Jason Markham and Shane Potaka won the Heights of Winter Rogaine in Canterbury last weekend. Markham was also in the winning team in the Wairarapa in May. The pair are in the NZ Army, where their rogaining skills should prove very useful. They scored 1660 out of a possible 1900.
In second place 30 points behind were brother and sister Jenni and Michael Adams. Jenni is in the NZ Orienteering team and will shortly leave for the World Championships in Scotland; while Michael was also a close contender for a place in the team.
80 points further back were multisport athletes John Howard, Keith and Andrea Murray, and Neil Jones. Tony and Warren le Sueur, second placegetters in last year's Makara Rogaine were fourth with 1430.
Peter Dilks and Graham Slow were anything but, capturing the top vets place and 6th overall with 1340. Dave Laurie and daughter Kylie were the first family mixed team in 14th overall, while four places behind Bill and Anne Kennedy took the mixed vets award. Michael Smithson, Julian McLaren and Paul Neason were the junior mens winners, with siblings Sylvia McLaren Elizabeth McIntosh and Stephanie Smithson the best junior women. Steve Foote and Melanie Eccles threw away all their points by excessive lateness, and took the 59th and last place. Their gross score would have made them about 20th.
The area was based on the country village of Whitecliffs, and contained gentle to steep farmland and some pine plantation. Bad weather had been forecast, but the day improved to reveal a dusting of snow on the highest ground, and sunshine, albeit tempered by a cutting wind and frosty conditions after dark. The event ran from 9am to 9pm, with darkness falling about 5:30.
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