Further details of the NZ Champs have now been released. The event will be held on 3 and 4 July in Waiuku Forest, which is just north of the mouth of the Waikato River. There will be a middle distance (60min for the open men) event on the Saturday, a change from what was previously said. The championship itself will be the long distance (120min for the open men) on the Sunday. Both events will be fixed-order events, and the NZOF Selectors are expected to announce that one or both will be selection trials for the World Champs in Australia in October. This will create exceptionally strong fields in the open classes.
The terrain is pine forest on coastal sand dunes, with a height range of 150m, and a moderate track network from gravel road to single track. The forest is 10min south of Waiuku, with Pukekohe 10min further away. Downtown Auckland is about an hour away. Saturday's event starts at 1pm, and Sunday at 10am. Start times will be pre-allocated and advised in final information. Entries close with those received on 28 June.
The area is out of bounds to all prospective competitors, with the exception of a foot-orienteering event in part of the forest on Sunday 23 May. MTB-orienteers are welcome to take part in this on foot. As the forest has been used for foot-orienteering since 1978, the champs organisers have offered to provide a set of colour photocopies of the foot-o maps at $15 including P&P.
Download Event Details and the Entry form here. Enquiries to Rob Crawford, who organised the 2002 champs in Woodhill Forest.