Welcome Stranger 6hr, Roving 15hr and 24hr Rogaine (11 October 2025)

Photos by Heath Sommerville and Susan Brander

Over 300 rogainers competed at the weekend in beautiful weather and flower-filled open forest. A skinny volunteer team provided efficient admin (thanks to Gary for taking on Navlight), delicious food (Boris, Norm, Arom and Steve) and first aid for quite a few blistered feet (thanks to a great first aid team organised by Monica). Thank you to everyone who helped both before the event and over the weekend including:-

Ainslie Cummins, Andrew McCarthy, Anthea Packer, Arom Malee, Arthur Day, Boris Bulkin, Cathy Han, Celia Bolton , Di Baker, Gary Buchan, Grant Jeffrey, Helen Robinson, Jane Phillips, Janelle Christie, Jim Russell, Jonathan Sutcliffe, Julian Wilson, Kerry Gigante, Lawrie Vonarx, Lise Andreasen, Mike Aylott, Monica Raphael, Neil Phillips, Nick Somes, Norm O’Bryan, Peter Chen, Pierre Brokner, Rebecca Monck, Ruth Vonarx, Steve Andreasen, Steve Gelsi, Sue Noy, Tim Collyer, Wayne Merry along with many others that pitched in on the day.

A highlight of the event was the family teams coming in at all hours of the night with under 5’s who’d braved the dark (perhaps in a backpack) and must have wondered what madness their parents had dreamed up for them. Or were they entranced by the magic of being out in the bush at night?

The course was wonderfully gentle and open, and careful navigation was rewarded. Wayne Merry designed a great course that gave the 6hour teams plenty of checkpoints to practise their navigation in subtle terrain close in but caused grief for some of the overnight teams out at the further edges.

It turns out that our caterer Boris has a history as a chef catering for big outdoor events. News on the grapevine is that working with him in the catering tent was a great learning experience.

As usual, there was a great vibe around the Hash House and lots of very happy rogainers enjoying the last rogaine of the year.

Congratulations to Paul Monks and Alaster Meehan who took out our State Championships for another year with an impressive 3330 points. They were followed closely by Shelley Bambrook and Elizabeth Dornom in 2nd and Bernard Walker and Jonathan Sutcliffe claiming the Bronze.

Photo by Monica Raphael

Well done to Morag Stewart and Hamish Dixon who were victorious in the Roving 15hour sub event and Adam Stecher and  Matthew Hudson took out the 6hour event on the Saturday. Our full podium:-

Vic Champs Rogaine 2025 24hour
1st – Paul Monks, Alaster Meehan. (3330pts)
2nd – Shelley Bambrook, Elizabeth Dornom. (3290pts)
3rd – Bernard Walker, Jonathan Sutcliffe. (3140pts)

Welcome Stranger Roving 15hour Rogaine
1st – Morag Stewart, Hamish Dixon. (1850pts)
2nd – Nikita Rand, Ewan Bezzobs, Nick Kluckow. (1530pts)
3rd – Oliver Daniels, David Crowe, Hannah Bradley. (1420pts)

Welcome Stranger 6hour Rogaine
1st – Adam Stecher, Matthew Hudson. (1130pts)
2nd – Brenton Van Der Ende, Mikael Hamalainen. (1100pts)
3rd – Blair Trewin, Jenny Casanova. (1070pts)

As always, click the links to download the full results.