Inward Bound

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Inward Bound (IB) is a running competition held between the residential halls and colleges of the Australian National University. It is the most prestigious sporting event in the interhall sporting calendar. Held annually, the competition involves almost 200 runners from six of the ANU’s residences.

The competition is split into eight divisions which are dropped off, blindfolded, at an unknown location in the bush. The teams of four people then locate their position and race to their endpoint, picking the quickest route through the countryside. Distances from the endpoint vary from up to 100 km for the top divisions to 15 km for the lower divisions.

[edit] Event Outline and Rules

Each participating residence enters eight teams (one into each divisions) into the event. Division 1 is be dropped off up to 100km from the end point. The distances reduce with each division down to division 7 which is dropped of as little as 15 km from the endpoint. The eighth division, called division 7 (independent) is dropped off at the same location as division seven, but does not receive points towards the final score.

Before departing for the dropoff point, the teams are scrutineered to ensure that they have a set of compulsory equipment. The compulsory equipment includes:

water
food
maps and compasses
survival equipment

Each team is also given an envelope with the end point location printed on the outside. The envelope contains details of the dropoff point and contact phone numbers. Teams must present the envelope unopened at the end of the race. Failure to do so results in disqualification.

The teams are then blindfolded before boarding busses and departing for the dropoff point. The bus route is deliberately extended to cause disorientation. This prevents teams from knowing the dropoff location right from the start.

The busses leave (beginning with division 1 in the early evening) at 1 hour intervals starting of the eve of the event. Typically division 7 and division 7 (independent) will leave early in the morning of the day of the event.

When the runners are dropped off they remove their blindfolds and each team proceeds to identify their location. Typically two runners from each team will run in opposite directions to find some indication of their location. When they return the team confirms its location and plot a course to the end point. The teams then race to the endpoint.

The rules are structured to ensure that teams rely only on their fitness and navigational ability to reach the endpoint. Thus maps and Compasses are the only acceptable navigational aids. Tools such as GPS and altimeters are forbidden. Outside assistance in the form of transportation by vehicle or asking other people for the teams location are forbidden.

Generally, if a team is caught breaking any of the rules, or if they loose compulsory equipment they will be disqualified.

Each team receives a number of points for finishing the event. The number of points increases for each division. In addition the first team from each division to finish receives 5 points, the second 4 etc. The residence with the most points at the end of the competition wins the event.

[edit] History

Inward Bound was first held in 1962. Mike Gore, the founder of Questacon, is credited with coming up with the idea. Bill Packard also helped to start the event.

At the time, the Australian National University had only recently been formed and had only 200 students. The first event consisted of a race from South of Canberra to Bruce Hall. At the time Bruce Hall was the only residence on campus and the student population numbered approximately 200. The initial race was won by a team which hitchhiked back to Bruce Hall.

It became obvious that the teams could not use outside assistance to reach the endpoint. Within a few years the rules were settled to their current format.

RMC Duntroon participated in one Inward Bound event in the 1965. The participation followed animosity between the ANU and RMC and was an attempt to create closer ties between the two institutions. In the first year of participation by RMC, many of the Army teams becoming lost or ran in completely the wrong direction. RMC never again participated in Inward Bound.

Currently the following residences participate in Inward Bound: