Adventure on the Port Hills

Event 3 of the R&R Sport Taylors Mistake Rogaine Series was held yesterday in mint condition. 150 people made the most of it to get out from behind their desks up onto the Port Hills to witness the city falling into darkness. Well that all sounds very romantic, and it surely was for some, but others were competing in earnest, dominating the slopes of Horotane Valley up to the rugged gendarme of Castle Rock and over the otherside into Cass Valley.

The event started in Horotane Valley, a new area for rogaining, and competitors were unleashed into what is a vast ampitheatre with the incautious choosing the direct routes up the sheer valley sides while others choose the the easier option sidling along farm tracks to the east to the Bridle Path. What had been a stinking hot day quickly turned idyllic as the sun set spectacularly over the alps to the west and the lights of the city appeared far beneath.

On the city side of the hill, the farmer requested fences were not crossed apart from at specific points and this made for some interesting strategy and planning for the teams. With three races down there is a marked improvement in teams navigation and strategic prowess, as people get to grips with the new challenges created by having a change to darkness halfway through the race.

Next weeks event is on another largely new area based on the Sign of the Bellbird and other public and private reserve land down the southern end of the Port Hills, before the finale at Taylors Mistake. All keen, adventurous people are as always welcome to come along and join in the fun. More information can be found at www.madeventz.co.nz/tmrogaine