NZ kicked off the Australia-New Zealand MTBO Challenge with an unofficial event at Waitarere in 2002, and needled Australia into formalising it last year. Next January will be our first official chance to compete against Australia on home ground. It's not just for the open men and women - there are age-group classes as well. (and even if you aren't in the team, you can ride in the event:-))
The challenge will be run in conjunction with a foot-o carnival near Auckland, and NorthWest OC is making a major extension to its MTBO map in Riverhead Forest. The MTBO is on Monday 10 Jan.
Challenge classes will be Men and Women Open, 40+ and 50+, and Men 60+. The open classes have 6 members (best four of each country to count) while the others have 3 riders (best two to count.) There are no opportunities for trials for the team, so the NZOF selectors will probably have to rely on form over the the past year. For the foot-o team the process is to select first and check availability next.
Update (25 November 2004)
The Grades for the MTBO on Jan 10th are the same as the score event (see www.geocities.com/nwocnz)
There will be 4 courses and
recreational grades will be offered on shorter courses. There will be an Oceania
Challenge and the grades to contest this are M and W open, 40, 50 and M60.
Mountain bikes can be hired by contacting Rob Garden, the event controller,
(email or phone 09 4202849) and will be less than 6 months old and have
3 sizes, large, medium, small. If you use spd [pedals you will need tobring
them along with helmets. The cost is $40 if there are up to 10 people, $35 for
11 to 15 people and $30 for 16 to 20 which is the max. These include transport
to the forest and some have been hired already. The area to be used is a new
map of Riverhead Forest and we are very impressd with the forest and the map.
With the return of the NZ team from the World Champs in Australia, attention
now turns to a competition closer to home and which caters for more of us.
We think the selectors would appreciate expressions of interest and availability, and suggest you do so through Supply your age (as at 31 Dec 05) and the club that you intend to belong to next year. If you haven't joined an orienteering club yet, check out the results page to find out which ones are active in MTBO.
And check out the entry form on the North West OC website or contact the who is Shaun Collins Ph 09 817 7621.