Senior School boys won the Neill Phillips Trophy for the Best Boys result at the Victorian Rogaining Association Schools Championships.
Part of the LGR programme, the Year 11/12 Rogaining team comprised Year 11 students Andrew Argyrou, Hamish Brown, and Blair Nuske. The Year 9 /10 team comprised Year 10 students Markus Christiansen and Harry King and Year 9 students Charlie Bradley and Guillaume Delvaen.
Together, the two teams amassed the highest total score of any ‘boys only’ entry. The Year 9 /10 team were also recognised for collecting the highest number of points of any team on the day.
“Rogaining is a cross country sport which involves using a compass to navigate from point to point, within a timeframe,” explains Markus Christiansen. “You get a map of a large area with many points marked on it on the day of the competition. It’s impossible to get to them all within the time allocated. The purpose is to map out a route which will get you to as many points as possible, as quickly as possible. This means you have to be both strategic and fit.”
The Schools Championships were held over a five-hour period in the Wombat State Forest.
The teams worked together extremely well,” said Blair Nuske. “We had spent a fair bit of time together at other LGR activities, and could almost predict each other’s approach to each step of the challenge. This made it a really enjoyable event.”
“Most of us were relatively new to the sport,” added Markus. “It was quite satisfying to go into something new and pull off a win against more experienced teams. We’re looking forward to participating in more rogaining events in the future.”
*Coincidentally, the trophy is named after, and was presented by, Neil Phillips (OM 1969), a consulting economic geologist who also holds an academic position at the University of Melbourne. A highly successful rogainer in his own right, Neil was the inaugural President of the International Rogaining Federation.
About the Leslie Gladstone Robertson Society (LGR)
Initially conceived as a voluntary bush walking club, the School’s LG Robertson Society, was established in 1959. While hiking and camping remains the primary focus, today, other activities include skiing, mountain biking, scuba diving and, now, rogaining.
In addition to developing the skills of navigation and bushcraft, LGR promotes the development of constructive group dynamics. Participants are also asked to recognise and actively promote the respect, care, and maintenance of the natural and built environment.
Leadership of hike groups on LGR camps is often undertaken by Year 11 and 12 students. They take direct responsibility for the health and safety of not only themselves, but also that of others in their hike group.
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