2023 Go for Gold ACT Rogaining Championship 24hr event and associated 8 hr event was held in northern Kosciuszko National Park around the Three Mile Dam area near Kiandra and the Mt Selwyn ski field.

Scroll down for the Final Instructions.

 

The course was set by Lee Rice and Craig Cowan. Much of the area was burnt in the 2019-20 fires so is quite open in many places, as well as naturally having grassy open areas, such as around Kiandra. There is also a lot of interesting remains from the gold mining era at Kiandra across the course. We will provide some suggestions for novice loops that use the well-defined features, and more challenging loops for those looking for a physical and navigational challenge. 

The starts for the 8 hr and 24 hr events will be midday (12 pm) on Saturday 15 April. The 8 hr event will finish in the dark at 8pm and the 24 hr will finish at midday Sunday.

See the event gallery for more teaser photos, including photos of the lovely Three Mile Campground.
 

 

Final Instructions

Thank you for entering the “Go for Gold” championship in the golden age of rogaining. Team leaders, make sure that everyone on your team reads this whole document carefully.

Important

1. The weather is likely to be COLD. Please bring additional warm clothes with you. Please note that we have made some additional mandatory gear to reflect the conditions.

2. There is very limited access to the course and patchy mobile coverage. If you own a Personal Locator Beacon or similar please bring that along.

3. Parking is limited so please share transport – also reduces greenhouse gases.

 

COVID-19 Measures

There are no mandatory conditions however, if you are feeling unwell, or have flu-like symptoms, please stay home.

Indemnity Form

Please bring to the event a printed and completed indemnity form located here. Check the team list for your relevant event on the home page to ensure that all details for your team including category are correct. If incorrect, please contact the Event Contact prior to the event.

• Ensure that all team members sign a separate indemnity form. Parents or guardians must sign for people under 18. Also provide registration number(s) of your car(s) at the Hash House. Be sure to put your team number on the form.
• The emergency contact number you enter on the form should be someone contactable during the event. They will be the person we ring if you are late back or are significantly injured. It would be a good idea to let them know too!!
• Present your completed indemnity form at the registration desk.
• Medical advice: All competitors should consider advising their partner of any pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, susceptibility to anaphylaxis) that may require first-aid action on course. This should include a description of the symptoms, the required first-aid action, and the location in their bag of any medication (such as sugar, ventolin, epi-pen, anti-histamines).

How to Get There

The HH is at Three Mile Dam in Kosciuszko National Park.

After dark, please drive slowly and take extra care in Kosciuszko National Park. As well as kangaroos expect to find wombats, horses, deer and other animals sitting on or crossing the road.

From central Canberra: The HH is 210km from Canberra and takes about 2¾ hours to drive via Cooma. The roads are sealed all the way.  

Seven kilometres past Cooma turn right to stay on the Snowy Mountains Highway and travel past Adaminaby (shops and petrol) and past the rebuild of the Kiandra courthouse. Turn left onto the Link Road just past Kiandra. Follow the Link Road for 5.6km to the Three Mile Dam turnoff where there will be rogaine signs.

We don’t recommend the Boboyan Road option. It may be shorter but is dirt and the travel time is the same as via Cooma.

From Tumut: take the Snowy Mountains Highway to the Link Road turnoff (90km). Turn right onto Link road and follow for 5.6kms to Three Mile Dam.

There are shops and petrol at Adaminaby.

A google map is here: https://goo.gl/maps/MTvuDm7rsErLQZhHA  

 

Registration, Map Availability, Start Times

There will be a mass start for both the 8 hour and 24 hour events at 12:00 pm sharp on Saturday 15 April with a final briefing at 11:50am. Registration will open at 9:00am.

Due to the additional compulsory gear for this event (warm clothes), we ask that all team members from each team attend the registration tent to get their mandatory gear checked and to collect maps. That person will need to bring:

• all mandatory gear (see below for the list of mandatory gear); and
• one completed indemnity form per team member.

Electronic scoring: As this event is using the Navlight system of scoring, each team will be issued with wristbands and tags upon registration. There will be 1 tag for each person in the team.

You will also be given pre-marked maps (one per team member), control descriptions, course setter's notes and a small copy of the map to be used as a flight plan. We recommend that you arrive at least 1.5 hours prior to the start of the event to allow enough time for final preparations and route planning. Each team must mark their intended route on the flight plan with their team number and hand it in before starting.

Map and Course Details

The map is printed on Teslin paper and is SRA2 size (640 x 450 cm), 1:25,000 scale with 10 m contour interval. Magnetic north lines are marked on the map. The course covers an area burnt in the 2019-20 fires, so there are very few tall trees, however lots of small plant regrowth and sprouting snow gums. The course setters’ notes and control descriptions have been printed on the back of the map. The altitude ranges from approximately 1280m to 1770m and can be very exposed in windy / cold conditions.

The map is printed on Teslin paper which is very tough and generally does not need to be covered in contact.

There are large areas of easy travelling through native grasses with lots of flowers. The course setters have found a few patches of dense regrowth that is easy to weave through. We advise you to wear long pants and long sleeves. Gaiters are very strongly recommended for snake protection.

The Eucumbene River goes across the northeast corner of the course and the water temperature is cold. Other creeks are smaller and flowing.

Water

There are NO water drops.

Please bring enough water for Hash House use and for at least 3 hours on course. There will be NO water drops on course owing to lack of access. Water will be available at the HH from which it is possible to do loops. Almost all watercourses marked on the map have flowing water which can be used with sterilisation. Although it is high in the catchment, we do not recommend drinking any water found on course without sterilisation. Please bring your water sterilisation unit or tablets. Teams can take up to 5 “Puratab” tablets per person that are available at the admin desk. Please only take what you need.

Camping

There is free camping at the Hash House site although it could be windy so bring plenty of pegs for your tent and your warmest clothes and sleeping gear. You’ll be near other tents so bring the ear plugs too! Below is a 1km x 1km map of the HH site so you can see where the Admin area is as well as parking and camping sites.

Overflow camping is on the northern end of the lake – it would be preferable for 8hr competitors to use this area. If you are in the 24 hour and camp in the overflow camping, you may use your vehicle to drive between the Hash House site and overflow camping (only).

If you are not staying overnight, please park along the campsite road (purple line).

Camping Map (PDF)

Other Information

Hartley Lifecare will provide meals from approximately 6.00pm Saturday.   Please bring your own plate, bowl, cup and cutlery.

Breakfast will be on Sunday morning from about 6.30am.

Snakes: A special mention that snakes have been seen in the area. So please wear gaiters and/or long pants. We will want to see that you have a snake bandage in your first aid kit. The course setters’ notes on the back of the map include information on how to give first aid to a person who has been bitten.

PLB – personal locator beacon: If you have one of these units, bring it with you as phone reception is limited in parts of the course area. Higher areas have mobile reception.

Please Bring to the Event

• Completed indemnity form
• Coloured pens, pencils, scissors, highlighter pen, table and chairs or board for map preparation. The marquee will be available for planning.
• Some food for before and/or during the event.
• Your own plate, bowl, cup and cutlery for catering.
• Water for your use at the Hash House and for the first few hours of the event.
• Map will be printed on Teslin waterproof paper with control descriptions on reverse side. Contact or map case optional.
• Portaloos will be at the Hash House. You may like to bring your own hand sanitiser.

Carry on Course

Mandatory Equipment - note the additions for this event!

• Whistle (per person)
• Basic first aid kit (that includes 2 compression bandages and 1 wound dressing) (per team)
• Space blanket (per person)
• Gloves and a beanie
• Thermal top and bottom
• Fleece jumper or equivalent
• Waterproof jacket (waterproof over-trousers highly recommended)
• Head torch (spare batteries recommended).

Other items we recommend that you carry/wear

• Food for the event
• Water for 3 hours
• Compass
• Gaiters – recommended for scrub/snake-bite protection
• Long trousers – recommended for scrub protection
• Watch (without GPS capabilities)
• Pen/pencil
• Mobile phone for emergencies and PLB if you have one
• Sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, clear glasses
• Additional adequate warm clothes for exposed, cold conditions (noting conditions can change quickly). These may include waterproof over-trousers and additional spare thermals.

Mobile Phone Coverage

Mobile phone coverage is patchy with Telstra in higher areas of the course. However, a text message may work in some places. If you do have a PLB, take this as an emergency backup.

The Hash House number will be 0457 364 319 and the satellite phone 0147 148 006 as a back-up if reception fails. These numbers are printed on the map.

As this event is the ACT Champs, all competitors will need to put their mobile phones and GPS devices in a sealed bag that you will be given with your maps.

Restrictions

Summary of Event Rules and Scoring

• The only navigational aids permitted are the maps we provide together with your compasses.
• Teams consist of 2 to 5 competitors and must remain within earshot of each other at all times. All members must simultaneously get to within 5m of each control point.
• All team members must punch their Navlight tags at each control to score points.
• If a Navlight punch has failed, record the three letter code visible inside the end of the punch.
• Competitors must not enter out-of-bounds areas; gates must be left as found; stock must not be disturbed.
• The organisers may disqualify a team if it acts against these rules or against the spirit of the event.
• A team can retire a member at the hash house. This will finish that team's event. A new team can form but it must start with zero score.
• Late Penalty: 10 points per minute (or part) late. Disqualification if more than 30 minutes late.
• If teams score equal points then the first team home will have a higher rank.

Presentation and Awards

Food and drinks will be available from approximately 6:00pm Saturday. Please bring your own plate and utensils.

Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each category and certificates to the place-getters of most categories. This is dependent on final numbers and will be announced on the day. Presentations will take place around 45 minutes after the end of each of the events.