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Top Two Teams Clear the Course, 8 Dec 14
World AR champion Chris Forne with rogaine specialist Tim Farrant cleared the course in the NZ Rogaine Championship, which finished in the Nevis Valley yeterday. They took a total of 21hrs17. And just over an hour later, Australasian Champions Georgia Whitla and Greig Hamilton came in with a full score. Though there were easy river flats in the remote valley, the elevation range was 1000m and a hard to cross river ran through the middle. Matt Bixley/Martin Lukes were the top men vets, Emily Forne/Katie Bolt the top women. Results have been posted on the NZRA website.

Kiwis Top Australasian Rogainers. Again. 12 Oct 14, result link 15 Oct
Georgia Whitla and Greig Hamilton have won the Aust Rogaine Champs on challenging spur-gully terrain near Castlemaine. A deserved win after both were handicapped by different partners' sickness problems at the worlds in August. Titleholders Rob Jarvis and Phil Wood were 4th overall, 1st open men and 1st vet men. Viv Prince with Aussie Richard Robinson won mixed super-vet (55+) while followers would not be surprised to hear that Bill/Ann Kennedy and Peter Squires took the mixed ultra (65+). There were about a dozen kiwis. This report from Phil Wood. Full results...

Three Titles, 28 Aug 14
... from the World Rogaine Champs, which are now available on the event website. Viv Prince (with Aussie Richard Robinson) won Mixed Super-Vet, Val Rogers and Kathrin Mueller took Womens Super-Vet, and "The Oldies" won the new class of Mixed Ultra-Vet in spite of Pete Squires damaging his back in an on-course fall. Lara Prince/Katie Bolt placed 2nd in Womens Open, Richard English/Michael Wood ditto in Mens Ultra-Vet. And although not a placing, Georgie Whitla and Tim Farrant posted NZ's top score, finishing 12th overall and 5th Mixed Open.

Still No World Results, 27 Aug 14
... ten days after the event. Quite extraordinary for a world championship. There's a self-reporting spreadsheet on the web but only about a third of teams have entered their calculations. The top score reported is 4040 by an Estonian MO pair, with an Estonian XV team not far behind on 3550. Top kiwis appear to be Georgia Whitla and Tim Farrant (3070) though the Estonian vets will beat them for the XO honours. Still a gutsy performance though. Georgia won the open womens US long distance orienteering championship a week ahead of the rogaine.

Great School Rogaine Championship, 27 Aug 14
And while top rogainers were in the US the next generation was battling it out in Whakarewarewa Forest for the school championship. The senior titles were distributed between the traditional Hillary Challenge stronghold of New Plymouth (boys), the schools orienteering hotbed of Hawkes Bay (girls) and the unlikely town of Thames where Matt and Danielle Goodall live (mixed). Results and background coverage on the main Orienteering NZ website. See the terrain through the eyes of a team.

Result Delay for World Rogaine Champs, 21 Aug 14
72 hours after the finish of the World Rogaine Championship in South Dakota, no results have yet been published. There seems to be a lack of expertise with applying the Sport Ident system to rogaining in the US, its not a simple score event as each team member carries a card and the records have to agree. The event was otherwise quite good though the map left a bit to be desired. Two of NZ's top medal hopes - Greig Hamilton/Matt Scott and "The Oldies" were affected by injury.

Championship Season, 6 Aug 14
The inaugural Secondary School Rogaine Championship takes place this Saturday at Rotorua. And teams are setting off for the 12th World Rogaine Champs in South Dakota, on 16-17th. There are 36 kiwis entered out of about 500. The website has the team list. Good luck all!

This Year's Biggies, 20 May 14
True rogainers crave the longer events, the "e" in the name stands for "endurance"! Online entries have just opened for the Heights of Winter 12/6hr rogaine which will be based Blythe Valley just south of the Hurunui River. Its on Sat 14 June. A month later at Waikouaiti just north of Dunedin is the Golden Road 13/6hr rogaine though having been postponed twice we wonder about the advisability of the number 13! Its on Sat 12 July (you didn't consider Sunday??) And the 24hr New Zealand Championship is set down for 6-7 Dec in the Nevis Valley.

Progressive Results Revolutionise Safari, 20 May 14
In a race, a motivating factor is the competitors around you, we've always wondered what a rogaine would be like if you knew your rivals' scores. OHV has wheeled out a scoring system that texts you updates at half-hourly intervals, based on teams texting in the answers to multi-choice questions. Back at the Wellington Civic Square base of the City Safari a big screen displayed not only results but dots on a big map of where the teams were. 550 people took part, and results and routes are now on the website. The capital's newspaper featured the event yesterday on its front page.

Stones in your Shoes, 20 May 14
Choosing a route within a time limit can be combined with all sorts of other challenges: running, kayaking, biking, making sales calls, you name it. The latest: bouldering. The NZ Alpine Club having run out of mountains has run the world's first "bouldergaine". They chose the rock maze at Castle Hill in Canterbury for their ground-breaking event on 15 Mar. Story and pictures, and results...

New National Website and Calendar, 10 May 14
NZOF, now to be known as Orienteering NZ, has a an impressive new website. It includes a new events calendar which we link to at left. There were some issues transferring data across which clubs are addressing, so in the meantime we continue to link to the old calendar too; it has served us well. This Rogaine website will continue until the Rogaine Committee is satisfied that all important content remains available. There are a couple of news items on the new website by president Simon Addison that are worth a read: "Rebranding to Orienteering NZ" and "New Website - Info for Clubs and Members".

NZOF Rogainer of the Year, 25 Apr 14
Phil Wood of Queenstown has been named by the federation as its "Rogainer of the Year" for performance in 2013. With Rob Jarvis from Christchurch he won the inaugural Australasian Rogaine Championship near Cairns in June. This in spite of the pair being veterans, so in rogaining custom they won both MO and MV classes. The pair will contest the world rogaine championship in August in the USA.

New Rogaine Record! 7 Mar 14
The Taranaki Secondary School Rogaine Championship on Wednesday set a new participation record for a NZ rogaine. 954!!!

NZ Rogaine Champs Returns, 4 Mar 14
After a gap of a year and a date change the NZ Rogaine Championship is back for 2014. It will be run by the Central Otago "Highland Events" team on 6-7 December, in the Nevis Valley. There's a good slate of 6+hrs events this year including Lindis Valley (26 Apr), City Safari (Wgtn 18 May), Heights of Winter (14 Jun), Golden Road (Waikouaiti 12 Jul), Rotorua (9 Aug), Nelson (6 Sep) and Akatarawa (29 Dec). Keep an eye on the calendar.

Secondary School Rogaine Champs, 19 Nov 13
The outstanding success of Taranaki's SS rogaine champs has spurred a plan to go national. The first NZ SS Championship will run at Rotorua on 9 Aug 2014. The exact format has yet to be decided but is expected to be not hugely different from Taranaki's 3-hour event. There may be day and night components. The rogaine committee hopes that this will encourage more teenage rogaine participation at the local level. Many clubs are already running mini rogaines from 1 to 3 hours, eg OHV's P-Max Series. If you would like to define a SS rogaining format, or just want to promote it in your (kids') school, contact the

Looking Further Ahead, 8 Oct 13
... The 12th World Rogaine Championship runs 16-17 August next year in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Tourism is a major industry in the Black Hills, with attractions like Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, and the Badlands in close proximity. There's a limit of 1000 people, and a complex preference system is used - it may be worthwhile to enter soon after the process begins on 1 Nov. There are pre-qualified people, preferred people, and others in waitlist order. Get the details here.

But Wait, There's More, 8 Oct 13
Standing out from the 3hr close-to-home rogaines running throughout the year (keep an eye on the calendar) are two more biggies in November. "Dunedin Rogaines" runs a 13/6/3hr event The Golden Road near Waikouaiti on the 23rd. And Orienteering Hutt Valley offers a 10/6hr event The Big Trig near Lower Hutt on 30 Nov. Shorter but in the mountains is the Canterbury Rogaine Series of 6/3hr events with the first on 19 Oct at Castle Hill. Get Out There!

We Can't Count, 8 Oct 13
There were actually 365 people at the Bannockburn rogaine, maybe we missed counting the 6hr MTB section won by Chris Forne, still injured after an incident in South America. Greig Hamilton and Joe Jagusch won the 12hr section, outstanding and only just pushed into 3rd was the mixed team of Jim Cotter and Milan Brodina. Simon Boden, Kris Mayen and Bob McLachlan won the 6hr and the Bixley family the 3hr section. Results here, but this event is not the top one in the result index.

Best Brains at Bannockburn, 12 Sep 13
With no 24hr rogaine this year, entries are high for the next-longest one, the "Wanaka Rogaine" at Bannockburn this Saturday. There are 100 people in the 12hrs, and another 200 in 6 and 3-hour categories. It's being organised by Ed Stevens and Terry Davis, read about it here.

Sole Kiwi at World Champs, 29 Jul 13
Viv Prince was the sole kiwi at the 2013 World Rogaining Championship last Fri-Sat in Pskov, Russia. With Richard Robinson of Queensland, she finished 102nd out of 314 teams, and 4th XSV (mixed super-vet). The winners by 340 points were Silver and Rain Eensar from Estonia, with three other Estonian teams and four Russian teams in the top 10. World Champs are now annual with next year's one 16-17 August in South Dakota, USA, and the 2015 event in Finland (above the arctic circle). The 2013 website has results, statistics, winning routes.

Kiwis On Top! 23 Jun 13, story link 29 Jul
Rob Jarvis and Phil Wood have won the Australasian Champs in Queensland! Finishing with 52 seconds top spare, they were 240 points ahead of second place. And, competing with IRF president Richard Robinson, Viv Prince won mixed supervet, 2nd mixed vet, 3rd mixed open and 4th overall! "The Oldies" won the new Mixed Ultravet category. There were four other kiwi teams. Results, and Phil's story.

Kiwis Off to Kairns, 15 Jun 13
14 Kiwis are in the entry list for the Australian Champs on the Atherton Tablelands near Cairns on 22-23 June. The event is also billed as the Australasian Championship, a title which is expected to come to New Zealand periodically. The event website is under "Adventuresport North Queensland" which seems to cover urban and rural rogaines, multisport, trail running and orienteering, and there are some of these events in the days around the champs. Nice cooperation.

Close Result in Heights, 9 Jun 13
Chris Forne's team of Greig Hamilton and Matt Scott was run unusually close in yesterday's Heights of Winter rogaine near Geraldine. Nathan Fa'avae and Trevor Voyce were only about 100 points behind based on provisionals on the night. There were over 500 participants over the 10hr, 6hr and 2.5hr categories. Results are on the PAPO website and on the NZRA website. There's also a great story on Sportzhub.

Rogainers of the Year, 4 Apr 13
The NZOF's ROTY title has been awarded to Kathrin Mueller and Val Rogers. The Christchurch pair won the silver medal in the Womens Supervet class in the World Champs in Czech Republic last year. They also won the OW, VW and WSV titles at the NZ Champs. Highly commended was Greig Hamilton (also Chch), for his NZ performances which included the NZ open title. And although not NZOF members, we also congratulate kiwis Rob Jarvis and Matt Bixley who finished 8th overall and 2nd MV at the World Champs.

New Rogaine Record, 7 Mar 13, updated 20 Mar
Last nights Taranaki Secondary School Rogaine Champs burst through 700 to become a new NZ record! They are saying its the biggest rogaine in the southern hemisphere and they are probably right. The exact number is rather a lot to count but why don't you try here! Update - its 737 - read a brief summary here.

NZ Championship In Doubt, 8 Mar 13
Last year NZOF had to withdraw from its undertaking to run the 24hr NZ Rogaine Championship in even-numbered years. We held talks with the NZ Rogaine Association which filled the gap last year, but it too is having difficulty; especially in the North Island. There is no date for a 2013 championship, but we do know of these plans. The Heights of Winter 12hr in Canterbury, scheduled for 22 Jun, but likely to move to 8 June; both NZRA in Canterbury and OHV in Wellington are considering 6+hour events in Nov-Dec; and the Australian (24hr) Championship is in Queensland on 22-23 June.

World Championship Wide Open, 8 Mar 13
In 2010, restrictions on numbers at Cheviot brought about a rationing system for World Championships, and it looked like this would become permanent. As it happened everyone who wanted to take part in 2012 in Czech got in. Then the IRF voted narrowly to go to annual world championships. The 2013 World Championship will be held in Russia on 26-27 July. Early this year, numbers were under half of the 1200 limit; they close on 14 July or when the limit is reached.

All But... 28 Oct 12
Greig Hamilton and Matt Scott from Christchurch won the NZ Rogaine Championship at the weekend, visiting all but one 30-pointer! Jana Nyklova, Tim Farrant and Ramash Swamy (Chch/Wgtn) took top mixed (3rd overall), while Val Rogers and Kathrin Mueller were the top women, open, vet and super-vet! 34 teams enjoyed perfect weather throughout; another 19 did a daylight 7-hour version. Results and the winning route here.

Secondary School Rogaine Champs? 18 Oct 12
Plans are afoot for a national secondary school rogaine championship. This would be 3 or 4 hours perhaps accompanied by a 1-2hr prologue the day before. The aim is to encourage the activity that is so successful in Taranaki, and team navigation in general. Vigorous debate is occurring over the optimum time of year. Reasoned views are welcomed by the

NZ Championship Entries Open, 17 Oct 12
Entries are open for the NZ Championship 24hr rogaine, 24-25 November near Dunedin. Its in the Mahinerangi area, a hydro lake formed at the top of the Waipori Gorge, where rolling farmland and tussock goes on for ever. Altitude ranges from 350-1000m. Its 75km from Dunedin and half that from Dunedin airport; you can camp on the night before and after. There's also a simultaneous 7hr daylight event. Get the details and enter online here.

Bonus Points for Teams, 26 Sep 12
Rogaines at opposite ends of the country each attracted 150 people in September. The Wanaka Rogaine on the 15th had 12, 6 and 3hr categories, and awarded bonuses instead of having the usual classes. While the Lactic Turkey Riverhead Rogaine on 22nd offered 12 categories over 4 or 1.5hrs. The Great Forest Rogaine at Rotorua next weekend has even more options: you can bike it, foot it, or both. Some of the controls are specifically for bikes, or feet. And information is available for the NZ Rogaine Championship "Moonlight on Mahinerangi" near Dunedin on 24-25 November. Entries open in October.

Europe Dominates World Rogaine, 6 Sep 12
European rogainers dominated the top positions at the World Champs in Czech, with only Ryna Griesel/Nick Mulder from South Africa muscling into the top 7 positions. Top kiwis were Rob Jarvis and Matt Bixley (Chch/Dn) in 8th who were also 2nd MV. Val Rogers and Kathrin Mueller (Chch) also gained the silver medal in WSV. The mostly forested terrain was densely tracked with many villages, and extended over the border into Germany; there were 700 participants in 333 teams. The event website has a "RouteGadget" map on which teams have been invited to draw their routes.

Pro's in Prebuz, 27 Aug 12
About 30 NZers will be in Prebuz, in the North West of the Czech Republic for the World Rogaine Championships this weekend. Chris Forne is NOT going to be there after all to defend his title, probably the Chch team of Pete Squires, Bill and Ann Kennedy are the best medal hopes in mixed super veteran. Also Val Rogers and Kathryn Mueller in womens super-vet. . More info here...

Heights of Winter Passed, 2 Jul 12
Yes we've had the shortest day, and also the rogaine that runs in Canterbury each winter. A capacity crowd of 80-something teams in each of the 12 and 6hr categories (over 400 people) enjoyed fine weather and easy going for a change. Many teams found themselves scrabbling for extra controls on the farmland near Omihi north of Amberley, but World Champion Chris Forne (with Greig Hamilton) simply got the lot and came back with 85min to spare. Results and winners' route...

And the Results... 29 Jun 12
50 teams in Twalk, but if the winners are anything to go by it would take a week to count the people. Top of NZ's most bizarre endurance event were Chris Forne, Emily Wall, Tim Farrant, Michael Smithson, Katie Bolt, Robert Monro, Jana Nyklova, JJ Wilson, Emily Wilson, Rhys John. See what I mean. Results... Australians (I guess) Paul Williams and Ben Corry won the Australian Rogaine Champs, with top kiwis the remarkable supervet team of Pete Squires, Bill and Anne Kennedy (21st overall). Former kiwi Ted van Geldermalsen was 10th and 2nd supervet men by only 10 points. Results...

Not Much Sleep on Saturday Night, 4 May 12
At least for 161 teams in the Australian Rogaine Champs and an unknown number on Canterbury University Tramping Club's "Twalk" (24hr Walk). The latter is the longest-running endurance navigation event in NZ - this is the 46th edition. We can't say where because teams are dropped off at a secret location. The former is in the Flinders Ranges 6 hours north of Adelaide. There are six kiwi teams including multiple world MSV champions Pete Squires, Bill and Ann Kennedy.

Rogainer of the Year Named, 11 Apr 12
NZOF has named Tim Farrant as its rogainer of the (2011) year. As well as consistent NZ results Farrant (with Elisha Nuttall) placed second outright in the Australian Champs in Tasmania. And with U23 now a recognised class he's still technically a junior! Farrant is currently in the middle of an adventure race near Queenstown - look for The Go Team...

Hoofing It at Springfield, 3 Apr 12
Riders at Springfield are asking, "when's the next rogaine?" 96 riders took part in NZ's first rogaine on horseback. Planners Stuart Payne and Carol Fowler were surprised at the small area required - with fences only crossable at gates. Read Stuart's comments, and the results.

Students Break Rogaine Record, 24 Mar 12
The NZ rogaine participation record has been broken by Taranaki students! In spite of weather that ripped off roofs and cut power, the Taranaki Secondary School Rogaine Champs had 571 participants, passing the 2010 City safari by 6. Well done Taranaki. Results and pics...

And Now... Rogaining for Horses, 1 Mar 12
We've had feet, bikes, kayaks and buses. Now Darfield School, which has run several regular rogaines, is organising one near Springfield (Canty) on horseback. The planners are Stuart Payne and Carol Fowler of PAPO. The 3-hour event will be on Sunday 1 April and entries close 28 March. More...

Birthday Rogaine Result, 6 Feb 12, maps added 9 Feb
Erin Roberts from Rotorua and Pete Swanson (Auckland) won the Waitangi21 multi-stage rogaine over 21 hours finishing today. Just behind, and top-scoring the tough night stage and the final stage on the original 1991 venue, were Julie Gordon and Debbie Mansfield. The interim leaders after days 1 and 2, Liam Drew and Barryn Westfield, were late finishing the final and slipped to third. Results have been posted and (Feb 9) maps and routes put onto RouteGadget.

Waitangi21 Filling Up, 20 Jan 12
Not expected to reach a limit, but entries are flowing in for Waitangi21, the multi-stage rogaine in/around Wellington to celebrate 21 years of rogaining in NZ. As expected some are doing one or two events, some all five rogaines. There will be about 180 controls in total. Entries via waitangi21.ohv.org.nz close on Wed 25 Jan.

World Champs Still Open, 20 Jan 12
Contrary to our 25 Nov item, quick registration for the 2012 World Rogaining Championship was unnecessary. Everyone who registered by 14 Dec was accepted as the number didn't reach the limit, and 40 kiwis are "in". The total number accepted or invited to pay has now reached 880, which is pushing the limit given the IRF wants to hold 150 places (out of 1000) for nationally-selected "wild cards". There are also about 50 people on the waiting list. The message is, you may get in if you register now, but not for much longer! Website...

Orienteering on Summer Nights, 4 Jan 12
Last night on Radio New Zealand's "Summer Nights" programme, Emma Smith talked to Mike Sheridan and Michael Wood about rogaining. Go to the Radio NZ website to hear the 20-minute unedited, fairly casual, chat about the sport.

World Championship: Register Early, 25 Nov 11
As last time, the 2012 World Champs in Czech has a limit, and there's a complex process to determine whether you can get in. Basically there's a list of people who pre-qualify, then it depends on registering early. If you are at all interested, go to the event website and read Bulletin 1. It will be an advantage to register as soon as possible after 00.00GMT on 1 December. That's 1pm NZ daylight saving time.

Entries Open for Waitangi21, 23 Nov 11
Entries are now open for Waitangi21, the multi-stage rogaine near Wellington that celebrates 21 years of rogaining in New Zealand. There will be 5 rogaines totalling 21 hours, and you can do one or all of them. The date is Waitangi Weekend 4-6 Feb, which is a long weekend just before schools go back. Orienteering Hutt Valley which ran the first rogaine is in charge. Website here...

Annual World Championships? 14 Jul 11
It isn't clear, but the International Rogaining Federation has awarded the 11th World Championship to Russia (2013), and the 12th in 2014 to USA. The Russian event will be in the Perm region, and the American one in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Prior to this the worlds have been run in even years, and the next one will be in the Czech Republic on 31 Aug-1 Sep 2012 in the Ore Mountains. There is a website but it doesn't have any details.

Winter Returns to Culverden, 28 Jun 11
The Heights of Winter returned this year to the Amuri area (near Culverden) where some of the early mountain marathons were held. Always well supported, this one was won by vets Phil Wood and Robert Jarvis with 130 points covering the top three teams. C2C winner Fleur Pawsey and Mark Wallace was the top mixed team, 6th overall, while Ryan Thompson and Rhys John beat Carsten Jorgensen and Jenni Adams in the 6hr class. Results and Stuart Payne's organisers report have been posted.

21st Birthday Announced, 30 May 11
It will be 21 years next February since the first rogaine in NZ, and we're going to celebrate! “Waitangi 21” at Waitangi long weekend 4-6 Feb will include the re-running of that first event, a 4-hour rogaine in Belmont Regional Park. The rest of the weekend will consist of rogaines around the Wellington region of 1-12 hours, with a total time of 21 hours. Do one, do the lot! More later.

Challenging Safari, 17 May 11
In more than one sense, torrential rain across Wellington on Sunday morning tested organisers and teams alike. But with a meteorologist among the participants a clearance was confidently expected, and the urban rogaine with public transport went ahead, lacking only the harbour ferry. 160 teams of hardened adventure racers through to tiny kids swimming in their race vests spread from Petone to Island Bay. Mixed teams took the honours over both 3 and 6 hours. Read more...

National Awards to Chris Forne, 27 Apr 11
Chris Forne has been awarded the federation's Rogainer of the Year award. With Marcel Hagener, Forne won the world Rogaining Championship in November, and by a HUGE margin. He is also outstanding in adventure racing and foot-orienteering, and handy in MTBO and Ski-O as well, and was named the International Performer of 2010 at the Easter awards in Hawkes Bay.

Super Secondary School Showing, 20 Apr 11
Taranaki secondary schools have again turned out in force for their SS Rogaine Championship - a 3-hour event at Lake Mangamahoe. There were 457 students, which makes it up there with the City Safari (565) and last year's World Champs (550). The organisers say the growing success has them baffled - and we'd like to know too! Download story and link to results.

NZ Rogaine Champions Unchanged, 21 Mar 11
Jamie Stewart and Greig Hamilton retained their NZ championship title in Marlborough at the weekend, over steep but very passable country on the Wither Hills side of Blenheim. Debbie Mansfield and Julie Gordon also won the womens title again. Conditions were well-nigh perfect, thin cloud keeping temperatures to about 24 during the day, and night-time staying above 10. Results when available.

Kiwis Second in Oz, 8 Feb 11
Kiwi pair Elisha Nuttall and Tim Farrant (Chch) have placed second in the Australian Rogaine Champs, held in Tasmania. They were just 60 points short of experienced Ockers Julia Quinn and David Baldwin. Other top performances included ex-kiwi Ted van Geldermalsen (5th, 1st MSV), Emma and Guy de Lacey (11th, 2nd MV), Julie Gordon and Debbie Mansfield (18th, 1st WV), Bill and Anne Kennedy and a revitalised Pete Squires (30th, and of course 1st XSV). The event website has results, splits, Google Earth routes, and photos.

NZ Championship Website Open, 20 Jan 11
Lots of information about the 2011 NZ Rogaine Championship is now available from its event website. As well as the 24hr event there will be a non-championship "any 15hrs in 24". Entries open on 12 Feb and close on 10 Mar. Meanwhile Taranaki and Wellington have lots of afterwork things happening, while North West (Auckland) will repeat a successful series it ran last autumn. Keep an eye on the calendar.

Change of Date for NZ Championship, 8 Dec 10
Good news for those who can't wait for their next night without sleep - the 2011 NZ Rogaine Champs will now be a week EARLIER, that's 19/20 March. Bad news if you want to do other events on this weekend eg the Coromandel adventure race, but landowner requirements have dictated this.

Rogo Out for the iPhone, 7 Dec 10
The puzzle Rogo, originally designed for pencil and paper, has now come out as an iPhone app. Rogo has elements of crossword, Sudoku, and of course rogaining, as you have to plot a path on a grid to gain the highest possible score. Here's the inventors' boast-sheet, which has links through to the Rogo website and the App Store.

No Rest for the Wicked, 24 Nov 10
Are you wicked? Then diary 26/27 March for the next 24hr rogaine. The 2011 NZ Rogaining Championship will be run in Marlborough. NZ's biggest rogaine the 6/3hr City Safari in Wellington will be on 15 May 2011. And if you're up for another world championship the next one will be in the Czech Republic 31 Aug-1 Sep 2012.

World Title Back to NZ, 22 Nov 10, routes now avail 24 Nov
All-round navigator Chris Forne regained the World Rogaine title he won in Australia four years ago, paired at the weekend with adventure racer Marcel Hagener. And by a massive 850 points! The 24hr event based at Cheviot spread both sides of SH1. Other notable kiwi performances: Bill Edwards/Yvette Hague, 9th/2nd open AND vet mixed; Hamish Goodwin/Pete Swanson 16th/1st vet men; Rowan Nguteren/Carl Jansson 26th/1st junior men; Trish Faulkner 1st supervet women. Full results now include winners' routes...

Foot Vs Bike, 9 Nov 10
Rogainers on foot vied with mountainbikers last weekend at Rotorua. Given 8 hours compared to 6 for the bikers, the top scores were near as dammit the same, with the top two bike teams 10 points ahead of 2006 world champion Dennis de Monchy, and Darren Blackwell. Latvians Anita Liepina and Valters Kaminskis, here for the world rogaine champs were 110 points further back. Weather and track conditions were perfect. Results...

Girls On Top, 5 Sep 10
Female rogainers outnumbered men 4:3 at the Annavale Rogaine last month. 80 teams took part in the 4hr "Attack" and another 25 in the 3hr "Amble", over 300 people. The event was a fund-rasier for Darfield High School, and former NZOF General Manager Stuart Payne credits the turnout to Nathan Fa'avae's Spring Challenge for women. Results...

Scaling the Heights, 27 Jun 10
Nathan Fa'ave and Trevor Voyce took the Heights of Winter by over 200 points from last year's winners Bruce McLeod and Phil Wood, and NZ champion Greig Hamilton who was with Phil Novis. But just behind them Bill Edwards and Yvette Baker posted the top mixed (and mixed vet) score. The City Safari winners are both former world orienteering reps, Baker having a gold medal to her credit. Full results...

Huge Entry for Heights of Winter, 23 Jun 10
Well over 300 people will take part in the Heights of Winter on Saturday, about half in the 6 and half in the 12-hour section. Last year's winners Bruce McLeod and Phil Wood are back; Safari winners Bill Edwards and Yvette Baker will be there; and so will Rogo inventor Nicola Petty. Missing unfortunately will be multiple XSV world champion Pete Squires who hasn't been well; but Bill and Ann Kenendy will be carrying the flag. More on the NZRA website.

New Puzzle based on Rogaining, 9 Jun 10
Two Canterbury Uni academics have invented a puzzle which they hope will rival Sudoku. Rogo takes its name from "rogaining", and the challenge is to plot a path round numbers on a crossword-like grid, gathering the highest possible score. Nicola Petty (who took up rogaining last year) and Shane Dye are senior lecturers in the Dept of Management, and see similarities between rogaining and their specialty of operations research. More...

New Record, 26 May 10
The City Safari has broken its own record for participation in a New Zealand rogaine. The new figure is 565. Story and pictures now posted. Meanwhile a very successful series of 90-minute events is being held in Auckland. Seems that the words "rogaine" and "safari" have more pulling power than "orienteering"!! More...

Favourites Beaten, 17 May 10
In an outstanding display of strategy and stamina, former world orienteering reps Bill Edwards and Yvette Baker won the 6hr City Safari in Wellington yesterday, beating NZ rogaining champions Jamie Stewart and Greig Hamilton by 180 points. Rowlands couldn't come at the last minute - ironically pressure from his day job on journey-planning software! The 3hr event was also won by a mixed team: Florence and Martyn Reynolds just 5 points ahead of college pair Jonathan Wood and Ivan Wilby. Results have been posted.

City Safari Soon, 6 May 10
The City Safari in Wellington on 16 May, where public transport is part of the game, is on the way to another big entry. Although whether it will top the guaranteed 550 in the coming world champs is still up in the air. David Rowlands from Australia will join NZ champions Jamie Stewart and Greig Hamilton, although they will be up against several other former winners. And at the other end of the spectrum a lady has been working her way through last year's course at 2 or 3 controls a trip!

Stewart and Hamilton Win Moonshine, 18 Apr 10, winners routes added 19 Apr
Wgtn's Jamie Stewart and Greig Hamilton from Christchurch won the Silva NZ Rogaining Championship this weekend. They were 230 points ahead of Phil Wood and Nathan Fa'avae. Veterans Debbie Mansfield and Julie Gordon (Upper Hutt) were the top women beating open pair Penny Kane and Eloise Watson. Even though run in perfect weather the course in the Akatarawas was very tough, with many top-ranked teams having trouble off the tracks. Results here including winners' routes.

150 Moonshiners, 9 Apr 10
Entries have topped 150 for Moonshine24, the NZ Rogaine Champs next weekend. They include multiple Coast to Coast champion Jill Westenra, former world rogaine champion Dennis de Monchy, and previous NZ champions Nathan Fa'avae and Phil Wood. Wood was named "rogainer of the year" by NZOF at Easter for his performances last year which included the NZ Championship and the Heights of Winter. Website...

Credits for Rogaine, 25 Mar 10
And more on schools: Last night's Wellington rogaine was a schoool project which will earn the planner NCEA credits. Alex Nicholson of Rongotai College set nearly 60 controls round the "Southern Bays" of Wellington. As well as old farts, Kirk Symmes, Jonathan Grey and Daniel Steer from Wellington College won the secondary school section. Results...

Biggest SS Rogaine Yet, 26 Mar 10
The Taranaki SS Rogaine Champs was the biggest secondary school rogaine yet, with 303 participants. Shhhh keep it quiet we don't want any other areas to learn the secret of how to win the Hillary Challenge!!! Results are on the Orienteering Taranaki website.

Hey, We Can't Keep Up! 26 Mar 10
Rogaining in NZ is still a teenager, but we can't keep up! With results that is. We've succeeded in chronicling the early history of the sport in NZ, and are "fairly" confident that we've identified the 100th rogaine (a CUTC afterwork in 04) the 200th (a Taranaki afterwork in early 07), maybe even the 250th (the Akatarawa Rogaine Apr 08). But we're equally sure that we've started to miss things, so the 300th was probably earlier than the North Shore event last August. A measure of how successful this branch of map-sport is! Result archive...

Sneak Preview of Rogaine Terrain, 18 Feb 10
Course planners for Moonshine24 - the NZ Rogaine Champs - have been busy over the summer and are keeping the blog up to date. Check out some more terrain including local inhabitants on Youtube.

World Champs Overfull; Australian Champs Filling Fast, 18 Feb 10
The Australian Rogaine Champs in the Snowy Mountains on 27/28 March reached half of its 525 limit a week ago. With the normal procrastination a sellout seems likely. Meanwhile the World Rogaine Champs registration process has finished the pre-qualification process, and teams on the waitlist are now being invited to confirm by paying. There have been over 700 pre-registrations for 550 spots.

Entries Open for NZ Rogaine Champs, 4 Dec 09
The website for the NZ Rogaine Champs - Moonshine24 - is up and running. The event will be in the Akatarawa Ranges between Upper Hutt and Kapiti on 17/18 April 2010. Course planners are scouring the rugged bush as we speak, appearing briefly to download GPS tracks and upload video onto the blog. The event masterminded by Mike Sheridan (Tararua24, RidgeRunners and other creations) will be Orienteering Hutt Valley's 90-somethingth rogaine.

World Champs Filling Up, 4 Dec 09
With 2 weeks left for pre-qualifying entrants to register, the number on the waitlist has already passed the event maximum of 550. Pre-qualifiers get accepted first, and there are currently 184; wait-listed teams from under-represented countries and categories get offered places up to the end of Jan; then remaining places are filled from the list. The event will be in Cheviot Nov on 20-21 Nov next.

Rogaines and Orienteering - Take II, 6 Oct 09
The blurring of orienteering and rogaining has provided a little challenge for clubs, in that rogaines enjoy a lower levy rate; so it's necessary to define "what is a rogaine". For years we have used 3 hours, but the rules recently adopted are silent on duration. We have now adopted a 2-hour minimum. This potentially upsets our complete (AFAIK) set of rogaine results; we aren't going to re-count but will apply the new definition from 1 Oct. See memo to clubs.

World Champs Website Open, 11 Sep 09
The website for the 9th World Rogaine Championship at Cheviot next year is now open. With a maximum of 550 participants it will be important to apply as soon as online entries open on 1 Nov. Criteria defined by the International Rogaine Federation will guarantee acceptance for some teams; draft here. NZOF Rogaine Committee submission here. The NZ Championship on 17/18 April is NOT expected to have any restrictions!

Rogaine=Orienteering, 8 Sep 09
The distinction between rogaining and orienteering is breaking down as orienteers run longer events and rogainers run shorter events. Last night's "sprint rogaine" in Wellington is elsewhere called an "orienteering scatter" or "Spanish score event", ie a timed event where you get every control (or a certain number of controls) but the order is free. And Orienteering Taranaki's "lunchtime rogaines" are very like orienteering score events (unless they have VERY long lunches in New Plymouth!) Results have been posted.

First Afterwork Rogaine Re-Run, 20 Aug 09
A low-key rogaine training exercise on 26 Aug 1999 started a movement - the very successful afterwork rogaine. That very first event in Lower Hutt's Belmont Regional Park was re-run in fine crisp conditions tonight. Bill Edwards' 1060 was remarkably similar to Phil Wood's 1100 from ten years ago. The rogaine was NZ's 300th. Results have been posted.

North of the Bombays, 18 Aug 09
Rogaines are increasingly popular north of the Bombays, with North West and Counties Manukau running events this month. And non-orienteering groups are using their popularity as fundraisers: see the Annavale Amble at Darfield, now listed in the results. In fact the word rogaine is being used more and more for score events of any length. We don't mind: its all map-sport!

Microgaine in Wellington, 3 Aug 09
Three hours in less than two square k? You wouldn't think it possible - but experienced rogainers of the calibre of Greg Thurlow failed to bag the 58 controls in the rogaine section of the annual Winter Classic long-orienteering event yesterday. The area was steep bush in the Aro Valley rising 250m to the Polhill gun emplacements. And the adjoining Central Park, which is anything but "a walk in the park!" Results...

Team Cleans Riverhead, 22 Jul 09
Clean is not the word normally applied to Riverhead Forest in winter, but the winning team cleaned up all the controls in the 6hr section of the Riverhead Rogaine the weekend before last. And it isn't normally a mixed team either - Liam Drew and Rachel Ockelford from Wellington! Veterans Geoff Parkin, Nigel Emmitt and Barry Brown top-scored the 3hr. Results...

NZ's First Snogaine, 13 Jul 09
Dunedin OC has run a ski-orienteering event most years since 1991. Sometimes it has been a score event. But this year it will be a 3-hour score event for teams of 2-5: a ski-rogaine! The event at Waiorau Snow Farm is on Sat 25 July. There will be a biathlon on the Sunday. Entry form... Meanwhile, Wairarapa OC's Winter Classic ultra-distance orienteering event on 2 Aug has (a) moved to Wellington and (b) gained a rogaine option. Details...

NZ Championship Date Selected, 13 Jul 09
The 2010 NZ Rogaine Championship will be on 17-18 April. Orienteering Hutt Valley will run the 24hr event near the capital, with internationally-recognised organiser Mike Sheridan in charge.

HOW True, 12 Jul 09
After balmy weather last year the Heights of Winter was true to its name last weekend, climbing into the teeth of southerly weather on Mt Herbert. Lactic Turkey Phil Wood and EPIC plotter Bruce McLeod were on the other side of the ledger this time, winning the shortened 10.5hr event by 120 points. There were nearly 300 participants. Results...

New Rogaine Record, 27 May 09
The Metlink City Safari participation was 540, for a new New Zealand record. This beats the previous record set at last year's Piha rogaine by 95! There were 400 in the 3-hour event and 140 in the 6-hour. Check out the Safari website for story, pictures, and YouTube link.

Trans-Tasman Rogaine Win, 20 May 09
Australian David Rowlands has paired with kiwi Greg Barbour a number of times, including two world championship wins. On Sunday he joined Wellington's Jamie Stewart in the Metlink City Safari. After 6 hours of varying routes and amounts of public transport they were dead level on points with Upper Hutt orienteers Bill Edwards and Tim Wilson. Finishing earlier by 3 minutes gave them the win. John and Tim Robertson (Lower Hutt) won the 3-hour event for the third time. Results...

Safari Smashes Record, 14 May 09
The Metlink City Safari looks set to smash the NZ rogaine participation record by at least 50! With three days to go 500 people have entered the 3 or 6hr Wellington event in which travel by public transport is not only permitted, but encouraged. Coast to Coast winners and world champion rogainers including Australian pioneer David Rowlands will take part. Entrants...

School Rogainers Score, 14 May 09
Jamie Goodwin and Olivia Gregory beat the open womens teams to win the first Hawkes Bay Secondary School rogaine championship, held at the Deborah Turner Memorial event on Sunday. And schoolboys Duncan Morrison and Hamish Lewis were less than 100 points short of the open men. Results...

Rogaine Checkpoints, 6 May 09
Checkpoints, as in significant points on the way. Hawkes Bay OC will run a secondary school rogaine championship on Sunday. The event, which is named after rogainer and district councillor Deborah Turner who died last year, follows the extraordinary success of SS rogaines in Taranaki. And Orienteering Taranaki has begun a series of "lunchtime rogaines". Has the wider orienteering community has ever run lunchtime events before - this could be a first?

World Championship Restrictions, 6 May 09
World Rogaine Championships have traditionally been open to all, but landowner-imposed restrictions at the last two meant later entrants missed out. The International Rogaine Federation is discussing alternative criteria. If you wish to contribute to a NZOF point of view please email the

More Mistakes for Taylor, 6 May 09
With long time Taylors Mistake rogaine organisers Jamie Stewart, Chris Forne and Emily Wall off doing other exciting things, Nora Audra and Ian Edmond decided to take up the challenge. They added some twists to keep the interest up, such as solving a Sudoku puzzle to reveal the location of bonus control. The series was won by NZ champion Ross Rotherham with Heath de Garnham, while a most improved prize went to "Team Missing Bits". More...

Rogaining 101, 6 May 09
Up to 60 students attended a navigation training course organised for OHV by Mike Sheridan and 10 tutors in March-April. It consisted of two evenings and an all-day session in the bush behind Eastbourne. Participants included adventure racers, SAR volunteers and secondary school students.

Image Challenged, 23 Apr 09
The image of Auckland as a spaghetti spiral of SUV's took a beating last Sunday, with the second Eco City Challenge in Waitakere City. 280 people completed the 4-hour urban rogaine with the help of "Go West" buses. Results ranged from 1750 points for "Postman Pats" to 330 for the all-girl "Collins Stars" - former orienteer Mad Collins and three littlies. Results... The original City Safari takes place in the capital on May 17.

National Championship Awarded, 16 Apr 09
The 2010 NZ Rogaine Championship has been awarded to Orienteering Hutt Valley. The pioneering club has an area very close to the capital, but is in discussions with the world championship organisers over the best possible date. The world champs will be in Canterbury on 20-21 Nov 2010.

Rogaining Big in Taranaki, 16 Apr 09
The school champs in Taranaki continues its winning way - 280 students taking part at Lake Managamahoe on 18 March. Orienteering Taranaki also ran 6 afterwork roagines in Feb and March. Results...

Smallest Possible Margin, 8 Mar 09
Phil Wood and Ross Rotherham won a steep NZ Rogaine Championship today by 10 points from "The Demon Brothers" Dennis and Pim de Monchy. They described it as an excellent event. Nora Audra and Ian Edmond (who have taken over the Port Hills rogaine series) were the top mixed pair, and Tim Farrant/Elisha Nuttall won the inaugural university category. Results... Meanwhile Jono Walter won the Porirua paddlegaine.

NZ Champs, Paddlegaine This Weekend, 3 Mar 09
More than 100 rogainers will vie for the NZ Championship this weekend, including the inaugural university challenge. World XJ Champion Tim Farrant must be a favourite; though he has a new partner this time. Former world open champion and current 2nd ranked Dennis de Monchy heads the entry list with brother Pim. Also this weekend is the two-hour Paddle Porirua "for experienced waka ama, surfski and kayak paddlers."

NZ Adopts Rogaine Rules, 23 Feb 09
NZOF and NZRA have agreed a set of rules for rogaining in New Zealand. Very similar to the Australian rules (the birthplace of rogaining), they consist of very readable competition rules which apply to participants, and technical standards for championship rogaines which mainly apply to organisers. Read the final draft here.

Radiogaining, 20 Jan 09
Radio New Zealand was at one of Taranaki OC's afterwork rogaines. Listen to the the reporter interviewing the participants, and taking part on the course here.

Entries Open for NZ Champs, 20 Jan 09
Entries are now open for the 2009 NZ Rogaine Champs on 7-8 March. The championship is a 24hr event but there's also an 8hr option, and for the first time a university challenge. Read the planner's report, view photos, and enter online at the NZRA website or download the entry form and post.

Next World Championship in NZ! 20 Jan 09
The next world championship rogaine has been awarded to New Zealand. The last-minute bid has been approved by the International Rogaine Federation, ahead of bids from Czech, Ukraine and Russia. The event will be near Cheviot in Nov 2010.

Rogaines Celebrate Christmas, 21 Dec 08
Christchurch and Wellington have both run great Xmas rogaines. Chch an afterwork 3hr on the Port Hills which was one of the biggest ever at 165 people; Wgtn a 4hr at Pencarrow Lakes in which you could run or bike (with a 10% penalty). Results have been posted, including stories.

NZ Championship Announced, 5 Dec 08
The next NZ Championship Rogaine will be held in Otago on 7-8 March. The area between Waikouaiti and Middlemarch ranges contains both Central Otago schist landforms and the Dunedin volcanic features; covered by clean grassland, tussock, scattered scrub and some native bush in the gullies. Entries open at the beginning of January via the NZRA website.

Raft of Rogaines, 5 Dec 08
The summer sees a variety of rogaine forms taking place. Christchurch and Wellington have 3hr afterwork events. OHV's Christmas Rogaine involves biking to reach the area, so the organisers have decided bikes might as well be allowed on the event (with 10% penalty!) OTaranaki with 6 afterworks just completed has another 6 planned for autumn plus a Sec Sch Champs. Then the NZ Champs is a classic 24hr. Details on the calendar; and when you're there try changing the "type" to MTB and you'll find the Akatarawa Attack and Cyclic Saga rogaines on wheels!

NZ Bids for World Rogaine, 5 Dec 08
NZ has made an "thirteenth-hour" bid for the 2010 World Rogaining Championship. Only European applications had been received by the time of this year's championship in Estonia, and bids were reopened to try and get more global rotation. The bid has been submitted by the NZ Rogaine Association based on Cheviot.

NZ Rogainer Honoured, 5 Dec 08
At the recent World Championship, Peter Squires has been awarded an IRF "Geoduck Award" for services to international rogaining. Squires, from Christchurch, was the key figure behind the 2000 World Championship and developed the Navlight electronic punching system, as well as being an outstanding competitor. The award has previously been made to Michael Wood and Mike Sheridan.

Wellington Rogaines Resume, 6 Nov 08, answers added 11 Nov
After a gap of several months, afterwork rogaines in Wellington have resumed. In last week's event planner Greg Thurlow used the Twalk/EPIC technique of cryptic clues, and some interesting control locations. Afterworks are also under way in New Plymouth. More...

New Zealand Team Second at World Rogaining Champs, 15 Sep 08
Defending champions from 2006, Chris Forne and Dennis de Monchy of Christchurch, finished second at the 8th World Rogaining Championships, held in Karula, Estonia. In the 24-hour endurance orienteering event, Forne and de Monchy scored 300 points, four behind the winning Russian team. 170 teams competed in the men's open class, .... more

World Rogaining Champions To Defend Title, 10 Sep 08
Defending world rogaining champions, Chris Forne and Dennis de Monchy of Christchurch will defend their title this weekend, 13-14 September, at the 8th World Rogaining Championships, being held in Estonia. Forne and de Monchy won their endurance orienteering title at the 7th championships in Australia in 2006, defeating over 300 teams for the honour. More...

Rogainers Gathering, 6 Sep 08
Rogainers are starting to gather in Estonia for the 8th World Championship on 13-14 Sep. There are 30 kiwis, including the titleholders Chris Forne and Dennis de Monchy. Two-time winner Greg Barbour will also be there with his Australian partner David Rowlands. There are 800 people altogether, and the final bulletin is on the website 8wrc2008.rogain.ee Note that "rogain" doesn't have an e.

Nowhere Near Huia, 16 Jul 08
The Lactic Turkey boys needed fast footwork after a threat to the kauris in the Waitakeres. It's a water-borne mould, and the regional council decided the event could not go ahead if it was wet. To give certainty the Huia rogaine run for several years was transferred to Peak Road south of Henderson and reduced to 3 hours. Results have been posted.

First Swiss Rogaine, 12 Jul 08
The first rogaine in Switzerland takes place this weekend. It is organised by Dieter Wolf, who also started the Swiss Karrimor mountain marathons. Dieter represented Switzerland in the World Orienteering Champs during the 70s, has a couple of world masters golds and with Jason Markham finished third in the 2000 World Rogaine Champs (NZ). More...

Heights of Summer, 15 Jun 08
The Heights of Winter rogaine may need re-branding after an unseasonally warm weekend. 330 took part in the 12/6hr event between Cheviot and the coast, including 70 who had not rogained before. Greig Hamilton and Tim Sikma won the 12hr; Nigel Leigh and Gerald Gates the 6. Results...

Remember - Partners Wanted, 8 Jun 08
The Resources section often has partners wanted - such as now!

And the New Record Is... 8 Jun 08
The new record for a NZ rogaine is 445! And we've said it before, why do we have grades in rogaining, the Piha 6hr yesterday was won by Marquita Gelderman and Erin Roberts. Results...

Hanging by a Thread, 5 Jun 08
With two days to go, the record participation for a NZ rogaine is hanging by a thread. The Piha Rogaine near Auckland on Saturday has 417 entrants already, and looks certain to break the record of 419. This was set at the same event in 2006. Well done Lactic Turkey and well done Auckland!

Earlier News (back to 1998)