September 50th Anniversary 6hr, Roving 15hr and 24hr Rogaine (25 September 2026)
The Nigel Aylott 24hr Victorian Rogaining Championships - Friday 25 September 2026
24hrs - Midday start on Friday and Midday finish on Saturday
The 24hr event will be the 48th Victorian 24hr Rogaining Championships and the 20th Nigel Aylott Memorial Rogaine.
The 2026 Nigel Aylott Memorial 24hr Victorian Rogaining Championships, with accompanying Roving Fifteen Hour and Six Hour rogaines will be held in the Tallarook State Forest 50 year after the first ever rogaine that was held in the Tallarook State Forest in 1976.
Friday 25 September 2026 is AFL Grand Final public holiday in Victoria. It’s a long weekend. We’ll rogaine on Friday enabling all 6hr teams and Roving 15hr teams to be on their way home before the Grand Final starts. 24hr teams may be challenge to stay awake. Don’t drive without adequate sleep. Sunday 27th September is the full moon so expect moonlight to replace sunlight as the sun sets on Friday night.
For a 24hr rogaine there is no expectation teams compete all night. Plan a short sleep break and experience how a short sleep can revive you or plan to have 9 or more hours rest and score in the Roving 15hr event also.
Most of the Tallarook State Forest is a plateau. Being a 24hr rogaine the course is planned to include surrounding farmland off the edge of the plateau.
Nigel Aylott
Nigel Aylott was a world championship winner, Victorian Rogainer, Committee member for fifteen years and a dedicated volunteer. In 2004, he died at age 38 in an adventure racing accident in North America.
Victorian Rogaining History
In 1976, 24hr long distance cross-country navigation events were being run in Victoria and other states however lacked a name. It was in 1976 the name Rogaine was created by ROd, GAIl and NEil Phillips and adopted by the newly formed Victorian Rogaining Association. The new Victorian Rogaining Association, through an alliance with the Surrey Thomas Rovers, named the Surrey Thomas Rovers December 1976, 24hr walk a Rogaine and it was the first Victorian Rogaining Championship. That event was held at Tallarook.
Read more about the development of 24 hour walks in Australian prior to 1976
Roving 15hr Non-Championship Rogaine - Friday 25 September 2026
Roving 15hrs - Midday start on Saturday and Midday finish on Sunday
The Roving 15hr format will be the same as run in 2024 & 2025. Roving 15hr entrants should register in the 24hr event and will automatically be scored in both the Roving 15hr and in the 24hr. Teams on course for over 15hrs but less than 15.5hrs will incur late penalties in the Roving 15hr results and receive a 24hr result with no penalties. Teams staying out for more than 15.5 hours will be scored in the 24hr rogaine only.
This means that some age groups could see teams finishing within 15 hours potentially placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their categories in the 24hr Championship results.
How a roving 15hr rogaine works
You may spend up to a cumulative 15 hours in total on course out of the 24hrs that the rogaine is underway. How you organise the 15hrs is entirely up to you – you could rogaine for 15 hours straight and finish at 3am or return to the Hash House during the event for some sleep and depart again the next morning. This enables the possibility of a full 9hrs of rest, while still participating in the longer 24hr event but also able to compete against like-minded (sleep-conscious) rogainers, plus you get extra Hash House meals.
You must punch in when you return to the Hash house, and punch out when you leave. This stops and restarts the timing for your team. You will need to ensure that you accurately calculate your time on course yourself in order to avoid late penalty points for clocking more than 15hrs on course.
However you spend your 15hrs or less on course, you must finish by 12 noon on Sunday. The setters will be planning a course that facilitates two routes out and two routes back to the Hash House.
6hr Non-Championship Rogaine -
6hr - Midday start on Friday and 6pm finish on Friday
A short 6hr rogaine that has you finished before sunset.
Event Details
Entry details
Entries will open about 1 month before the event. Early bird entry will be available until Tuesday 15 September 2026, with regular fees applying from Wednesday 16 September 2026 until entries close Tuesday 22 September 2026 at 11:59pm. We will not be accepting any new teams after entries close including on event day. We do accept team changes however request you make your team changes online before 11:59pm 22 September 2026 to save volunteer time on event day.
How to enter the Roving 15hr
Entrants wishing to register for the Roving 15hr rogaine must select the 24hr rogaine on the entry form. You will automatically be scored in the 15hr event if time on course does not exceed 15.5hrs.
Confused about the format? Not sure how to enter? Email admin@rogainevic.org.au
VRA Bus (MUST BE BOOKED EARLY)
The VRA bus + train combination may be offered, subject to demand. Travel is likely to be travel to Tallarook or Seymour by train which each individual pays their own fare and group transport to the Hash House site from the train. Cost expected to be $30 each for the transfer. Expressions of interest in group transport must be made by Wednesday 9th September by contacting Phil on philg@rogainevic.org.au.
Sign up to Volunteer at this event here.
Rogaines could not run without volunteers and this is our most challenging event of the year to organise! We have many volunteer roles to fill. As of July we have filled a number of the key roles. Thank you to those who have already volunteered.
Event Entry Fees
The entry fee for the 6hr, Roving 15hr and 24hr is the same.
Adults: Early Bird $45 | Regular $58
Under 18: $20 (age 14-17)
Under 14: $0
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Final Instructions and Start location
The Final Instructions will be available on the VRA website from Tuesday 20th September. Check for a Final Instructions button at the top of this page on or after 20th September. The Final Instructions will include details of the start location, how to get there, important information about the event, and an attached Indemnity Form. Please print out, complete, and ensure you bring the Indemnity Form to the event. All team members must sign the form.
Please note that no pets are allowed at rogaines either on course or at the Hash House.
Please read our information about Biosecurity in Rogaining and make sure your equipment is clean before you leave home.
Mandatory equipment
For safety reasons we require each participant to have the equipment listed below, and a first aid kit and mobile phone per team. When you come to register with your team, you’ll be asked to confirm that you are carrying this equipment before you can get your map and tags. Please check you have the required mandatory gear so you can confirm you have all of it.
Per Person:
- compass (A digital compass on a phone is not accepted.)
- whistle
- headlamp/torch (A torch on a phone is not accepted.)
Per Team:
- mobile phone
- first aid kit - should contain, as a minimum,
..........1 heavyweight compression bandage for snakebite,
..........1 roller bandage,
..........1 triangular bandage (or blood absorbent cotton pads),
..........sticking plaster,
..........and the VRA first aid instruction sheet.
These items (except for mobile phones) will be available for sale at Event Admin if needed. Compasses can also be hired on the day. Payment is card only.
We recommend installing the Emergency Plus Australia App on your mobile phone. The App displays the GPS coordinates of your current location which, if you can phone or text them to the emergency number of our event map, we can easily find you if lost.
Event Timeline
Friday
9:00 am Registration opens and maps issued. Planning time is 3 hours for a 24hr Championship event
11:45 am Briefing – All must attend
12:00pm Rogaine mass start
5:00 pm (Approximate) Food at the Hash House begins
6:00 pm 6hr event finishes
6:10 pm 6hr rogaine presentation
All night Food at the Hash House will run overnight (pending volunteer numbers)
Saturday
12:00pm 24hr and Roving 15hr rogaines finish
12:15pm Roving 15hr presentation
12:20pm 24hr Championship presentation
Accommodation
Camping at the HH site will be available Friday, Saturday night. Thursday night to be confirmed. Portaloo toilets will be available.
Hash House Meal
6hr rogaine
A sausage sizzle and soup, pasta, and hot drinks.
24hr rogaine & Roving 15hr
Overnight catering will be dependent on volunteer capability but food should be available overnight at the Hash House and/or All-Night Cafe, as well as Sunday breakfast at the Hash House, plus lunch at the 24hr finish on Sunday.
Hot water, tea, coffee, and Milo should be available from Saturday afternoon and throughout the rogaine
Please bring your own bowl, cutlery, mug, and a chair.
Registration, Changes & Withdrawals admin@rogainevic.org.au
Entry Support entries@rogainevic.org.au
Course Enquiries
Grant - - grantj@rogainevic.org.au
Admin Manager
Registration, Changes & Withdrawals - - support@rogainevic.org.au