Thick mist which blanketed the higher parts of the area for most of the day caused mixed reactions from participants in the 5/10-hr Colonial Challenge near Porirua. They ranged from frustration with the difficulty of the navigation, to delight: "just like a night event, except you can read the map!" The 142 rogainers in 60 teams in the event, postponed from April because of the effects of the drought on stock, faced controls from Whitireia Park north of Titahi Bay to the Makara Walkway high above Makara Beach on the coast west of Wellington.
Mike Sheridan and Al Cross won the mens 10 hour rogaine with 1250 points, followed by Dave King and Greg Thurlow who scored more but were late back. In the mixed category Jill Westenra and Jerome Shepherd were second-highest overall with 1190, while Annie Sanderson and Royce Mills were the top women on 900.
Andrew McCarthy and James Bradshaw took the 5 hour mens category on 730 points,
in spite of a late start when McCarthy mistook the starting time.
Husband - wife pair of Gillian and Malcom Ingham came 1st in the mixed
5 hour (580 points for sixth overall), while Jo Mckenzie
and Kim Austin were the top women.
The event, was planned by Tony Gazley and John Veal for Orienteering Hutt Valley, with Mike Sheridan helping with on-the-day arrangements. It was the club's 29th rogaine since 1991.
Organisers Comment from John Veal and Tony Gazley
Photo Section courtesy of James Scott