Wheels on Waiuku MTB Score Event

NWOC, 27 May 07

This weekend provided interesting results with Nick Mead winning the overall race. Nick is a junior orienteer more at home riding downhill MTB - I didn't check his bike but if he was on the free ride one the result is even more spectacular. The womens race was won by Karen Burns who is from an adventure racing background. Rob Garden punched the most controls but incurred time penalties.

Setting an MTBO event at Waiuku was always going to be a challenge. The area is split by the sand mine and the surface is sandy to say the least. Having ridden there a number of times we knew that others would also have considerable knowledge of the fairly limited track network. We decided to set control sites that would be easy for the less experienced and kids, but also provide the faster and more experienced riders with the challenge to get a few at the river end. Surveying the area revealed that many tracks were horribly slow and as I personally don't like pushing my bike I concentrated on control placements that would minimise this.

One of the key skills for MTBO is the ability to memorise the routes to controls so that a rider can concentrate on the biking, with that in mind we intoduced the three bonus controls. Some people claimed they hadn't seen the vital clues on the 6 controls they were attached to, but they were all retrieved with the controls. It was something new to include in the event and added a new factor when riders needed to alter their plans.

We had an interesting situation when placing control 22. We arrived at the area to place the control to find the site itself had completely disappeared into the Tasman Sea - along with one of the tracks into it! It had crossed my mind during the night that the cliff could have further eroded by Sunday morning with the wind and high seas out there.

I would like to thank Gerhard Heyden for his help in putting out and collecting controls and Counties Manukau Club for allowing us to use their controls and caravan. It made our lives so much easier.

Rob Garden has assured me that his next event will have plenty of suprises so be prepared! He has an amazing network of tracks at his back door so the next events are not to be missed! For those wanting to see abit of the area at Rob's place there is a foot rogaine series this weekend. The navigation is similar to last weekend with controls mainly on tracks so contact Neil Kerrison ASAP to enter or visit www.cdorienteering.co.nz/royalrogaine

Results

  1. Nick Mead (15 controls, fin 1:16:20) 150
  2. Alan Moore (15, 1:21:50) 150
  3. Geoff Mead (15, 1:26:50) 150
  4. Rob Garden (17, 1:34:10) -5x5L =145
  5. Neil Kerrison (14, 1:16:07) 140
  6. Karen Burns (14, 1:30:00) 140
  7. Lisa Mead (13, 1:27:45) 130
  8. Marquita Gelderman (13, 1:29:00) 130
  9. Mathew Crozier (12, 1:24:14) 120
  10. P. Schansen (12, 1:26:55) 120
  11. Pam & Rob (12, 1:30:00) 120
  12. Nick Harris (12, 1:30:00) 120
  13. Megan Officer (11, 1:26:32) 110
  14. Rob Vanstan (11, 1:30:00) 110
  15. Jim Dollimore (11, 1:30:00) 110
  16. Kane Alward (15, 1:37:50) -8x5L =110
  17. Christina Freeman (10, 1:23:16) 100
  18. Cath Heppethworte (10, 1:24:32) 100
  19. Andrew Bruce (10, 1:24:32) 100
  20. No Name (11, 1:34:08) -5x5L =85
  21. Malcolm/Natalie/Sandra (8, 1:13:39) 80
  22. Dave Crofts (8, 1:30:00) 80
  23. Wayne Aspin (9, 1:31:03) -2x5L =80
  24. Bernie Rodgers (7, 1:22:36) 70
  25. Anne Mortimer (7, 1:29:00) 70
  26. Roger Woodroofe (7, 1:30:00) 70
  27. Catherine Crofts (7, 1:30:00) 70
  28. Robyn McNaught (8, 1:32:45) -3L =65
  29. Raewyn Bennett (6, 1:30:00) 60
  30. Peter Godfrey (6, 1:30:00) 60
  31. Annette Morris (7, 1:32:40) -3L =55
  32. Grant Unkovich (11, 1:53:00) -23L =-5
  33. Tim Paton (8, 1:50:23) -20x5L =-20
  34. Ben Patton (8, 1:50:23) -20x5L =-20

Some times are estimated. Time is only used for lateness penalties or to break ties.

This page was written by and installed on 30 May 07.