Kiwi Riders in Oz
 Michael
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Posted: 26 October 2012, 2:06 PM
Two kiwi teams got all the controls in the Cyclic Navigator near Daylesford, Victoria last weekend. The CN is a 6 or 4hr MTB rogaine. Successful teams were Marquita Gelderman/Rob Garden, and Erin Roberts/Pete Swanson. Rseults are on the Eureka Orienteers website. Sorry the internet here is 3rd world, you'll have to look it up.
And today there were 4 kiwi winners in the Oz MTBO Sprint Distance Championship near Taree, NSW. They were Marquita Gelderman (W21E); Pete Swanson (M40); Jacqui Sinclair (W50); Michael Wood (M60) and Yett Gelderman (W70). Christine Browne and Greg Barbour gained 2nds in the elite classes, and relative newcomer Deb Bain was 2nd in W50.
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Michael
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Posted: 29 October 2012, 12:31 AM
Following the sprint the long took place near Port McQuarrie on Saturday. As I can't count I will report there were 5 kiwi winners: Marquita in W21E, Pete in M40, some guy Rob in M50 and we'll still claim Bruce Meder (M60) although he lives in Australia now. Seconds included Christine and Jacqui. Deb had a brilliant ride in W50 except for overlooking the 2nd-last control in a busy bit of map at the end.
And on Sunday there was a middle distance back at Taree, where the full extent of track-building by local riders was revealed. An incredible selection of tracks which gave huge scope to the course planner David West of MTBO-specific club Mountain Devils.
Marquita, Pete, Jacqui Bruce and Yett dealt to their classes with Christine, Rob, Michael, Deb and Chris Gelderman in the placings. Greg Barbour placed 5th in M21E after being given a course 4 map and completing the course before returning for the correct one. Greg also lives in Australia. Altogether there were 17 kiwis there.
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Michael
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Posted: 31 October 2012, 6:08 AM
Results for the Cyclic Navigator are on http://www.eurekaorienteers.asn.au/?p=7602 You can see the map via the RouteGadget link.
And Results/Splits/RouteGadget links are on the OzMTBOChamps website http://www.ausmtbochamps.com/results/ See especially the map for the middle distance (and the sprint which was on a part of the same area).
They map fairly pessimistically over there, everything down to the dotty tracks was ridable. What they do when they come to an ACTUALLY unridable track I dunno:-)) The high speeds make for (a) thrills and (b) a need for very disciplined traffic-lighting. You finish with fresh legs and a frazzled brain.
The expedition was huge fun, largely due to travel, accommodation and training arrangements made by Rob and Marquita. Thanks!
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pete s
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Posted: 31 October 2012, 9:41 AM
yep, great weeks racing and Oz is brilliantly set up with quality MTBO maps and terrain.
Big thanks to all the helpers, esp Rob and Marquita, and also Michael for driving the truck all the way back to Melbourne!
Also worth noting the way the Aussies make us Kiwi's so welcome - fantastic people, very welcoming, and I was impressed with the inclusion of Kiwi's in the recognitions at the awards dinner by Kay Haarsma.
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Michael
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Posted: 31 October 2012, 2:13 PM
The long and middle were ranking events, and the lists have now been updated. Marquita is 38th and Christine 57th. Top kiwi male is Greg Barbour but he only has a couple of scores - and MTBO counts 5. Clever plot by the Europeans:-))
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rob.g
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Posted: 1 November 2012, 11:22 AM
Lots of fun these trips, and we are now planning a 7 day MTBO carnival for the second week of January 2014, with A/NZ Challenge starting north of Auckland and finishing in Rotorua.
The Otago carnival was a real hit with the Australian's and many have said they will come to the next one.
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