Hutt Valley OC began the Wellington MTBO Series with an event at Tunnel Gully near Upper Hutt, one of its very earliest areas for foot-orienteering in the mid seventies. However at 12 sq.km the current MTBO map covers about 40 times the area, from the Maymorn Forest in the south, through the tunnel and north as far as the go-cart track, and west to the twin lakes and speedway at Te Marua.
Julian Cox (WOC) won the 21km long course which used tracks in forestry above the lakes for the first time, with a 4km road section to re-enter the bush at Maymorn. He was only 23 seconds ahead of Craig Starnes, a result that may have been affected by the disappearance of the fourth control on the course before any of the riders got there. Course 2 which was 14km long took riders to the go-cart track and back, before the well-used route-choice over the tunnel hill, as the tunnel had been declared one-way east. HVOC's Marco Renalli riding veteran this year claimed fastest time for the course, but Susie Wood (a former HVOC member) was only 4 minutes slower. Gary Millbanke and Colin Barr were the fastest Recreational and Junior Men on the course.
The 7km short course contained a much shorter loop to the north, before likewise climbing the tunnel hill, visiting the same last three controls as courses 1 and 2, and finishing through the tunnel. Sarah Underwood (WOC) posted the fastest time, but the rides of the day came from Susannah Pyatt and Monique Peck, who are 11 years old. The girls have orienteered on foot at Chilton St James school, but doing it on bikes was new to them, and they showed great spirit to complete the course in just under two hours!
Results and
Series Points
have been posted.
Written by Michael
Wood and installed on 27 Apr 02.