MADeventz more wellknown for their Taylors Mistake series around Christchurch produced a weekend of rogaining on the East Coast north of Gisborne. The rogaine was based at local secret Anaura Bay. It was all about experiencing rogaining coast stylz!
MADeventz more wellknown for their Taylors Mistake series around Christchurch produced a weekend of rogaining on the East Coast north of Gisborne. The rogaine was based at local secret Anaura Bay. It was all about experiencing rogaining coast stylz!
Entrants came from all corners of the North Island representing the rogaining communities in Wellington, Auckland, New Plymouth and Rotorua. These hardcore were supplemented by some curious locals who have had their interest in rogaining spiked by the organisation of a couple of local rogaines by local multisporters Rhys Burns, John Harris and Rachel Smith. People had come a long way and Anaura Bay treated them well, the morning of the first event dawned beautifully, and while the wind got up later the cloud kept away the parching sun which can be a rogainers biggest enemy in them there hills.
The first event, which was of 8 hours duration was held on the coastal Nuhiti station. Rugged ridges sweeping into the sea, bisected by streams lined with native bush and remnant puriri forest. The craggy coastal feature of Mawhai point home to a former whaling station was visited by most with high pointers located on its tip. A lone hermit sheep eyed competitors curiously as they scrambled over rocks to his gnarly island of grass and bush. There was some honest labour going on, with plenty of hills to keep the competitive ones busy. Neil Jones had brought over a team from Whakatane and beyond, including son Daniel and wellknown adventure racer Grant Burke, who were expected to do well, but in the end the first day was taken by Hawkes Bay pair Hamish Goodwin and Chris Howell. There was no mercy being given in this competition, the latter moving fast into the finish.
The campsite was at Anaura Bay Motor Camp, a lovely spot on the beach. A great spot to meet likeminded people from around the country and head towards recovery.
If the first day was tough the second day was positively brutal, this time traversing the nearby pine plantation owned by Hikurangi Forest Farms as well as small areas of native bush. Navigation and route choice skills were quite different, requiring more precise compass work and better strategy in determining the most efficient means of collecting checkpoints and weighing up cross country travel against more established paths and tracks. Goodwin and Howell quickly hit trouble as they fell hook, line and sinker for the organisers "sucker controls", spending far too much time on not many points. Jones and comapany didn't need a second invitation. A solid result saw them take the overall win. First on the day however was Wellington team BART Hazel Bidmead and Greg Thurlow.
First local team, well sort of local, as they were accumulated from the local pool of house surgeons known for their transcience, and third overall was team Stevies Wonders: Steve Durrant, Eloise Newbrook and Penny Kane. Kane's qualities as an navigator, current New Zealand middle distance orienteering champion, came through in the end and this was a great result for an inexperienced rogaining team.
The finish was followed by almost universal dips in the ocean, a quick prizegiving supported by key sponsor Thule, and a general farewell, come again next time. The event was a great success and supported by a great group of competitors keen to get out there and explore the lesser known parts of this country. Keep an eye out for the Boohai 2009.
For more information, results and electronic versions of the map check out www.madeventz.co.nz/boohai
This page was written by and installed on 6 Mar 08.