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The New Zealand Alpine Club has announced the establishment of the entirely new sport bouldergaine, a hybrid of Rogaining and Bouldering.

New to New Zealand, and the world, the sport combines rock climbing on boulders to a safe height without the need for equipment and an endurance form of orienteering involving locating electronic checkpoints in cross-country terrain.

Introducing the sport, NZAC Programme Manager Sefton Priestley explained "participants work in teams of two to locate checkpoints spread over a 4 kilometres2 area and score points with an electronic tag at each one they reach - that is the 'rogaine' aspect.

"At each checkpoint there are also bonus point clickers that can be reached by climbing to the top of a boulder - that is the bouldering aspect."

Priestley had no hesitation is selecting Castle Hill in the Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area, adding "Castle Hill is one of the most spectacular boulder fields in the world, and at only 80 minutes from Christchurch, the ideal location for this world premier! It is a beautiful setting."

Set to be held on Saturday 15th March, the inaugural event has been designed with participation, rather than competition in mind with a spirit of friendly competition underscoring the event.

Full details of the event can be found by clicking on the link below.

The New Zealand Alpine Club was formed in 1891 and aims to promote and support climbing at all levels within New Zealand. The club has over 3,200 members, ten regional sections and five full-time staff based at its headquarters in Christchurch.

The scope of its activities are broad including publishing, the provision of 17 alpine huts and base lodges, instruction, advocacy, insurance and support for overseas climbing expeditions.

For more information go to www.nbs.org.nz

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