And in the Open Womens class Jenny Visser has 99.4 out of 100 with only fellow-member Jo Forbes able to better that in the remaining three events. Visser is eligible to ride vets which she won in her first year of orienteering 2001. She moved up in 2002 and won that year and also last year.
After a sticky day in Belmont Regional Park today Craig Starnes and Graeme Silcock lead the mens classes. Although he will miss the next two events, Starnes is unlikely to be challenged, but the vets is a different story. Silcock leads today's winner Marco Renalli in spite of not having won a single day, and Mike Fee is also within 10 points of the frequently-changing lead. Whats more there are no fewer than six more riders whose average is in this league.
Starting from the Stratton St entrance to the regional park which is under threat from Landcorp sale plans, planner Tom Clarkson set up some excellent route choices. Course 1 offered a choice from Cannons Head to a bend on the 4WD road up to Belmont Trig which could be ridden round the "dress circle" or down Middle Ridge and up. Course 2 went from the Old Coach Road to halfway up Middle Ridge, for which the options included the high route via Round Knob (partly chewed up by cattle) and a variety of down and up options.
Results and Points have been loaded.
Feedback from the course suggests that the rule about off-track riding is not well-enough known so we'll repeat it here. Unless specifically permitted, only tracks shown on the map may be used, even if there appear to be others. Crossing between tracks over farmland is not allowed.
There are various exceptions which have been used in New Zealand to create more route choice possibilities. The "green line" on the map is a local device which means "allowable route, no visible track". But generally speaking there's no off-track travel. The planner will usually try to prevent temptation but it isn't always possible.
Conversely, all tracks and routes shown on the map ARE available to you, unless declared out of bounds by crosses or vertical stripes. Where a track is very obscure, or looks like a private access, we often put some tape to clarify "this is the track on the map".
The next event in the Wellington Series will be run by the Red Kiwis OC (based in Palmerston North). It will be in Santoft Forest on 16 July.