ORGANISERS BULLETIN Competition – Technical Information

Competition Area

The selected area in the Cairns Highlands within 40 minutes’ drive from Cairns is well suited to rogaining offering challenges for all types of rogainers from social to competitive.

The competition area comprises portions of the Dinden State Forest, Bilwon State Forest, Davies Creek National Park and some private property.

Dinden State Forest straddles the Lamb Range which is that part of the Great Dividing Range behind Cairns. Rainforest cloaks the wetter eastern slopes of the range where Lake Morris, the main water reservoir for Cairns, is situated. Eucalypt woodland occupies the drier rain- shadowed areas on the western slopes. Between these two contrasting vegetation types runs a strip of a rare forest type known as wet sclerophyll. The first European to sight the area back in 1876 was John Atherton who established a home for his family and 1500 head of cattle near what is now known as the town of Mareeba. Gold was discovered in Davies Creek in the early 1900s and logging in the area also began around this time. Historic pack routes, used to transport supplies between the coast and the Atherton Tableland, pass through Dinden State Forest.

Bilwon State Forest is situated to the west of Dinden National Park and comprises about 10,000 hectares of steep gully spur terrain, broad valleys and flat lightly forested grassy plains.

Davies Creek National Park includes part of the Davies Creek valley, a rugged landscape of rocky granite outcrops, ridges, boulders and slabs. The creek drops about 75 m down the granite escarpment at Davies Creek Falls. These falls and the impressive Clohesy River fig tree are major features of these national parks.

Event terrain will be primarily spur/ gully with open woodland to tall open forest with riparian rainforest along main creeks. ‘Wait a while’ has not been seen by field workers on the event course. Black spear grass may be present on small areas of the event course. Some small patches of lantana can be found on the course area.

Wildlife

The area has plentiful native wildlife and competitors should see many of these; kangaroos, wallabies, snakes and possibly the spotted Quoll and many species of bird life.

Very few native animals were sighted during course setting. There was evidence of pigs in the flatter areas and parts of the state forest is leased for cattle grazing so cattle in some areas are very evident. Birds and spiders (not poisonous) were also often seen. Generally there are very few wallabies and kangaroos. Snakes do live in the forest however none were sighted during course setting.

Non-native animals include pigs, horses, cattle.

The Map The ARC2013 map is at 1:33,333 scale with 10 metre contours. The grid lines are aligned to magnetic north with corresponding horizontal lines. Both are at 1km intervals. The map size is 635mm x 450mm and is printed on Teslin waterproof paper. A map bag or contact covering is not required for water proofing. Biro and fluoro markings added by competitors may fade slightly in heavy rain but are fine under normal conditions.

The Course

Control locations are at the centre of 7 millimetre red circles. All control descriptions are “the…”indicating that all control features are features that are seen on the map. Point values range from 20 to 100 determined by rounding the control number down to the nearest 10 (ie. #50,51,52,53,….59 are each worth 50 points. The Hash house is marked by a triangle and the 2 ANCs (All Night Cafes) are marked by squares.

Map and Course statistics

Map area: 212 sq. km No. of Controls: 80 Scale: 1 : 33,333 Grid: Magnetic North 1km x 1km Contour interval: 10 metre Index Contour interval: 50 metres Minimum Map Elevation: 380 metres Maximum Map Elevation: 841 metres Sheet size: 450 mm E-W, 635 mm N-S

Competition Rules

The 2013 Australasian Championships will be conducted in accordance with the Australian Rogaining Association Technical Regulations.

Check Point Punching

The Navlight scoring system will be used for this event. This will require 2 competitors per team to wear a non-removable wrist tag for the duration of the event. Tags will be available at the time of registration. Scoring will be based on the minimum score of the individual team members. The punch will flash when correctly inserted in each competitors tag. (The correct use of the punch and tag system will be demonstrated during final briefing, prior to the event start.) Competitors in the 24-hour event must only use the Finish Punch at the conclusion of their course at the Hash House Finish Tent, after which their tags will be removed and scored.

There will be separate specific punching instructions in the team bags for Roving 12-hour competitors, for interim finish and re-start (depart) procedures, to maintain the correct accumulated time away from the Hash House.

All competitors must check into Administration on returning to the Hash House at any time. This is particularly important for those in the 12 hour roving rogaine, as the cumulative 12 hours is calculated on the actual time on the course out of the Hash House. A late penalty of 10 points per minute will be applied to the teams score, and teams back more than 30 minutes late will be disqualified.

Competitors are not required to check-in or out of ANCs

Water

Drinking water will be provided at the Hash House and eastern and western (ANCs).

There will be no other potable water provided by the organisers on the course.

Water is available in the major creeks on the course Davies Creek, Bridle Creek, Shanty Creek and Clohesy River as well as many other smaller watercourses. Water obtained for drinking from these watercourses should be treated before drinking.

Fences

There are few fences on the course area mostly near populated areas. Only fences near OOB areas, near the Hash House and those that restrict route have been marked on the map.

Roads and Tracks

There are five types of roads/tracks marked on the map. Competitors are restricted to travel under or across the Kennedy highway only.

a. Highway One highway (Kennedy Highway) is marked which runs N-S then E-W through the map. Crossing the highway is only permitted at the marked crossing points. Travelling along the highway within the road reserve is not permitted.

b. Sealed or formed gravel road There are several formed or sealed roads on the course area, namely Davies Creek Road, Spena Road and private roads. Competitors are permitted to travel along and cross these roads with care.

c. Vehicle track A vehicle track is defined as a tracked that is not well formed but passable by a two wheel drive vehicle. Competitors are permitted to travel along and cross these roads with care.

d. 4WD track These tracks are passable by a four wheel drive vehicles only and are often indistinct in the flatter areas of the course. Competitors are permitted to travel along and cross these roads with care.

e. Single Track There are numerous single tracks marked. These are narrow mountain bike and walking tracks and in the flatter areas of the map may be distinct cattle or animal tracks. Not all of the single tracks have been marked.

Power Lines

Two major 275 kV pylon mounted power lines running through the eastern part of the competition area are marked. All other power lines have not been marked on the map.

Vegetation

The competition area is generally covered with open forest (dry sclerophyll) with minor areas of wet sclerophyll (on the eastern edge of the map bordering rainforest), rainforest, riparian forest and clearings.

The course is almost completely in open forest and competitors will experience only small sections of slower going in riparian forest and minor heavily grassed areas.

Vegetation varies in height from 20 – 30 metres in the higher rainfall areas on the eastern side of the map to 3 – 4 metres in the drier areas, particularly on the western side. Competitors are advised that eye protection could be useful particularly in the drier vegetation areas.

Watercourses

There are two types of watercourses marked on the map; large perennial streams, and smaller intermittent streams throughout the entire course area.

The Perennial streams (Davies Creek through the centre of the map, Bridle Creek from the SE meeting Davies Creek, Clohesy River, bordering the north of the map and Shanty Creek in the west of the course) are generally accompanied with riparian forest associated thicker vegetation. Shanty Creek, bordering the NW course area is an overflow from the Mareeba/Dimbulah Irrigation scheme. The streams themselves are flowing, often have multiple channels and deeper pools but are crossable without much difficulty.

The smaller intermittent streams vary in size from major channels with permanent water holes to almost indistinct gutters. Crossing points are easily found for these streams. In flatter country the streams are often accompanied by denser grass and vegetation, impassable cliffs and steep earth banks, so care must be taken when approaching. Lantana patches are not uncommon along these watercourses. In steeper country streams may be associated with steep V shaped gullies, rocky ground and small cliffs.

Contours

Contours are at 10 metre interval with index contours at 50m. In some flatter areas form lines (dashed contour) have been marked in order to provide more detail.

Highway Crossing Locations To ensure the safety of all competitors there are four (4) marked crossing points for the Kennedy Highway. The Kennedy Highway may only be crossed at these locations. Three of these are under the highway (culverts and bridges) the remaining crossing point (most northern) is across the highway at a location of good visibility. Disqualification will result from crossing at unauthorised points or if found travelling along the highway or adjacent Road Reserve.

Patrolled Safety Route

The patrolled safety route will be travelled at hourly intervals from 6.00pm Saturday 22nd June until 1.00pm Sunday 23rd June.

If you are in need of emergency assistance attempt to call the organisers and proceed to this patrolled route if possible. It is recommended that all teams carry a cell phone (to be used in the case of emergency only).

Organiser Emergency Contact Nos. have been added to the map.

Out of Bounds (OOB)

A number of Out of Bounds areas are shown on the map representing private and hazardous areas and these cannot be traversed for any reason.

Restrictions

Fires are not permitted on the competition area other than designated locations (Hash House and both ANCs).