As a slightly older than middle-aged man who is mad on Rogaining, I was really looking forward to the opportunity to do a Rogaine by myself. Heavens know what I could manage without one or other of my sons who normally make up the team.
After an hour studying the map Barry blew a whistle and off we all went. I headed up the hill to 66 and no one else did. That was a bit of a worry! The controls were found quite easily and there were plenty out there to keep the interest up. Two caused me a slight delay, an error with my navigation. A chat with Richard Law at 100 and then it was time to head back. The hills got steeper and slower but my careful planning was telling me I was ahead of my target. Back on the flat and feeling plenty cocky about how many points I had collected, Keith Murray & Martin Lukes went running past me.
On reflection I found it much harder on my own and now appreciate that a good team could always do better.
How did I do? On the day I was 4th overall and pleased as a dog with two tails that I had beaten Tony LeSueur by 60 points to be the first solo in. I was brought back to earth on the Tuesday when I was told by Susan that there had been an adding error and in fact he had beaten me by 30 points. At least I can add better than he can.
Thanks Barry, Susan and the other helpers, it was a great event.
Results have been posted.
And from the Planner, Barry Hope:
We could not have held the event without the willing cooperation of the 4 landowners: Bill Peter of Beneagle, which was the biggest part of the map, Paul Kemp of Lakeview Station to the north and east of Maxwell Pass, Graeme Cooper who owns the north western corner, and Chris Gorman of Dumgree in the southeast.
I would like to encourage all those who tried their first rogaine at this event to have another go; there is always something to learn!!!!!!!!! as well as fun to be had.
Thanks everyone for coming, you make the event, and it is great to have your support for all the work done beforehand. We will run another one next year, probably a few months earlier (perhaps before the Heights of Winter) to make sure we are well clear of lambing.
This page written by two stalwarts of rogaining in Marlborough mentioned above, and installed 29 Aug 02