The 12th European Rogaining Championships
Černé Údolí, Czech Republic
June 27 - 28, 2015

Bulletin #1

In Australia, New Zealand, as well as in Scandinavia Rogaining has firm place among the popular sports. Czech Association of Rogaining and Mountain Orienteering (ČAR) was established in 1996 and is one of the oldest and most active associations in Europe. Czech Republic was the first European country to host World Rogaining Championships in 2002. ČAR has also another European record - it has been organizing Czech rogaining championships for 17 consecutive years. In 2015 the Czech Republic will host European Rogaining Championchisp in the first time.

The tradition of European Rogaining Championships is that are held together with national championships where in same forest compete athletes for the European titles together with competitors in the Open category.

I am very pleased that in 2015 European Rogaining Championships will host Czech Republic. We chose very attractive terrain on the Czech-Austrian border where remained untouched nature thanks to the Iron curtain.

We hope to see you

Ondřej Skripnik (Event Director)

Facts

• Dates: June 25th to 28th June 2015
• Competition centre: Czech Republic, Černé údolí, Novohradské hory, Hotel u pralesa, Loc: 48°41'50.122"N, 14°40'18.897"E
• Event organizer: Czech Association of Rogaining and VŠTJ Stavební fakulta Praha
• Terrain: The hilly terrain of Novohradské hory (Gratzener Bergland) 650 – 1100 m a.s.l.
• Competitions: 24 hours (ERC, CZ Champs), 12 hours (CZ Champs), 6 hours (Open)
• Categories:
  • MJ  XJ  WJ
  • MO  XO  WO
  • MV  XV  WV
  • MSV  XSV WSV
• Competitor limit: 300 teams

Event location

Czech Republic, South of Bohemia, Černé Údolí

View Larger Map

Event center will be in Černé údolí in Novohradské hory about 180 km to the south from the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. The centre is situated about 45 km to the south from a regional main town České Budějovice and 20 km from nearest main railway station - Kaplice. There are direct trains from Prague to Kaplice (3:30 hours). Direct trains go also from Austrian Linz (2 hours) to Kaplice.

Novohradské hory are one of the biggest forest complex in the Czech Republic. Its uniqueness is based on preserved nature. The former border zone of the “Iron Curtain” during cold war preserved the area from human impact and it is still scarcely populated. In 2000 the area was claimed as Natural park Novohradské hory. In Novohradské hory spring rivers Lužnice, Malše, Stropnice, Černá and Pohořský potok. There are 16 hills higher than 1000 m.a.s.l.

Location on the Czech-Austrian border enables to organize the event in close collaboration with Austrian rogainers. In 2008 and 2009 we successfully held common Czech and German National Championships on Czech-German border. Similar approach was used for WRC 2012 in the Czech Republic, also held on Czech-German border in Prebuz. We would be happy to shift this model to the different location and community and to support a rogaining community in Austria by this project.

Rules

The World Rogaining Championships will be held in accordance to the International Rules of Rogaining published at the IRF web site: www.rogaining.com

Terrain

The hilly terrain of Novohradské hory (Gratzener Bergland) passes in the highest parts of the mountains in the open areas of dwarf pine. Elevation is between 650 and 1040 m a.s.l. Mountain meadows alternate with deep forests and swamps with heather. Abandoned villages and the remains of the guarded border contrast sharply with new tourist guesthouses. Vegetation and geomorphological varied terrain allow course setter to combine difficult passages with the less difficult ones. From athletes the terrain requires quality work with a map and a well-chosen strategy. To select the control points it is possible to choose both orienteering and tourist attractive places.

Accommodation

The event centre is in the heart of Novohradské hory in the village of Černé údolí. Event center will be in "Hotel u pralesa" (hotelupralesa.cz): former military barracks, offers sufficient capacity for both competing teams and their company. There is plenty of room for camping, hash house and bathrooms.

Map

A special map will be developed for the ERC using OCAD software on the basis of the standard topographic map. It will be finalized by spring 2015. Scale 1:40 000, contour interval 10 meters.

Punching system

Electronic punching system SportIdent will be used.

Weather and climate:

During this period warm sunny weather is most likely, daytime temperatures 20-25°С, nighttime temperatures 5-15°С. Medium probability of rain.

Event Program:

Thursday 25^th June 2015 – participants arrival, training

16:00 – 22:00

registration

19:00

dinner

20:00

opening ceremony

Friday 26^th June

11:00

Map handout

13:00

Start of ERC

15:00

Hash House openinig

16:00

orienteering game for spectators

20:00

DJ for spectators and competitors in Hash House

Saturday 27^th June

13:00

Finish

17:00

Prize giving ceremony

18:00

Closing ceremony

20:00

After party

Sunday 28^th June - participants departure

Organizer

Czech Association of Rogaining (ČAR) - www.rogaining.cz with cooperation of orienteering club VŠTJ Stavební fakulta Praha (FSP) - www.fspraha.cz

FSP is a university orienteering sports club which organizes several national or regional orienteering or rogaining events annually.

Event Director - Ondřej Skripnik

Course Setter - Pavel Kurfürst

Course Vetter - Miroslav Seidl

Map maker - Milan Borovička

Contacts

Web site (in English): www.erc2015.cz

Ondřej Skripnik (Event director; languages: Czech, English, German)

E-mail: ondrej.skripnik@fhs.cuni.cz

Mobile: +420-737-372-573