Kara Kara Kruise 6/12hr Rogaine (18 May 2024)

Photo: Grant Kassell

It was a gloriously fine sunny day on Saturday for rogaining (albeit a bit chilly!) with over 250 people coming to the Kara Kara National Park for some superb day and night cross-country navigation. The event was magnificently pulled off by the very organised Derek Morris, who sprang into action when the cancellation of the May rogaine was looming. From thinking we would have no event to the splendid time had by all, we are all extremely grateful to Derek and his team Rob Reaburn & Ted Van Geldermalsen for their brilliant efforts in bringing forward their plans from September.

To all the committee members, volunteers and helpers, thank you for your help in expediently enabling a rogaine to be held months early. Without your incredible work and expertise, this would not have been possible.

To those who travelled a fair distance to this rogaine, I hope it was worth it. Generally only the people who enjoy the event talk to you as a setter. Teams mentioned that the course tested both navigational ability and physical fitness. The difficult terrain limited some novice and inexperienced teams’ checkpoint tally, which may have been disappointing. This was a difficult course designed to challenge even experienced rogainers. Please keep trying – the rogaines coming up in June are designed specifically with beginners in mind.

– Derek Morris, Co-ordinator

It was lovely to see so many rogainers camping out before and after the event, chatting around the fireplace and staying around to swap checkpoint analysis over beef goulash, ham & cheese toasties and brownies. Despite the cold – food was kept chillier left out than in the fridge!

Well done to our winners:

12 Hour

1st       Elizabeth Dornom, Shelley Bambrook (1940 points)
2nd      Tim Plozza, Gleb Belov (1900 points)
3rd       David Rowlands, Alexander Rowlands (1860 points)

6 Hour

1st       Andrew Mccarthy, Clare Brownridge (1170 points)
2nd      Rob Taylor, Ian Gordon (1000 points)
3rd       Carl Tomczak, Michael Cushion (970 points)

Special thanks to First Aiders Leonie Campbell & Ross McKinnon and Navlight Manager Marcelle Gannon for answering our desperate pleas and enabling the rogaine to go ahead. Without volunteers filling key roles, rogaines as we know and love cannot happen – please, please consider stepping up. Don’t be daunted, as no role is too big: we can support you if you are willing to help.

Thank you to the Rotary Club of St Arnaud for providing the BBQ sausages and veggie burgers.

And many thanks to the rest of our amazing and wonderful crew Grant Jeffrey, Grant Kassell, Margie Joyce, Jasmine Savage, Arthur Day, Simin Ngan, Natalie Lukies, Annette Grime, Michelle Eeles, Steve Eeles, Yasmin Kelsall, Warwick Sprawson, Ian Wanless, Andrea Gardiner, John Gardiner, Ellie Gardiner and Lucinda Hookey.