Intermediate MTBO, Mt Victoria, 29 May 11

Mt Victoria turned on a fabulous day for Rachel and Liam Drew's intermediate courses, designed to step between the flat riverbank and some of the steeper areas that we use later on. First there was an easy loop from the Velodrome up the new tracks to the saddle, and down as far as the skills area. Then there was a longer loop to the north, which had quite a bit more climb in it; but hey its a mountain! And those who reckoned they knew what they were doing could do them both nose to tail; this was called course 3.

A couple of very fast riders demolished that in under an hour, but the great thing about the day was the large number of people who we don't usually see, including school kids. So many that we ran out of maps! Some of them are expanding their skills for adventure programmes such as Get2Go and Hillary Challenge which are really taking off. We're pleased to be part of that.

A funny thing was that experienced orienteers kept to the track system because this is the usual rule. Because there are so many tracks on Mt Vic, and it isn't always possible to tell whether a few tire-marks are a track or not, we generally ALLOW off-track travel on Mt Vic; and that allowed for example cutting across the grass. That was written on the map and it was written on the signs at registration. So the message to new riders is that you USUALLY have to keep to tracks marked on the map. And the message to everybody, is to read the signs at registration, even if you've done MTBO before and you think you know how it works:-))

So the next event is the first of a series of 4. There's a points system, but many people just treat them as fun or learning. We have at least 3 courses including a really easy one for those whose legs aren't so long. It starts near the Wind Turbine above Brooklyn.

Results

Course 1: 3km

  1. Stuart Engleback (WN) 28-55
  2. Callum Hancock (WN) 32-40
  3. Steph Harding (WN) 36-51
  4. Ben Mitchell 46-42
  5. Rebecca Grant (WN) 54-45
  6. Bodhi Abraham and Tom White, 59-50
  7. Alison and Russell Flint, 65-43
Course 2: 6km
  1. Vick Connor, 75-55
  2. Sarah Drake, 77-42
  3. Three Poms and a Kiwi, 86-03
  4. Josh Blackmore, 89-28
  5. Stepney Parker got most
  6. Oliver Webber and Dion Blackmore, short cut:-))
Course 3: 9km
  1. Simon Kennett (HV) 47-15
  2. John Randal (HV) 47-22
  3. Ant Bradshaw (HV) 55-25
  4. David King (WN) 60-00
  5. Alexey Khavoronkov, 64-05
  6. Graeme Silcock (HV) 68-45
  7. Mike Fee (HV) 74-43
  8. Mark Hooker, 74-55
  9. Ben Sanders, 76-18
  10. Sam McMullan, 76-18
  11. Dirk Naish, 78-24
  12. Bruce Roberts, 79-32
  13. Sylvia Maclaren on foot (WN) 80-50 Keith Wild (HV) 84-05
  14. Mark Walter, HV, 84-11
  15. Kate Clark, 87-03
  16. Simon Rea rogaine style (HV) 89-20
  17. Caleb Adlam, 96-32
  18. Dave Thorburn, 101-53
  19. John Unwin, 103-29
  20. Malcolm Robbins, 111-31
  21. Tom Clarkson, 115-27
  22. Jo Muir, 120-40
  23. Jonathan Barnes (HV) 120-45
  24. Mike Barnes, 124-00
  25. Andy, Gregory & Oliver Flint (HV) 127-41
  26. Nathan Frost +1 128-40
  27. Peter Barnes (HV) 128-52
  28. Nick Goodson, 130-40
  29. Matty Turner (WN) 131-25
  30. Nick Goodson, 130-40
  31. Victoria Frost & Anita, 140-46
  32. Jo Dovey 146-50
  33. Keith Murray and Elke Chantelau got most
  34. Viv Holmes, Erica Hindle had a good time
Total starters 60. Courses planned by and Rachel Drew, with help on the day from Jo Goudie and Michael Wood, results installed on 29 May 11, story updated 30 May.

Brownie MTBO, Upper Hutt, 1 May 11

The second Brownie event started on the riverbank near Trentham Memorial Park and over 40 people enjoyed the courses in fine weather. They ranged from tiny ones giving directions from the pillion seat, to little ones riding as a posse with a coach, some bigger kids who are getting the hang of it, and a few big people.

Everyone who did the beginner course went on to one of the longer ones, and once again it was a school that provided the trickiest way-finding. A person who helped put out the controls (the ones in the school) then couldn't find one of them when he rode the course! Well not straight away. Shows you that these events have got something for everyone!

The courses then went right around Trentham Park, in such a way that all of those lovely paths through the bush got used. And then returned up the riverbank with some controls down by the riverbed. The last control was actually ON the riverbed, where some vehicles have smoothed out a little circuit!

If you weren't there you can download today's map here, its a 560kb pdf. You can also download the last brownie map, that one is 650kb. And if you want to see if you're getting better, read about last year here.

Results

Course 1: 2km mainly on the riverbank, no times taken

Course 2B: 4.5km right around Trentham Park and through pretty much all the bush tracks there, finishing up the riverbank with a little circuit on the riverbed! Course 2A: 7km through Upper Hutt College, round Trentham Park using all the bush tracks there, finishing up the riverbank with a little circuit on the riverbed! Times approximate.
  1. Paul Clarke, 36-02
  2. Gavin Scott, 38-47
  3. Sarah Underwood, 44-00
  4. Lucy and Oliver Tonge, with Mum and Dad, 58-00
  5. Elke Chantelau, 58-00
  6. Dawsons 1 (3), 59-00
  7. Thomas Page and Anthony Bichan, and maybe a coach 60-00
  8. Angus and Lachie Ross, with Jill and Shane, 66-00
  9. Oliver and Gregory(?) Flint, with Andrew, 69-00
  10. Sophie Nicholas with Stephen, 70-00
  11. Alex Rickard, with Mark Rickard, 70-00
  12. Sam Pickering, with Phil, 71-00
  13. Jack Hammond and Conor Cussins, 77-00
  14. Dawsons 2 (3), 86-00
..and a few who forgot to write their time down

Total starters 67, separate individuals 43. Courses planned by with help on the day from Gavin Scott, results installed on 1 May 11

Brownie MTBO, Lower Hutt, 9 Apr 11

A beautiful day today for this year's first "Brownie" MTB-Orienteering event. We haven't used this side of the river below the Ewen Bridge before because it was being re-shaped for flood protection. Now the tracks have been put back, bushes have been planted, and we found an ideal sheltered starting place next to Moera Kindergarten.

The intro course went under the railway bridge and along the track beside the river, then back along the top of the stop-bank. For the longer course, riders walked over the footpath on the railway bridge to the start, which had a pencil to write your time down. Then they did the loop up to the Ewen Bridge and back; with a tricky optional section through an old high school. Actually, not many people worried about recording their time.

Almost everyone did one of these longer loops which was really encouraging. It had some quite tricky controls on little tracks that went down to the water. But they were close to easier controls on the short course, so you could use those ones to figure out where to go into the bushes! There was also a bit of rough grass, hard for those with small wheels but we thought it would remind you of mountains - get it? Hope to see you all at the next one at Upper Hutt.

Participants (no particular order)

Course 2km Moera-Woburn side of the river, controls 1-9

Course 2B 4km Alicetown to Ewen Bridge and back to Moera, controls 18-27 Course 2A 6km As above plus the maze in the old high school, controls 11-27

Total starters 46, separate individuals 27. Courses planned by , results installed on 9 Apr 11