Inward Bound

Inward Bound (IB) is an endurance and orienteering running competition held between the residential halls and colleges of the Australian National University with participation from the Australian Defence Force Academy. It is a unique event combining aspects of both orienteering and rogaining while challenging personal endurance. IB is the most prestigious sporting event in the interhall sporting calendar. Held annually, the competition involves over 250 runners from eleven of the ANU's residences.

The competition is split into seven 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 the endpoint, picking the quickest route through the countryside. Distances from the endpoint vary from up to 100 km for the top divisions to 30 km for the lower divisions.

The event aims to bring these residences closer together, building on the university community at the ANU and creating a sense of camaraderie between residences and those who take part.

Event Outline and Rules

Each participating residence enters seven teams (one into each divisions) into the event. Division 1 is to be dropped off up to 70 km (as the crow flies) from the end point. The distances reduce with each division down to division 7 which is dropped of as little as 10–15 km (as the crow flies) from the endpoint. In actual distance run, Division 1 can cover over 100 km and division 7 over 30. The drop-off zones and endpoint are in remote and often secluded environments including fire trails, national parks and state forests.

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

• water
• food
• maps and compasses
• survival equipment

The teams are then blindfolded before boarding buses and departing for the drop off point. The route to drop-off point is deliberately obfuscated, with buses spending upwards of one hour driving around Canberra in order to cause disorientation. This prevents teams from knowing the drop off location right from the start.

The buses leave (beginning with division 1 in the early evening) at 1 hour intervals starting of the eve of the event. Typically division 7 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, known as 'Scouts', from each team will run in opposite directions to find some indication of their location. They have a limited timeframe to get back, with the punishment for returning late being as severe as an additional twelve hours added to your teams finishing time. 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 not only on their fitness, but also on their 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 team's location are forbidden. Checking the addresses on envelopes in mailboxes is also forbidden, as a breach of privacy.

Generally, if a team is caught breaking any of the rules, or if they lose compulsory equipment they will be disqualified. Loss of equipment can also result in time penalties.

Each team receives a number of points for finishing the event. The number of points for each finishing position increases for each division. The residence with the most points at the end of the competition wins the event.

Safety Standards

As of 2009, Inward Bound introduced new compulsory safety standards for all teams during the race. Each team was required to carry an EPIRB Distress radiobeacon, a satellite phone and a 3G mobile telephone (in a sealed envelope). Organisers now use a comprehensive radio network across the region, 4WD recovery vehicles and first aiders to ensure competitor safety. Since 2012 the race has been viewable through the internet live GPS tracking system.

History

Inward Bound was first held in 1962. Mike Gore, the founder of Questacon, is credited with coming up with the idea in memory of close friend and passionate navigator, Jason Ryan. Ryan is considered to be the 'first' to have embarked on an unmonitored journey through the surrounding Canberra bushland, after setting off in the early hours of the morning on Friday the 17th of August, 1962. After running from what is now known as 'civic' in Canberra, Ryan eventually returned two days later, on the Sunday. The exact reason for the trip has been placed under immense scrutiny, with some reporting that Ryan could hear noises when he was sitting in silence, and thought a run such as this could straighten them out. Others believe it was simply a challenge Gore had set Ryan, for which he completed. Furthermore, Bill Packard and John Foster also helped to start the event, in developing the event from the idea and into its infancy.

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 hitch-hiked back to Bruce Hall.

Teams cannot use outside assistance to reach the endpoint. While the format of the race has changed over time due to safety and insurance requirements, the core challenge remains the same.

RMC Duntroon participated in one Inward Bound event in 1965. The participation was an attempt to develop closer ties between the ANU and RMC following animosity between the two institutions. ADFA participated in 2014 as trial year and have been invited back every year. Sadly they were not told about the continued invitation until 2021 and were meant to compete again. Politics between the ANU and the ADF obstructed their involvement until 2023, where some teams enter under the Division X category. There are expectations that ADFA will continue their involvement in Inward Bound, with some discussion indicating they may pursue Hall-equivalent status (entering seven divisions, becoming competitive for division-level ranking and becoming able to win the coveted Doherty-Banks Award.)

In 2008, Inward Bound was cancelled because the Organisers were unable to get Stakeholders to 'sign off' before the event was scheduled. In 2009, a comprehensive risk management plan was created for the event. This plan, along with a new dialogue of consultation with ANU administration, state and federal authorities, local councils and landholders meant the event returned in 2009 and has since successfully continued.

Division 7 (Independent), the eighth division, was discontinued from 2013 due to the increased number of teams from the inclusion of more halls and colleges, making the division a financial strain on the event.

In 2020 and 2021, Inward Bound was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In 2022 Inward Bound resumed. It also saw the introduction of a strengthened gender equity rule, where no more than 50% of a college's runners are allowed to identify with the same gender. In 2024, 47% of competing athletes were either Female or non-binary, a significant milestone in being both the highest known proportion of non-male athletes to ever compete and the highest absolute number of non-male athletes to compete.

Currently the following residences participate in Inward Bound:

• Bruce Hall
• Burgmann College
• Burton & Garran Hall
• Fenner Hall
• Griffin Hall
• John XXIII College
• Ursula Hall.
• UniLodge
• Wamburun Hall
• Wright Hall
• Yukeembruk Village

The post-COVID years have seen Burton & Garran Hall and Bruce Hall emerge as the strongest halls, competing intensely for first place on the overall rankings. Fenner Hall has also recently performed well, coming third consistently and beginning to challenge the top contenders. Griffin Hall often sees their top divisions perform well, but have lacked depth in their entire team to rank well overall.

Newer halls to the competition like Wamburun Hall, Wright Hall and Yukeembruk Hall have somewhat struggled in the post-COVID environment, but are developing positive Inward Bound cultures that are expected to blossom in the coming years. Ursula Hall continues to do impressively given their size disadvantage, while Burgmann Hall's performance remains modest - save for 2023. Unilodge has seen improved participation that has led to some impressive performances, while John's XXIII continues to enter seven teams of a diverse quality.

Results

Year	End Point Description	End Point Coordinates	Overall Winner	Div 1 1st Place Hall	Div 1 1st Place Runners	Doherty-Banks Award Recipients
2024	Honeysuckle Campground	35.583262°S 148.977430°E / -35.583262; 148.977430	Bruce	Griffin	J Cementon, G Fu, B Jaugietis & C Bradley	Fenner Div 7 - M Brischetto, F Munro, G O'Brien & A Holmes a Court
2023	Humes Crossing Campground	35°28'21.5"S 148°16'36.7"E	B&G	B&G	J Lowry, O Chenhall, S Junge & X Madden	John XXIII Div 5 - S Buller, H Ritchie, S Curtis & O Freeman
2022	Maloneys Beach	35.710452°S 150.250267°E / -35.710452; 150.250267	B&G	Griffin	C Bradley, G Fu, J Kato & T Wiseham	Bruce Hall Div 1 - C Woodburn, J Gome, J Cementon & O Blyth
2021	Event not held	-	-	-	-	-
2020	Event not held	-	-	-	-	-
2019	Woolcara	35.538040°S 149.335035°E / -35.538040; 149.335035	B&G	B&G	A Newman, R Mckenzie, J Larkin, T Barnett	Burgmann College Div 3 - W Ertler, J Quail, B Durkin, E Randall
2018	Former Orroral Valley Tracking Station	35.629208°S 148.956215°E / -35.629208; 148.956215	B&G	Burgmann College	J Bursill, T Fitzgerald, C Demeo, A McKenzie
2017	Denison Campground	35.935333°S 148.595734°E / -35.935333; 148.595734	B&G	Griffin	T Bartlett, C Lane, S Wu & T Wiseham
2016	Dalmeny	36.162294°S 150.126838°E / -36.162294; 150.126838	B&G	B&G	D Baldwin, A Patterson-Robert, S Lee & D' Taylor
2015	Kindervale	35.6425°S 149.5441667°E / -35.6425; 149.5441667	Burgmann College	B&G	D Baldwin, M Teh, J Brand & A Grant
2014	Cotter Dam Reserve	35.322711°S 148.941649°E / -35.322711; 148.941649	John XXIII	B&G	B Vallette, M Teh, D Longo & D Baldwin
2013	Corin Forest	35.518246°S 148.917151°E / -35.518246; 148.917151	B&G	B&G	D Baldwin, C Thorburn, I McKean & J Lee.
2012	Majors Creek Cricket Ground	35.568615°S 149.742674°E / -35.568615; 149.742674	no winner declared	no winner declared
2011	Caloola Farm	35.671372°S 149.073463°E / -35.671372; 149.073463	B&G	John XXIII	B Ness, C Hamill, J Greenacre & K Harris
2010	Jerangle Cricket Ground	35.869772°S 149.360481°E / -35.869772; 149.360481	John XXIII	Ursula Hall	H Leslie, E Collet, G Stanfield & A Breian
2009	Honeysuckle Campground	35.583262°S 148.977430°E / -35.583262; 148.977430	Burgmann College	Burgmann College	Matthew "The Windmill" Parton, Murray "AJ" Robertson, Alex "Lungs" Matthews, Thomas "Top Secret" Close
2008	Event not held	-	N/A	N/A
2007	Woods Reserve	35.480805°S 148.938290°E / -35.480805; 148.938290	B&G	-
2006	Majors Creek Cricket Ground	35.568615°S 149.742674°E / -35.568615; 149.742674	-	-
2005	Swinging Bridge Reserve, south of Wee Jasper	35.164199°S 148.687103°E / -35.164199; 148.687103	-	-
2004	East of Taylors Creek Rd between Lake George and Tarago	35.057240°S 149.528466°E / -35.057240; 149.528466	Bruce Hall	Bruce Hall	Sam Osborn, Jason Heward, Jarrah Bassell
2003	Communications Tower off Calabash Rd in Tinderry	35.753594°S 149.286986°E / -35.753594; 149.286986	-	-
2002	Blundells Flat Picnic Area in Uriarra Pine Forest off Brindabella Rd	35.320338°S 148.829461°E / -35.320338; 148.829461	-	-
2001	Orroral Valley Tracking Station in Namadgi National Park	35.627337°S 148.955211°E / -35.627337; 148.955211	-	-
2000	Caloola Farm, end of Top Naas Rd	35.671372°S 149.073463°E / -35.671372; 149.073463	Fenner Hall	-
1999	Donoghue Hopkins Hut, Lowden Rd, Lowden Forest Park	35.511811°S 149.589134°E / -35.511811; 149.589134	-	-
1998	Woods Reserve in Gibraltar Pine Forest off Corin Rd	35.480859°S 148.938087°E / -35.480859; 148.938087	-	-
1997	Honeysuckle Campground	35.583262°S 148.977430°E / -35.583262; 148.977430	-	-
1993			Fenner Hall (tied with Ursula college (ponts)and won on countback (time)
1987	Bulls Head
1986	Bill Packard's property near Anembo on Jerangle Rd		Burgmann College	Burgmann College	Michael Walters, Rodney Higgins, Dean Keneally, Grant Brady
1985	Corin Forest
1981	Homestead on Upper Shoalhaven River	35.797802°S 149.638714°E / -35.797802; 149.638714		Burgmann College	John Downing, Ross Kerr, Leigh McJames, Dave Rawson
1977			-	Burgmann College	Michael Bligh, Andrew Mulholland, Adrian Goodwin
1963	Bruce Hall		Bruce Hall	Bruce Hall
1962	Bruce Hall		Bruce Hall	Bruce Hall

External links

• IB Guide - accessible on the ANU Network
• Inward Bound Official Website