Double World Rogaining Champion team Greg Barbour (NZ) and David Rowlands (Australia) just missed out on retaining their title at the 2004 championship held in Arizona at the weekend. The pair scored 3410 points in the 24hr competition, 10 points short of Mike Kloser and Michael Tobin of USA. Teams in a rogaine score points by visiting control points in multiples of 10, so this was the narrowest possible margin.
Barbour and Rowlands took the veteran mens title for teams over 40 years. However the Christchurch Mixed Super-veteran (over 55) team of Peter Squires, Bill and Ann Kennedy retained the title they won in the Czech Republic two years ago. Their score of 2700 was in the top ten overall. And Michael Wood and Tony Gazley (Wellington) placed second in the Mens Super-veteran class, with 2320. Former kiwi Ted van Geldermalsen now living in Australia placed fourth overall and second veteran; his partner was Derek Morris.
The event was held in the White Mountains in eastern Arizona in good weather conditionsfrom mid-twenties down to minus 2deg C during the night. An elevation of 3000m caused difficulties for many of the teams, including unexpected fatigue and inability to properly feed and rehydrate as the event progressed. The next World Rogaining Championship will be held in New South Wales in 2006.
Other NZ teams: Annie Sanderson and Nick Collins (New Plymouth) 1930, 7th Mixed Veteran team; Andy Buchanan and Dave Laurie (Christchurch) 1350, withdrew sick.