You Rockgaine November 6hr – (19 November 2023)

Competitors head off at the start of the event.

WOW!!  What a spectacular way to finish up the rogaine year at the You Yangs!
Sunny skies, light sea breeze, amazing views, and incredible granite boulders and rock faces.
The course offered something for everyone, ranging from flat open fast areas to challenging steep and scrubby.

This event was very popular, and due to the Park Management rules, the max quota of 300 participants was very quickly reached. The Hash House’s lovely bush setting enhanced the camaraderie, with everyone enjoying the delicious food provided. Such a treat after a rogaine!

Congratulations to Kathryn Preston, Narelle Crozier, Luke Haines who managed to clear the course with 8 minutes to spare! Our top three on the podium were:-

• Kathryn Preston, Narelle Crozier, Luke Haines (2210)
• Shelley Bambrook, Elizabeth Dornom. (1860)
• Teagan Belfrage, Tim Boote.(1810)

Many thanks to the event setting team of Nick Somes, Rod Kenafacke and Derek Morris. Well done on such a great event. It could be said that the real winner on the day was rogaining itself, and watching teams come back in after clearing 10, 20 or 30 controls with smiles on their faces was extremely satisfying. In Nick’s own words:

“As a first-time course setter, it was a great opportunity to get on the other side of the map and set a course. My setting partner, Rod, and I spent many days in the park and in front of the computer setting the course and sorting out the details. We were blessed with an amazing piece of land and a great support team from within the VRA. Thanks to our Vetter Derek Morris, who made sure the event was well set and mapped. Watching the event rather than competing was an experience. After 3 hours of being highly active as we got into the park, got the tent set up and the event started, it was suddenly very quiet as everybody disappeared onto the course. A wait for a few hours and then they started rolling back in with a rush in the last 30 minutes.”

As usual, this event would not have happened without all the hard work put in by the team of volunteers; Grant Jeffrey, Arthur Day, Peter Chen, Lorraine Morgan, Sue Noy, Andrew Davidson, Gen Johnstone, Di Baker, Ian Wanless, Tim Plozza, Phil Jelliff, Cameron Schmelitschek, Ken James, Wayne Merry, Fiona Kirsten, Alaster Meehan, Neil Phillips, Phil Giddings, Raj Kadambi, and John Clemens, as well as Bernadette, Emily, and James Kenafacke who helped with the parking, and everyone else who helped before and after the event. Many Thanks to you all.

Hopefully, everyone, both competitors and volunteers, will return for more when we resume bush rogaines in 2024.