| Orienteering Superseries: Prospects for 2006 | |
| PO Box 121032, Auckland, NZ Ph (021) 606 535 | |
With Danish great Carsten Jorgensen planning to be out of the country for another year,
the mens series will be dominated, as last series, by Chris Forne. But that's not to say
that he will have it easy. Karl Dravitzki, who won the inaugural series in 2002 but
strangely only had his World Champs debut this year, could come close. And the wily
Darren Ashmore who missed events last series due to injury is consistently at the top
when he is running.
Up-and-comers? Well obviously the WOC selectors put their stamp on Neil Kerrison, Brent Edwards and Jamie Stewart. But from further back, keep an eye on the "if brigade": Ross Morrison, if he can manage his so-far-unknown illness that prevents him training hard. Aaron Prince, if adventure racing suddenly disappeared and he decided to concentrate on orienteering.
The womens series starts off with two who shared the honours last time, both continuing
to achieved fantastic the second- and third-best-ever NZ placings at WOC: Tania Robinson
and Rachel Smith. There's quite a gap back to the next group, but those who could bridge it
include Rebecca Smith, Penny Kane and Claire Paterson. And also, if she gets any time
between adventure races, Swedish-born Sara Wallen.
But behind them, there's no obvious "succession plan". Marquita Gelderman is still capable of gaining placings, but we would hope (for NZ's sake) that she retained her interest in MTBO after her brilliant 4th placing in Slovakia. British great Yvette Hague would score a few scalps if she came out of retirement. Jenni Adams would be up there if she returned from temporary exile in Sweden. The door is wide open for W20s with potential, but only Amber Morrison comes to mind, and she is battling a series of injuries.
In the team competition, look for a renewed determination by Bivouac Southerly Storm after they narrowly lost the title to MacNut Northerners. But you can expect a vigorous defence as well. Unfortunately there's no sign that Central Magic can pull a rabbit out of its hat; it has always struggled to field even the two women whose scores can count. Their day will come, but it won't be in 2006.
The series begins with a round in each island. The results after that may be skewed a little since there are three Auckland events counting as opposed to two in Canterbury. However federation travel support and the possible assistance of gaming trust funds helps to get national squad members round the country. Early next year squad members will run a series of events at Waitangi Weekend (which is a long weekend) including relay, sprint, middle and a mass-start long with competitors split up by loops. The weekend may also include Norwegian Micr-O sections in which punching at false controls incurs a penalty. The series continues with the Easter NZ Champs in the top of the South Island; a May event which might be the Wellington Champs; and a Queens Birthday finale.
The benefit of hindsight - check out the Prospect Archive.