Well this implies a first event but several MTB-Orienteering events were run
in Riverhead and Woodhill forests about 5 years ago, before fizzling out.
However now there is much more MTBO round the country and national and
international events, so the event last Saturday in Woodhill looks like being
the start of regular opportunities for map-sport in Auckland. It was the
first of two preliminary events leading up to the third NZ MTBO Championships
in Woodhill on 2/3 November. You can check out the map (200k) by clicking on the
small sample. Note that this is NOT the same area
that will be used for the champs, Woodhill is a HUGE forest.
Phil Wood who won the Wellington championship in June led the field on the long course, a minute and a half in front of Darren Ashmore. Both have a solid background in orienteering and more recent experience in adventure racing. Rebecca Smith, another top orienteer on foot was the fastest woman.
By contrast, the winner on the middle course was Mike Stead from the Auckland MTB Club, and the experience elsewhere in the country is that bikers will rapidly gain the navigation skills required whereas the top orienteers don't have the same room for improvement in the riding.
On the short course it was good to see a young teenager Nick Mead taking the honours, and we hope that Emily Murphy who is not much taller than the map made it back OK after a bike problem. Emily would be a good match for the Wellington pair Susannah Pyatt and Monique Peck.
Results are now available. The second preliminary event will be held on 19 Oct, details on the Lacticturkey website, where the NZ champs entry form should soon appear.
This page written by Michael Wood and installed 10 Sep 02