Orienteering Superseries: Prospects for 2003  
Series Manager, MAPsport Services, 5 Atahu Gr, Lower Hutt, NZ Ph (04) 566 2645

Prospects for the 2003 Superseries

As seen before the series began

While team results have been heavily weighted towards the “home” region, travel assistance is expected to bolster numbers. Last year the South Island predictably would have won the rounds held at the National and Canterbury Champs, Auckland the QB and Auckland Champs rounds, and at Labour Weekend (Manawatu) the honours would have been split. Overall Auckland would have won by just 4 points out of 530. However the rumoured move of key performers Jason Markham and Rachel Smith to Wellington might bring the southern North Island into contention, and of course new players are advancing from the junior ranks all the time.

2002 Superseries Simulation (Using the new points system and discarding the worst 2)
  Men Women Regions
1 Mark Lawson 96 (actual place 2nd) Rachel Smith 132 Auckland 530
2 Karl Dravitzki 91 (actual place 1st) Penny Kane 74 (actual place 4th) South Island 526
3 Stu Barr 62 Lisa Frith 71 (actual place 2nd) Wellington 284

Rachel Smith was last year’s womens winner by a huge margin, although she didn’t have it her own way especially during the early rounds in the Mackenzie Country, when she was beaten by Penny Kane and Marquita Gelderman. Although not in the national squad, Gelderman is still capable of pushing others down the score table. So is Tania Robinson, who didn’t run any of the Superseries but showed at the CD Champs that she is as capable as ever. Unfortunately Wellington doesn’t have any elite women at present, with Kane studying at Otago Uni and Antonia Wood still affected by a chronic fatigue problem.

Karl Dravitzki was run a close race in 2002 by Mark Lawson, in fact under the new points system Lawson would have won. But in the larger mens fields there are a number of other runners who will be a threat: Stu Barr for example (who was third), Bruce McLeod if he chooses to run any of the races, or Danish star Carsten Jorgensen if he is in the country. Jason Markham missed most of the events while overseas and will make an impact; Darren Ashmore didn't run any of the series at all; and M35 but three-times Irish rep Bill Edwards is still competitive in elite. The series is open to all M and W21E entrants whether in the national squad or not.

The inclusion of two sprint-length park races as well as the short-distance could bring up some new stars from the younger elites. Bryn Davies and Ross Morrison, who are still juniors, were 8th and 9th last year for example. And with the final a long-distance Winter Classic which is traditionally on the rugged side there’s a chance for an older orienteer with endurance and experience to pick up points.

For more information about the competitors, visit the competitor list.

This page is maintained by Michael Wood, , and was installed on 7 Feb 03
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