Wellington, Rotorua Gear Up

Maungakotukutuku 16 Apr, Highlands 24 Apr

Details have been released for Wellington and Rotorua MTBO events in April.

The Wellington event on Sat 16 April takes to the hills behind Paraparaumu, scene of last year's Wellington Championship. The start is in the beautiful Maungokotukutuku Valley with its grassy streamside flats; Steve Meeres has planned score courses with a range of time limits up to 3 hours.

The Rotorua event on Sun 24 April is in Highlands Forest where Kent Dickson has mapped a new area with forestry roads and 4WD tracks. He says there are some stunning views from some of the controls. He has planned four courses from under 3km for the kids up to 33km. Details for both events follow:

Maungokotukutuku MTB Muster

Sat 16 Apr

Trailquest style event, fixed time to visit as many controls as possible in any order; you choose how far and high to go. "Far and High" controls worth more points; but can you get back in time? Penalty for late return:-))

Checkin from 10am (note earlier than usual). Starts as follows:

Start signposted from SH1 at Waterfall Rd, 2km north of Mackays Crossing between Paekakariki and Paraparaumu. Take care turning into Waterfall Rd from the south, alternative access from the north via Valley Rd, Paraparaumu.

Enter on the day Snr/Jnr $20/$10 with $5 discount for orienteering club members. Organising club Orienteering Hutt Valley has a half-price introductory subscription only $22/$11. Enquiries Ph 04 902 2001

Highlands Forest MTBO

Sun 24 Apr

Sequence event with interval starts, visit the controls in numerical order but there is route choice between controls. You can start between 11am and 1pm, arrive earlier to register.

Courses:

To reach the start head 12km south of Rotorua, turn left into Highlands Loop Rd. Enter on the day $10, family $20. Bring whistle, compass, bike. (And camera, the views are great!) Organising club Rotorua OC. Enquiries Ph 07 348 9830


Assembled by from info supplied by Steve Meeres and Kent Dickson; installed on 8 Apr 05.