NZ Team Back up to Full Strength
World MTBO Champs, Victoria, 17-24 Oct
The NZ MTBO Team for the MTBO World Championship is back up to full strength.
There was always a doubt over Debbie Chambers' availability, and she has now
been replaced by Fiona McBryde of NWOC.
Earlier item with list updated:
A full team of 6 women and 6 men has been selected for the second World MTB-Orienteering
Championship in Australia. In 2002 in France New Zealand had one lone competitor.
The team is:
Women
- Jo Forbes, OHV
- Marquita Gelderman, NWOC
- Claire Heppenstall, PAPO
- Fiona McBryde, NWOC
- Di Michels, NWOC
- Christina Renhart, NWOC
Men
- Neil Kerrison, EgOC
- Stuart Lynch, NWOC
- Andy Rhodes, PAPO
- Craig Starnes, OHV
- Darryl Taylor, HBOC
- Phil Wood, NWOC
The manager is Michael Wood from OHV. The team will attend a training week in the week before the
championship, culminating in the Victorian Champs. Half of the team has already ridden in
MTBO events in Australia, and some are planning to attend the Australian trials in
Victoria in September. For a small branch of the sport with negligible financial support,
that's dedication. But with the following World Champs in Slovakia, New Zealand won't
have such an opportunity for a long long time!
Coinciding with the World Champs is a series of races open to all riders (later in the day
on the same maps). And any rider is able to take part in the prior training week and
the Victorian Champs. Check out the details on
the Australian MTBO website. Entries for the public events close on 15 August.
Written by Michael
Wood, installed on 19 July 04, correction to next WC made 26 July, team updated 22 Aug