Middle Hutt

Course planner Very warm evening. Participants 22.

The last T-max of the year followed the style of the Avalon event, with the Quickfire sections based on the Dowse environs and the remodelled Riddiford Gardens. The in between section was a less intense sprint on new mapping of the commercial centre, with alcoves, lanes and even the Queensgate Mall shown in full detail. And for good measure a bit of the Hutt riverbank.

Sport Ident controls were used at the start, finish, transition, and un-specified other locations; with the remainder being either flags on the ground or bare stakes, requiring accurate nav right to the spot. Good practice for precise navigation and variation in pace. Nick Hann was head and shoulders above the rest of the field, but Bill Edwards was challenged by Greg Thurlow and Magnus Bengtsson, and it won't be long before Kieran E makes up the gap to his dad.

Thanks to John Robertson who helped throughout, and Ocean Mercier, Pat van Berkel, Nic Gorman, Nick Hann and Greg Thurlow who picked up the controls.

Results
Down below is a second set of combo results based on emphasising the Quickfire times, to balance up the influence of both types of orienteering.

Short Course (First Quickfire on 1:2500 map) 0.9km

1. Rod O'Connor 15:00
2. Karina O'Connor 16:00
3. Mike, Kathy and Hamish O'Connor 18:00

Short Course (2-map Quickfire on 1:2500 map) 1.6km

1. Lilly Trompeter 34:00
2. Don Lock 5:32 +4:52 +10:42 part of tour =21:07

Tour Course (1:4000 map) 2.8km

1. Will Vale 23:30
2. Mike O'Connor 28:40

Combo Course (1st half of Quickfire, longer 1:4000 section, 2nd Quickfire) Total 4.4km

1. Nick Hann 3:51 +15:17 +3:52 =23:00
2. Bill Edwards 5:13 + 16:53 +4:25 =26:31
3. Greg Thurlow 6:07 +17:31 +5:06 =28:44
4. Magnus Bengtsson 5:04 +19:13 +5:02 =29.19
5. Kieran Edwards 5:53 +19:45 +5:11 =30:49
6. Rob Collier 5:52 +20:00 +5:41 =31:33
7. Nic Gorman 6:48 +22:46 +6:26 =36:00
8. Bill Trompeter 36:00 self-timed
9. Pat van Berkel 8:11 +24:39 +6:42 =39:32
10. Ocean Mercier 8:38 +26:37 +6:08 =41:23
11. Simon Rea 7:48 +28:07 +7:40 =43:35
12. Paul Clarke 8:34 +27:39 8:05 =44:18
13. Alexandra Riddle 7:54 +29:36 +7:30 =45:00

Combo Course with four times the emphasis on the Quickfire. Computed by QUARTERING the tour course time. We've left the order the same as above, so you can see where it would have made a difference. Would you have re-allocated your energy if you had known this was the system?

1. Nick Hann 11:32
2. Bill Edwards 13:51
3. Greg Thurlow 15:36
4. Magnus Bengtsson 14:54
5. Kieran Edwards 16:00
6. Rob Collier 16:33
7. Nic Gorman 18:56
8. Bill Trompeter 36:00 self-timed no splits
9. Pat van Berkel 21:03
10. Ocean Mercier 21:25
11. Simon Rea 22:30
12. Paul Clarke 23:34
13. Alexandra Riddle 22:48

Spicer Reserve, 28 Nov 17

Course planner Ummm. Beautiful evening. Starts 27.

Course planner Jake Hanson. Beautiful evening. Starts 41.

Course planner Fine though windy evening. Starts 43.

Course planner Fine warm evening. Participants 24.

The basis of the opening T-max was the remodelled playground, presented at 1:2000 (although mapped at 1:5000). John Robertson set an intense 1.4km course with a map change at half way. For some this was enough, but many of the racers chose the long option where a 2.4km "conventional sprint" was spliced into the middle. (Back in the day this itself was UN-conventional, how times have changed!) The long part contained a route choice across the river.

Sport Ident controls were used at the start, finish and transition only, others only had to be touched, and controls had no codes calling for a high degree of care. But a top challenge with only Bill Edwards getting under 9min for the 1.4km (23min total). Most of the experienced orienteers totalled high 20's and into the 30's. John used 40 controls altogether, if some were "too close" this was intended.

Thanks to Anna Robertson and Michael Wood for setting up, and Anna and Simon Rea for registration and gathering up.

Results
The simplified timing generally gave us the loop times but sometimes we can't tell whether you were taking the short option or perhaps missed punching at one of your transitions. An asterisk is used where we have doubts. Down below is a second set of long results based on emphasising the Quickfire times, to balance up the influence of both types of orienteering.

Short Course (2-map Quickfire on 1:2000 map) 1.4km

1. Christine Shuker 10:21+11:46=22:07
2. Barbara Bridger 10:13+12:02=22:15
3. Jayshiree and Narisha 15:09+23:09=38:18

Long Course (1st half of Quickfire, longer 1:4000 section, 2nd Quickfire) Total 3.8km

1. Bill Edwards 3:29+15:14+4:26=23:09
2. Stuart Engleback 3:55+18:23+5:36=27:54
3. Sarah O'Sullivan 4:35+18:25+5:30=28:30
4. Rob Collier 4:16+19:04+5:38=28:58
5. Kieran Edwards 3:49+20:24+5:15=29:28
6. Ellie Molloy 4:16+20:25+5:28=30:09
7. Ben O'Sullivan 5:44+24:45=30:29*
8. Michael Wood (unoff) 4:40+20:21+5:57=30:58
9. Nic Gorman 31:57 (didn't punch pivot)
10. Amber Riddle 5:20+22:26+5:53=33:39
11. Bill Trompeter 6:59+21:28+7:42=36:09
12. Mike O'Connor 5:53+26:08+6:45=38:46
13. Charmaine 6:05+24:45+8:36=39:26
14. Jack Braddick 32:31+8:46=41:17*
15. Don Locke 7:43+44:06=51:49*
16. Andrew Braddick 7:03+35:50+9:47=52:40
17. Clinton and Natalie Zi?? 8:36+46:12=54:48*
18. Tony Booth 12:45+53:42+10:37=64:19
19. Andrew Booth 13:10+40:30+12:27=66:07

Long Course with twice the emphasis on the Quickfire. Computed by HALVING the trail course time. We've left the order the same as above, so you can see where it would have made a difference. Would you have re-allocated your energy if you had known this was the system? What if we quartered the trail time?

1. Bill Edwards 15:32
2. Stuart Engleback 18:43
3. Sarah O'Sullivan 19:18
4. Rob Collier 19:26
5. Kieran Edwards 19:16
6. Ellie Molloy 19:57
7. Ben O'Sullivan 18:07*
8. Michael Wood (unoff) 20:48
9. Nic Gorman (didn't punch pivot) *
10. Amber Riddle 22:26
11. Bill Trompeter 25:11
12. Mike O'Connor 25:42
13. Charmaine 27:04
14. Jack Braddick 25:02*
15. Don Locke 29:46*
16. Andrew Braddick 34:45
17. Clinton and Natalie Zi?? 31:42*
18. Tony Booth 37:28
19. Andrew Booth 46:52