There were no surprises in the Open Men's category at Makara Peak on Saturday, which wrapped up the third Wellington MTBO series.
Craig Starnes who had been lurking in second place after missing event 3 at St Pats asserted his dominance on the 17.6km course with a quarter-hour win over Dave King, and under the best 3 out of 4 system took the series for the second time in a row. King, 8th last year, showed the rapid improvement he is also displaying in foot-orienteering to finish runner-up, while the steady Dirk Naish, resting on the points already gained, was third. Julian Cox, winner of the inaugural series two years ago, passed up the chance to challenge by planning the courses.
Newcomer Keri McArthur won the open womens category, but Jenny Visser's consistency gave her the series; she accumulated 89.1 points out of a possible 99.9 without winning any of the events! Jill Ford, new to MTBO this year was runner-up.
If these results were predictable, the Veterans Men's were certainly not! The "Old Boys and their Toys" are the largest class, and going into Saturday Mike Fee had a narrow lead over Steve Pyatt and Bill Brierley. Bill won the day in spite of first copying (and completing) course 3 by mistake, but Marco Renalli appeared from the ranks of those with only two previous results. He rode the 11-km course less than 2min over Brierley's time, to rack up 97.9 points overall. Graeme Silcock, third on the day also passed Brierley in the points tally. Fee and Pyatt were next, and another 5 riders accumulated totals over 70.
Actually the 10th placegetter, John de Roo, had to watch the final from the sideline, as he is still recovering from being knocked from his road bike near Otaki. de Roo and Renalli are amongst the most experienced MTB-orienteers in the region, de Roo beginning in the early days when HVOC invited bikers to its street events, and Renalli cutting his teeth on a Karapoti Rogaine (trailquest for feet) which likewise had a MTB category. By contrast Brierley is new to MTBO this year.
Colin Barr had the Junior Men sewn up before Saturday, but there was a surprise in the form of a Ben Sanders, who snuck in 17sec ahead! Christine de Roo's Vet Women's 7.5km win gave her the series, and the lack of Junior Women meant the St Pats winner Hayley Robertson stays on top. Sarah Underwood couldn't be beat in Rec Women either, but Rec Men was open for Gavin McCarthy to upstage Trevor Knowles. However the man from Upper Hutt Cycles failed to show, and "T.Rev", fresh from his trip to the World Champs in France, remained in charge.
The event was run by the Wellington Orienteering Club, and with HVMBC having done the Trailquest at St Pats this marks a trebling of clubs that can share in the promotion. This, more than the involvement of 80 participants in the series, is the year's biggest milestone.
Results and points have been posted.