Around seventy competitors enjoyed two days of challenging competition in the forests of Hanmer Springs, in what is hoped will become a regular fixture on the orienteering calendar. In Saturday's Championship cross country race, courses ranged from 25 kms for the open mens, 19 kms for the open women, veteran and junior men, to 12.5 kms for the veteran and junior women. Competitors had to survive a mixture of weather during the day, with morning rain turning to thunder and then as the storm cleared a nor'west gale.
Sunday dawned bright and clear – early as well with the start of daylight saving. At 9.30 a Le Mans start saw competitors disappearing in all directions for a two hour score event. McLeod and Smith again came out on top of the results, but an interesting battle in the veteran mens class was only decided by the amount of late penalty points, giving the win to Tom Barnfield from Christchurch. The other classes were won by Sinclair (Vet Women) and in a remarkable ride, 12-year-old Hamish Kay from Nelson.
Full results are on the MTBO website.
The event was sponsored by Ampro Sales the Silva and Platypus agents,
Canoe and Outdoor World in Christchurch,
Fleet Cycles also in Christchurch, and
the MAPsport SHOP from Lower Hutt.
The NZOF Silva Development fund made a substantial grant towards the
map which was specially made to international MTB-Orienteering
standards. The event took place with the generous agreement of
Carter Holt Harvey Forests and Landcorp Molesworth Station.
It was organised on behalf of New Zealand Orienteering Federation by
Peninsula and Plains Orienteers.