Three runners and the only biker scored between 600 and 640 in last night's shoestring rogaine on Lower Hutt's Western Hills. Andrew McCarthy, who was only going to run for 2 hours (a devious ploy??) top-scored, 20 points ahead of rider Marco Renalli. Steve Holden made 610 after one minute's penalty, and James Bradshaw 600.
The map was from Brent Hoy's Trailquest last year (MTBO score event) with controls 1-9 not counting, and extra controls 41-49 added to create a different planning problem. The area spanned from Korokoro Stream (with 3 controls) to the north line through the rivermouth, and from the beach to Hill Road, with the start near the Steiner School in Tirohanga. The 3-hour event began at 6pm, giving about one hour's darkness.
Others taking part were multisporter Murray Sim (430) who featured in the Cycling NZ magazine article on MTB-orienteering with his little boy on the back of the bike; Alan Stowell (390) fresh from a Holdsworth-Kaitoke run at the weekend; and Andrew Shelley (280) who started late after locking his keys in the car. Planner Michael Wood running with a 10min handicap scored 490.
Stu Barr will plan the next Shoestring event on 7 Nov somewhere in Wellington.
Written by Michael Wood
and installed on 25 Oct 01