The Shoe Science Cascades Rogaine was held on Saturday 2^nd July 2005, the second in the Lactic Turkey Events organised rogaine series.  With a field of 393 people making up 148 teams this was even bigger than the usual favourite rogaine at Piha three weeks earlier.  This caused the organisers a bit of a headache, as the venue was not ideal for parking this many people.  Usually the second event is half the size of Piha so Event Directors Shaun and Phil chose a venue accordingly.  It all worked out in the end, with Phil acting bus driver for the day shuttling people back and forth to the event centre from alternative parking venues.  Apparently the bus songs were a great warm up!

 Everyone agreed that the Cascades area is a beautiful area with large kauri trees scattered everywhere on the map.  The stunning day helped the situation with a cloudless sky producing one of the best days in Auckland for a while.

32 teams took part in the 6-hour event which was won by Mixed team “Sportzhub” (Steve Knowles and Debbie Chambers) who were just 30 points clear of “Blythen and Hodgetts” (Gordon Blythen and Wayne Hodgetts).  Blythen and Hodgetts scored 20 more points that Sportzhub but finished nearly 7 minutes late so were penalised 70 points.  Third and 60 points back was “Mark & Henry” (Mark Struthers and Henry Beex) a super veteran team.  The Cadbury corporate team of Greg Farrant and Bryon Mosen came in forth in their first go at a 6-hour rogaine after doing the 3-hour event for their last few attempts.  Open women team “GOT Swift Adventure Sisters” (Di Michels and Keri Devine) finished off the top 5 only 350 points below the top team.

 The team that placed third in the 3-hour at Piha took out the Cascades 3-hour event 40 points clear of the next team.  Veteran team “Fast Forward” (Peter Swanson and Guy Cory-Wright) finished over 4 minutes late but still managed to hold the lead once penalty points were deducted.  I can vouch for how hard they were pushing as Guy’s legs went into a spasm for a good five minutes of cramping in a heap at the finish line!  Second was “Team MJ” (Jack Wolken and Martin Ralph) and third 140 points behind the winners was “Funking Slow Cuts” (Jonny Tripe, James Peacock and Rob Taylor).

Lost property includes a flash looking pedometer, a womens watch and a single glove - Email shaun.collins@fonterra.com to claim

Thank to our sponsors:

• SHOE SCIENCE, personalised service from a trained staff member who knows what they are talking about. www.shoescience.co.nz 

• LEPPIN SPORT, for sports nutrition. www.leppinsport.com

• INVIEW, specialising in Merino wool garments for the outdoors, cycling and multisports.  www.inview.co.nz

• WILD TURKEY BOURBON, mmmmmmmmmmmm treat yourself after a hard day in the hills!

• CADBURY MORO - the yummiest way to 'get more go'

• AUCKLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL, provider of beautiful environments!