85 VU Outdoor Recreation and Outdoor Education students competed in the 24-hour Victorian Rogaining Championships event in the Kara Kara National Park August 29-30.
Rogaining (rugged outdoor group activity involving navigation and endurance) is an adventure sport that originated in Australia. Although little-known, the sport has been played since 1976. It tests navigational skills, fitness, endurance, decision-making and teamwork.
Matthew Cox, lecturer in the College of Sport and Exercise Science, said rogaining is embedded into coursework units for the students and offers a way of consolidating their theoretical understanding of topographical relationships and field preparedness through practical experience.
Conducted across 180 square kilometres of bushland north of Avoca, the rogainer teams travelled on foot, navigating by map and compass to locate checkpoints and accrue points in an allocated time.
Student, Emily Bellin, said “this type of experience allows me to put into place all that I have learnt over the last few years about leadership and navigation and proves to me that I have learnt a lot!”
This year VU students achieved the following results:
- Monica Henry, Mitch Noy and Dylan McFarlane placed 10th overall in the Mixed Open division
- Marcus Tyrell and James Bourke placed 2nd in the Novice division
- Callan Illes and Rhys Buckingham placed 3rd in the Novice division.
