New Zealand Accepts the Challenge

At its council meeting at Easter, the NZ Orienteering Federation has picked up the challenge issued by Australia for a formal MTB-Orienteering Challenge between the two countries. This follows the pioneering (but unofficial) challenge at Waitarere at the beginning of last year.

STOP PRESS 1 May 03!
The MTBO Challenge venue has been changed from that first advertised (The Whipstick, Bendigo). The new area (a) has not previously used for MTBO, and (b) it is more representative of WmtbOC 2004. The new location will be advised shortly on the Australian MTBO website.

The challenge will potentially be contested in up to 4 mens and 4 womens classes: 18 and under, open, 40+ and 55+, with the open classes compulsory; but the travelling country can nominate three months beforehand which of the other classes it wants to contest. Indications of interest are urgently sought by the MTBO Committee Convenor, Andy Clayton so that New Zealand can "choose its weapons". NZOF has a selection panel which is expected to seek advice from the MTB-Orienteering Committee on the actual team selection. The challenge will also be open to riders not in their national teams.

See also the earlier item on this topic.

This page was written by Michael Wood and installed on 30 Apr 03, and updated 1 May.