Thread: Hihitahi Challenge 2017

I am very pleased to announce the date for the 2017 Hihitahi Challenge. The Challenge will be held on Saturday the 4th of March, 2017. The 2017 event will be very similar to the 2016 event with a few notable changes to improve the running of on the day. The event will still include hiking, basic navigation, shooting, distance estimation, flora & fauna identification, first aid, observation and we will see about throwing in something new as well. This will be the major event on our competition calendar for 2017.

We have been extremely well supported with sponsors (always more prizes than we have had competitors!). We will be approaching sponsors again for prizes for the 2017 event. If you know someone or a business that might be interested in supporting the event (or even being involved on the day) then let me know and I’ll get in touch with them.





Navigation Skills:
The competitor will come across several designated navigation points while moving around the course. At each of these points the competitor will determine the navigation values indicated on their score card. The values may include a magnetic bearing to another location, a distance estimate to another location, a grid reference, or an estimate of the competitor’s arrival time to another location. The use of a GPS will not be allowed!

Distance Estimation Skills:
At each shoot stage the competitor will have to estimate the distance to each target as their actual distances will not be given. The competitors distance estimate will be recorded on their score card. No rangefinders will be allowed. In order to score the competitor will typically be required to estimate the distance to target to within 10% (or there abouts).

Shooting Skills:
The competitor will come across several stages that require them to shoot at targets. Each shoot stage will involve multiple target to be shot under a time limit. For the 2016 event we are going to increase the amount of shooting over previous years so there will be more shots at each of the stages.

Medical First Aid Skills:
The competitor will be presented with one of three different practical medical exercises i.e. an actual patient with a fake injury. A first aid kit will be provided to them and they will be asked to treat the patient within a time limit. The competitor will also be given 10x first aid related, multi-choice questions to answer as well.

Flora and Fauna Identification:
A section of the course will have trees and or animals identified on it. The competitor shall record the tree type or animal on their score card. Tree identification books or other resources i.e. your smart phone will not be allowed!

Observation Skills:
Competitors will be challenged to locate and identify a number of object placed in front of them. They will be given an area to observe to try and find these objects. The objects will mostly be hunting and camping related.
This is a favorite stage for competitors and is much harder than it sounds!

Also we will again be placing numbers around the course at random intervals and locations. Competitors will be scored on how many of these numbers they can locate and record correctly on their course map.

Basic fitness:
The course follows a farm access track, is approximately 10km in length and involves an elevation change of about 200m. Competitors will choose their own pace though and a high level of fitness is not required to be able to complete the course.
There will be no weather cancellation. If it rains then the competition will still continue, wet weather gear is advisable if it does rain. The shoot location is exposed and so competitors should plan to be out in the weather/wind all day. The course is between 800m and 1000m above sea level.

Individuals and Teams:
For the 2017 event we will have entry for both individual competitors and also two person teams. Each individual and each team will receive one score card and individuals will not compete directly against teams.
Only an individual competitor can pick up the trophy!

Entry fees:
The entry fee for the 2017 Hihitahi Challenge will be $40 per competitor and half that for competitors 16 years of age or under.
Just message me or send me an email to register and i'll send you some details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZklJ3AXU8cI

Photos from the 2016 event.

Originally Posted by Gillie

It was a scorcher of a day


This year we decided to make the random number placed around the course a little harder. This was reflected in the scores with the highest score being 13 found out of 20.


This year we expanded the traditional "Tree ID stage" to include animals as well. Turns out not everyone knows their native frogs! Can you name this one?


Observation this year shifted back to where it started and the scores came in about the same.


Some shoot positions stayed the same...


And we introduced a new one...


We brought the penalty targets into the unknown distance shooting. All the "no shoot" white targets were hit by the end of the day...


Awesome to see juniors


Father and son team


The magnetic bearings were difficult again this year. Some of the cards competitors had to find where hidden (cards were located a given distance along a given magnetic bearing from a marker). More than one competitor obviously just followed the competitor in front of them and they didn't realize there was more than one card...


BBQ and prize giving at the woolshed. Basically nothing left of the BBQ and everyone got a prize!

Still entry spots available - just get in touch!

Trophy is all done as well:

Finally the video from the 2017 Hihitahi Challenge is finished! This year for something different with the video we followed a competitor around the course to see how the went. That competitor this year was @Dougie!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FcE1WSSZrY

Well done @Dougie.

Great event. Unfortunately couldn't make it this year. Hopefully 2018. Well done the Gillice's, sponsors and Hihitahi station.

Thank you


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