2000 Nightgaine
"Do It At Night", Nightgaine, Laurel Camp, 2 September 2000
Thoughts by the organizer of the Do-It-At-Night event
Although I have been competing in Rogaines for nearly 15 years, I had never been an active part of organizing or running one. I therefore thought that it was about time to try to put something back into the sport I have gotten so much out of. But what to do? Now, to my mind, one of the most enjoyable parts of a Rogaine is the night phase – the going is slower, the awareness of the mysteries of the bush greater, and the companionship with your partner somehow more intense. I have always thought it a pity that many miss out on this because they are scared off by the thought of it, and also because they do not like the longer duration events which night is usually coupled with. So my choice was clear.
I was thus looking for an area which was near to the city, and not too navigationally challenging for the novices to night rogaining I hoped to attract. The additional attraction of the hut at Laurel Camp, negating the hassle of
tents, etc. and providing adequate shelter for all in the event of inclement weather (thankfully not encountered) made the choice easy. The ACTRA committee supported the idea wholehearted, even though they believed that the numbers attending would probably be quite small. All attendees – you surprised them.
With two months to go, we were rolling. Judy Jenkinson undertook to produce the entry forms, and my wife Lyndall agreed to maintain the data base - on our home 386 PC - of entries as they were received. Bouquets for all who got their entry form in by the nominated closing date, or even before (early is really good – it gives the organizer a warm feeling that someone may be coming after all). I am aware that sometimes circumstances conspire to make a “late” entry the only option, but until you organize an event you don’t realize what a pain late entries are. Since I was reasonable familiar with the area, setting the course was dead easy. In retrospect, too easy – I know that I should have done more to improve some of the control settings. In actuality, I spent only about two hours one evening “setting” at home, two half Saturdays field checking the proposed sites (about 4 were changed), then, with Lyndall, several hours on the preceding Thursday night and most of the event day itself putting out the controls – this being the only actual vetting of the course. Then all you wonderful participants showed up, and it was all worth it.
I also knew that the number of controls was probably greater that most teams could finish at night – particularly since Adrian S or David B were not competing. I did, however, want to give some choice to all participants. In the event, I was surprised that no one went to the far south controls, opting instead to go for the cluster of controls in the north. No one visited control numbers 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30, only one team visited control number 26, and only two teams visited control numbers 22 and 23. If I had been competing, I probably would have planned to miss the six in the north, and tried for more of the southerly ones.
Please do not write in telling me why such a route choice would be hopeless. For those interested, the winning team (Ian Booth and Wayne Gregson) visited, in order, control numbers 10, 6, 4, 2, 1, 5, 7, 11, 13, 12, 17, 20, 21, 18, 19, 16, 15, and 14, finally missing 9 (with time running out) on the way back to the HH. The second placed team, Geoff Lawford and his 11 year old daughter Julie (what a great effort) visited all controls numbered 1 through 16 – although probably not in that order.
Finally, considerable thanks are due to the numerous experienced (night) rogainers - mainly members of the
ACTRA Committee - who volunteered to act as mentors/guides for the less experienced who wanted it. By your response to this offer, it was much appreciated. I would hope to be able to do this again on the next short night event we run. Thanks also to the 1st Aranda Scout group for catering the event. I knew that I could rely on this group to do what was required without my worrying about it or getting involved, and that no one would go hungry. Thanks to my wife and kids for helping on the night. Thanks to Paul Mason for picking up all the northern controls on the afternoon after the event. Finally, thanks again to all participants for coming – let’s do it again next year.
Glenn Bridgart
Read MoreThoughts by the organizer of the Do-It-At-Night event
Although I have been competing in Rogaines for nearly 15 years, I had never been an active part of organizing or running one. I therefore thought that it was about time to try to put something back into the sport I have gotten so much out of. But what to do? Now, to my mind, one of the most enjoyable parts of a Rogaine is the night phase – the going is slower, the awareness of the mysteries of the bush greater, and the companionship with your partner somehow more intense. I have always thought it a pity that many miss out on this because they are scared off by the thought of it, and also because they do not like the longer duration events which night is usually coupled with. So my choice was clear.
I was thus looking for an area which was near to the city, and not too navigationally challenging for the novices to night rogaining I hoped to attract. The additional attraction of the hut at Laurel Camp, negating the hassle of
tents, etc. and providing adequate shelter for all in the event of inclement weather (thankfully not encountered) made the choice easy. The ACTRA committee supported the idea wholehearted, even though they believed that the numbers attending would probably be quite small. All attendees – you surprised them.
With two months to go, we were rolling. Judy Jenkinson undertook to produce the entry forms, and my wife Lyndall agreed to maintain the data base - on our home 386 PC - of entries as they were received. Bouquets for all who got their entry form in by the nominated closing date, or even before (early is really good – it gives the organizer a warm feeling that someone may be coming after all). I am aware that sometimes circumstances conspire to make a “late” entry the only option, but until you organize an event you don’t realize what a pain late entries are. Since I was reasonable familiar with the area, setting the course was dead easy. In retrospect, too easy – I know that I should have done more to improve some of the control settings. In actuality, I spent only about two hours one evening “setting” at home, two half Saturdays field checking the proposed sites (about 4 were changed), then, with Lyndall, several hours on the preceding Thursday night and most of the event day itself putting out the controls – this being the only actual vetting of the course. Then all you wonderful participants showed up, and it was all worth it.
I also knew that the number of controls was probably greater that most teams could finish at night – particularly since Adrian S or David B were not competing. I did, however, want to give some choice to all participants. In the event, I was surprised that no one went to the far south controls, opting instead to go for the cluster of controls in the north. No one visited control numbers 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30, only one team visited control number 26, and only two teams visited control numbers 22 and 23. If I had been competing, I probably would have planned to miss the six in the north, and tried for more of the southerly ones.
Please do not write in telling me why such a route choice would be hopeless. For those interested, the winning team (Ian Booth and Wayne Gregson) visited, in order, control numbers 10, 6, 4, 2, 1, 5, 7, 11, 13, 12, 17, 20, 21, 18, 19, 16, 15, and 14, finally missing 9 (with time running out) on the way back to the HH. The second placed team, Geoff Lawford and his 11 year old daughter Julie (what a great effort) visited all controls numbered 1 through 16 – although probably not in that order.
Finally, considerable thanks are due to the numerous experienced (night) rogainers - mainly members of the
ACTRA Committee - who volunteered to act as mentors/guides for the less experienced who wanted it. By your response to this offer, it was much appreciated. I would hope to be able to do this again on the next short night event we run. Thanks also to the 1st Aranda Scout group for catering the event. I knew that I could rely on this group to do what was required without my worrying about it or getting involved, and that no one would go hungry. Thanks to my wife and kids for helping on the night. Thanks to Paul Mason for picking up all the northern controls on the afternoon after the event. Finally, thanks again to all participants for coming – let’s do it again next year.
Glenn Bridgart
