamble
Competition Rules
Technical Standards including Australasian Championship Requirements

Preamble:

P1. The Preamble, the Competition Rules and the Technical Standards apply to all championship rogaines.

P2. The rules and technical regulations may be adjusted for specific minor (ie non-championship) events, where it is considered appropriate, by decision of the organising committee. The technical regulations may also be adjusted for a specific championship event where there are compelling reasons to do so. Such changes to the technical regulations for a championship event shall be notified for approval by NZRA and ONZ at least 8 weeks prior to the event, and the changes must be advertised to competitors at least 4 weeks before the event

P3. The Technical Standards set out the minimum requirements for championship rogaines. Improvements beyond these minimum standards are encouraged. Further valuable information can be obtained from the “Guidelines for Organisers” published in the latest edition of the manual “Organizing a Rogaine” published by the International Rogaining Federation.

P4. In accordance with ONZ and NZRA anti-doping policies, the Sports Anti-Doping Rules made by the board of Drug Free Sport New Zealand under Section 18 of the Sports Anti-Doping Act 2006 shall apply.

P5. In interpretation and use of these technical regulations, participants, organisers, committees and jury panel members shall at all times be guided by a sense of fair play.

P6. For the majority of participants, rogaining is a social and recreational activity. The purpose of these regulations is to introduce a standard based on wide experience that will enhance the sport in general and allow for a competitive element to the sport that is based on fairness. Many of the competition rules relate to safety and etiquette on which the reputation of rogaining with government and landowners is founded and which, if contravened, will threaten the survival of the sport. Organisers must pay particular attention to ensuring that all participants in an event, irrespective of their competitive status, are aware of the importance of abiding by the regulations on which the sport’s reputation depends.

Competition Rules

Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation for teams travelling on foot. The object is to score points by finding checkpoints located on the course within a specified time. Checkpoints may be visited in any order.

Definitions

“The course” means anywhere a team travels during the time of the rogaine but specifically excludes the access road and areas in the proximity of an administration area designated by the organisers for non-competition use, for example for parking or camping. “Event site” includes the course and any administration, access and non-competition areas.

Entries

R1. A team shall consist of two, three, four or five members.

R2. A team that has a member under fourteen years of age shall also have a member eighteen years of age or over.

R3. Competition placings are awarded in several sections based on the age and gender composition of teams. Each team shall be deemed to be entered for all sections of the competition for which it is eligible.

R4. No member of a team shall have been involved with the organisation of the rogaine so as to have a prior familiarity with the rogaine course or the fieldwork of the rogaine map.

Respect for Land and Property

R5. Competitors shall respect public and private property:

Competitors shall not cross newly sown ground or growing crops, except if specifically permitted by the organisers, or any area deemed out-of bounds by the organisers and shall keep a reasonable distance from dwellings and stock with young.
Competitors shall take due care when crossing fences, crossing at corner posts, solid posts, or between wires wherever possible. Each team shall leave gates in the same state as they were found.
Competitors shall not discard litter or light fires at the event site nor smoke on the course.
Competitors shall not unduly damage or disturb native flora or fauna.
Dogs and weapons of any kind, including firearms, are prohibited at the event site.

Conduct of Competitors

R6. Competitors shall not enter the course until the official start is signalled.

R7. The only navigational aids that may be carried on the course are magnetic compasses, watches and copies of the competition map. The possession of other navigational aids, including pedometers, altimeters and GPS receivers on the course is prohibited except where event organisers provide a means by which information on the devices cannot be accessed while on the course. The possession, at the event site, of maps that provide additional information not shown on the competition map is prohibited.

R8. The use of aids for course planning other than for distance measurement and scoring estimation is prohibited.

R9. Competitors shall travel only on foot.

R10. Members of a team shall remain within unaided verbal contact of one another at all times whilst on the course. A team shall demonstrate compliance with this requirement to any event official or other team on request.

R11. Organisers shall issue checkpoint recording devices, which shall be a scorecard and/or an electronic recorder to one or more members of each team. Electronic recording devices shall be attached to the competitors by a tamper-proof device, such as a wrist band, before the commencement of the event. Tamper-proof devices shall only be cut or removed by event officials.

R12. A team shall surrender its recording device(s) to any event official, and shall advise their team number to any event official or other team, on request.

R13. A team shall not accept assistance from, nor collaborate with, other people, nor deliberately follow another team.

R14. No food or equipment shall be left on the course before the event for a team’s use, and no food or equipment shall be discarded on the course unless retrieved by the team during the event and brought by the team with them to the finish.

R15. Competitors shall carry a whistle at all times whilst on the course. In an emergency a competitor shall give a series of short blasts on their whistle.

Checkpoints

R16. All team members shall simultaneously approach to within 5 metres of each checkpoint for which points are claimed.

R17. In order to gain points for a checkpoint teams must record their visit to that checkpoint using the recording device provided by the organisers; in the correct square where a scorecard is used. If a team punches an incorrect square, they must notify the organisers of the details of this immediately upon returning to the administration to be eligible to be credited with that checkpoint.

R18. Where more than one electronic recording device is provided to a team, all devices must record a visit to a checkpoint to gain points for that checkpoint.

R19. Teams shall fill in any intention sheet at the checkpoint with the time of arrival, the team number and the number of the checkpoint that they intend to next visit.

R20. If a recording device is lost, a team may present in its place a record of punch marks or a record of the electronic “punch” human readable backup codes on any single sheet. The organisers will accept this single sheet from the team provided that the punch/record marks are discernible, and the team can identify to the organisers the checkpoint number for each of the marks.

R21. Competitors shall not deliberately rest within one hundred metres of a checkpoint unless the checkpoint is also a water drop.

R22. Competitors shall not adversely interfere with a checkpoint, water drop, any other facility placed upon the course by the organisers, or the equipment of any other team.

Administration Areas

R23. Whenever a team visits an administration area, all team members are required to report together to the organisers and surrender their team’s scorecard and/or “check-in” their electronic recording device(s). The team shall only collect its scorecard and/or “check-out” their electronic recording device(s) immediately prior to leaving that administration area.

R24. A team is considered to have completed the event when all of the members report together to the designated finish administration area and surrender their recording device(s). The team finish time is the latest time recorded for any member of the team.

R25. If a competitor wishes to withdraw from a team for any reason the entire team shall return to an administration area and notify the organisers. The original team shall be deemed to have finished the event. If a new team is formed it may be admitted to the competition at the discretion of the organisers but no points shall be credited for checkpoints already visited.

Penalties and Protests

R26. The penalty for breaching these rules is disqualification except for rules R16, R17, R18 and R19 for which the penalty is the loss of points for the checkpoint under consideration. Any team disqualified under this rule shall be recorded as DSQ.

R27. A team may voluntarily withdraw, by advising the organisers immediately upon their finish, if they have breached any rule for any reason and shall be recorded as W/D.

R28. A team may report in writing to the organisers about any team thought to have breached these rules, or may protest in writing to the organisers about any actions of the organisers that they consider made the competition unfair.

Within 45 minutes of the nominated finish time, if the violation was detected on course
Within seven days of the results being published, if the violation is only evident through examination of the results or admission after the fact by a competitor.

Scoring

R29. The event shall end at precisely the set number of hours after the actual starting time, both times as defined by the organisers’ clock. Where multiple timing devices are in use, the organisers shall ensure all clocks used to record finishing times are synchronized. Teams finishing late will be penalised at the rate per minute or part thereof specified in advance by the organisers. Teams finishing more than thirty minutes late shall be deemed ineligible for a placing and their result shall be recorded as LATE.

R30. A team’s score shall be the value of the checkpoints visited and correctly verified in accordance with these rules, less any penalties. The team with the greatest score, or in the event of a tie the team that finished earlier, shall be awarded the higher placing.

R31. In the event of a checkpoint being damaged or deemed misplaced or missing by the organisers, teams shall be awarded the checkpoint score:

If the punch is missing or damaged but the team has a correct record on the intention sheet.
If the punch is missing and there is no intention sheet, but the team can satisfy the organisers that they visited the correct site.
If a checkpoint is missing or misplaced but the team can satisfy the organisers that they visited the correct site.
For a correctly recorded visit to a misplaced checkpoint.
If an electronic “punch” fails but the team has either (where applicable) a punch on a backup control card or record of the human readable backup code for that checkpoint.

General

R32. Any team hearing a distress signal must abandon their course and help in any way needed. No team shall be penalised for any rule breached in the course of giving such help.
R33. Communications devices such as mobile phones may be carried for safety purposes when event organisers provide a means by which the devices cannot be accessed whilst on the course unless for an emergency.

Technical Standards

These Technical Standards apply to all championship rogaines.

T1. All championship rogaines shall be of 24 hours duration and shall start and finish at 12 noon or such other time as may be agreed that will give essentially equal duration of daylight both before and after the period of darkness. New Zealand championship rogaines shall not be run in competition with the Australian Rogaining Championships.

T2. The course shall be so designed that “finishing the course” by visiting every checkpoint is unlikely, but that the winning team is likely to visit a significant majority of the checkpoints.

T3. The organising team shall include one or more Course Vetters who are suitably experienced rogainers approved by the organising association. The Vetters shall ensure the fairness of the event and that the style, balance and length of the course are appropriate to the event. The Vetters shall also inspect the course looking for any unwanted problems that it could present to competitors, including the location and number of water drops, any inaccuracies in checkpoint placement or description, and potential safety hazards. The Vetters, operating independently of the person who set that checkpoint, shall check the location of each checkpoint. The Vetters shall check to ensure the map, the checkpoint description, the terrain accuracy and checkpoint locations are fair from all obvious attack points in all reasonably expected light conditions. In the event of an unresolved dispute, the Vetters shall refer the matter to the organising association.

T4. Each competitor shall be provided with a copy of the event map. The map shall:

Be at a scale between 1:24,000 and 1:64,000.
Have a contour interval that is not more than 20 metres and is suitable for terrain legibility.
Be clearly readable under natural and artificial light.
Be pre-marked with grid or magnetic north lines, magnetic north, checkpoint locations and numbers, water drop locations and known out of bounds areas.

T5. Advance information for the event shall be available at least 2 weeks before the event and shall state the map scale and shall give a brief description of the terrain. It shall also state the starting and finishing times, the time at which maps and checkpoint descriptions become available and the points penalty for finishing after the nominated finish time.

T6. A copy of the Competition Rules shall be referenced in the pre-event information. In addition, a copy of the Competition Rules shall be on display at the administration area from the time that maps become available until the finish of the event.

T7. Each competitor shall be provided with a complete list of checkpoint descriptions. Descriptions shall follow the guidelines promulgated in the IRF “Organizing a Rogaine” manual, and in particular the “the-a” convention whereby features explicitly shown on the map are prefixed by “the” and those not so shown are prefixed by “a”.

T8. Maps and checkpoint descriptions together with any known map changes and other essential information shall be available as written handouts at least two, and not more than four, hours before the start time. Every reasonable effort shall be made to ensure that any necessary last minute changes are communicated to all teams.

T9. The checkpoint descriptions shall be listed in ascending order of points value in order to facilitate route planning and for ready reference in the field. It is preferred that the leading digit(s) of the checkpoint number reflects its points value.

T10. Each checkpoint shall be allocated a single points value that shall not change during the competition. Additional points shall not be available to competitors for visiting specific combinations of checkpoints or specific checkpoints at specific times.

T11. Markers used at checkpoints shall be:

three-dimensional with a minimum of three vertical faces,
a minimum 800 cm² on each face,
of bright colours, preferably orange and white, so as to be clearly visible in the open in daylight from at least 50 metres.

T12. Each marker shall be placed in such a manner that competitors who successfully navigate to the correct position have little or no trouble finding the marker. Unless located on a specifically defined point feature or otherwise indicated on the checkpoint description sheet the marker shall be generally visible from at least 25 metres in most directions in clear daylight and shall be between 0.5 and 2 metres above the ground (preferably near eye level). Any punch or recording device attached to the marker shall be easily reached. Markers shall be as close as possible to the checkpoint feature. Where it is necessary to place a marker in a position which is either more than 10 metres, or not obviously visible, from the feature then a magnetic bearing and distance to the marker from the feature shall be included in the checkpoint description.

T13. Where electronic checkpoint visit recording devices are used the organisers shall establish a procedure for fairly dealing with a failure of such devices and/or the enabling software and shall advise competitors of this procedure in the pre-event information.

T14. During the event, the organisers shall not release any information relating to provisional results, the progress of any team, or the route chosen by any team.

T15. Competitors shall be able to obtain suitable food and drinks at one or more “hash houses” at all times not later than six hours after the start until at least one hour after the finish of an event. If there is more than one hash house it is not necessary that all remain open for the full time, but when maps are distributed competitors shall be informed of the hours between which food is available at each one.

T16. In the event of there being inadequate sources of naturally occurring drinking quality water on the course, organisers shall provide sufficient water drops that competitors do not have to carry an excessive quantity of water. Organisers shall ensure that water is available at these water drops for the duration of the event. Water drops shall be placed on obvious navigational features and described on the checkpoint description sheet. Their locations shall be vetted in the same way as checkpoints. Water drops may be at checkpoints. Organisers may provide fruit or other food on the course at either water drops or checkpoints for the use of participants. Any such food points, including the times of food availability at the point, shall be so noted on the checkpoint description sheet. General details of water and food provided shall be included in pre-event information.

T17. Competition categories shall be provided as follows:

There shall be three gender classes of competition:
- Men (all team members must be male)
- Women (all team members must be female)
- Mixed (teams must contain at least one female and one male)
There shall be three age categories of competition within each gender class:
- Open (no age restriction)
- Veteran (all team members must be 40 years of age or over on the first day of competition)
- Super Veteran (all team members must be 55 years of age or over on the first day of competition)
At the discretion of the organising association, there may be additional age categories, for example Junior (under 18 years), Under 23, Ultra-veteran (65 years and over). See Clause C4 for Australasian Championship categories.
Teams are deemed to compete in every category for which they are eligible.

T18. The full results of the event shall be made publicly available as soon as reasonably practical after the event. These results shall show the team members’ names, team number and points score for every team, together with their overall placing and their placing in every class for which they are eligible. Withdrawn, late and disqualified teams shall also be shown.

T19. Any report of an alleged rule breach by a team, or protest by a team against the organisation of an event, under R28a shall be considered and determined by a three-person jury prior to the announcement of the results for that event. The jury shall be drawn from a panel of suitably qualified and experienced rogainers nominated by the organising association. The names of panel members shall be made known to the association members either by publishing at least annually in the association newsletter or website, or by setting out in the pre-event information distributed to participants. The panel members selected for any specific jury shall be selected by the organisers and shall meet the following criteria:

Members of the team protesting, reporting or being reported against shall not be on the jury.
Members of the organising team shall not be on the jury.
No member of the jury shall have a vested interest in the jury’s determination to the extent that disqualification of any team, which is the subject of the jury’s determination, would move that member’s team’s placing into or within the first three placings in any age/gender category.

The event organiser and Course Vetter shall assist the jury in hearing any report or protest as required, but shall not have a vote in the determination. In hearing any protest or report, the jury shall use all reasonable means to gather as much data as is reasonably necessary, and shall give a fair hearing to both the team making the report/protest, and the party being reported/protested against.

T20. Organisers may charge a fee of up to $20 for the submission of a protest, provided that this is stated in the pre-event information distributed to participants. This fee shall be refunded if the protest is upheld, or if the protest is dismissed but the jury considers that the protest was well intentioned.

Australasian Championship Requirements:

The annual Australasian Championships are regional championships for the purposes of qualifying competitors for the world championships controlled by the IRF. They are organised annually by ARA or, currently once every 5 years, by NZRA. The following requirements apply to the Australasian Championships.

C1. The Course Vetter for the Championships shall be an experienced rogainer who has participated in at least three prior Australian, New Zealand or state championship rogaines and is approved by both NZRA and ARA. Any changes to the Course Vetter following their approval shall be notified as soon as practical. The names and experience of all key technical organisers of the Championships, including the Course Vetter, shall be notified not less than one year prior to the date of the event.

C2. The map to be used for the Australasian Championships shall meet the following additional requirements:

Be at a scale in the range 1:25,000 to 1:50,000.
Be printed in at least four colours.

C3. The use of reflectors or reflective material to enhance checkpoint visibility is not permitted.

C4. The following age categories shall apply for the Australasian Rogaining Championships:

Open (no age restriction)
U23 (all team members must be under 23 years of age on the first day of competition)
Veteran (all team members must be 40 years of age or over on the first day of competition)
Super Veteran (all team members must be 55 years of age or over on the first day of competition)
Ultra Veteran (all team members must be 65 years of age or over on the first day of competition)

The date of birth shall be collected for each team member to verify age category and may be used to provide pre-qualifying status for world championship or similar events.

C5. The team with the highest score in the Championships in each gender class shall be the Australasian Rogaining Champion, irrespective of which age category they are entered in.

C6. The jury of three persons for the Championships shall be drawn from a panel consisting of the President, Secretary, Treasurer and Technical Subcommittee Chair of the ARA and NZRA plus all members of state association and NZRA committees and all state representatives on the ARA technical subcommittee.