17th World Rogaining Championships Event Recap

August 26-27, 2022

Ten Teams from the United States ventured to the Czech Republic last month to compete at the 17th World Rogaining Championships. Rogaining is, at its essence, an ultra-distance score orienteering event with controls placed over a very large area, frequently on steep and demanding terrain. Looking at the maps from Czechia, this years event didn’t disappoint in the steep & long category. Teams have 24 hours to visit as many controls as possible, with varying point values depending upon distance & difficulty.

A number of US Teams managed podium placements in their respective categories. The Women’s Super Veteran category was won by Team Menopawsome with members Shari Hymes (USA) and Australian Thorlene Egerton. Another long-time US/AUS collaboration between Sharon Crawford (RMOC) and Robin Spriggs (AUS) took bronze in the Women’s Ultra Veteran category. Over in the Mixed Ultra Veteran category, perennial competitors the Nightcrawlers (Eric & Mary Smith, CNYO) also took the third spot. Winner’s of last year’s Lake Tahoe Rogaine, Nikolay Nachev & Ashley Blake (COC) just missed the podium, placing 4th in the Mixed Open division. They will definitely be a team to watch when the World Rogaining Championships come back to Lake Tahoe next July. Keep in mind that in Rogaining, teams are eligible for all categories in which they qualify so in the results below some teams have up to four ‘results’.

Photos courtesy of Hana Orienteering / WRC ’22