Unofficial Australia-New Zealand Challenge in January

Both Australia and New Zealand are well under way with orienteering on mountain-bikes, and Australia will run the MTBO World Champs in 2004. In January NZ hosts the regular trans-Tasman challenge for orienteering on foot, with venues including Waitarere where the well-liked "Sandy Trax" is located.

MTB-Orienteering organiser Michael Wood has taken the opportunity to kick off trans-Tasman competition in MTBO with an unofficial challenge at Sandy Trax, immediately after the foot-orienteering event on Thursday 17 Jan. It will be a short-distance event with a 30min winning time (that's actually ultra-short for MTBs!)

This will be a low-key literally "one-man-band" with limited competitors and fluid rules. We haven't been able to find convenient bike-hire for the visitors but a number of kiwis have volunteered to lend bikes, and the numbers will be tailored to the bikes available, probably 6-10 riders per country. Rules will be as agreed between Lynn Dabbs (Australia) and Michael Wood (NZ).

If you are interested in taking part in this pioneering contest, or if you are prepared to lend a bike for a visitor, contact Michael Wood at 04 566 2645 by Thu 3 Jan. Michael will email further details to enquirers by 11 Jan when the foot-orienteering will begin.

This page was compiled by Michael Wood, and was installed on 7 Dec 01
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