Where/When

Armidale, New South Wales, Australia 28 September to 6 October 2024. This is part of the Australian Schools Championships held during the Australian Championships Carnival.

Teams being selected & purpose

Two teams of equal ability will be selected to compete for the Southern Cross Trophy against the six Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory.

Each of the two teams will be a maximum of 20 athletes in size; five in each of Senior Boys,

Senior Girls, Junior Boys and Junior Girls.  Senior grades have a birth year of 2008 or earlier.

Junior grades have a birth year of 2009 or later.

The specific School’s championship events are:

  Sprint Championship – 1 October

  Individual Long Championship – 2 October

  Relay Championship – 3 October

Selection Criteria

The team selection will be made in accordance with the Orienteering New Zealand (ONZ) Selection Policy and Appendix. Selections are also subject to the Selection Appeal Policy so applicants need to be aware of this before financially committing to unrecoverable travel costs. These policies are also available on the Orienteering NZ website.

The 2024 New Zealand Secondary School Teams will be based on performances at the following event:

  King’s Birthday Weekend orienteering event hosted by Nelson Orienteering Club in Golden Bay, Saturday 01 June to Monday 03 June 2024

If you wish to be selected for the NZ Schools Team, you must race in either the Junior Boys/Girls or Senior Boys/Girls ‘A’ grade at the King’s Birthday event in Golden Bay. Exceptions may be given to named members of the New Zealand Junior World Orienteering Championship team who contact the Convenor of Selectors prior to the selection races, who may compete in junior or senior elite grades.  

Junior: born 2009 or later.  Senior: born 2008 or earlier.

Availability for selection

It will be assumed all orienteers entered in Junior Boys/Girls or Senior Boys/Girls ‘A’ Grades

at the King’s Birthday event will be available for selection, so no nomination is necessary.

Athletes who are unable to travel or compete over King’s Birthday weekend (for example due to illness, injury, or for religious reasons) and who still wish to be considered, or whose performances at the King’s Birthday event may result in their consideration for selection but who are not available for selection, should advise the Selector’s Junior Panel Convenor, Tessa Ramsden (tessamramsden@gmail.com) by Friday 31 May 2024. 

Team Travel

Orienteering NZ is currently reviewing the Team Travel policy.  Notification of team travel

options will be provided to selected athletes as soon as a decision has been made.

Costs

ONZ Policy means that ONZ covers the costs of officially appointed coaches and managers up to $10,000. Athletes selected for the Southern Cross teams will be expected to fund their own costs to attend this trip.

Announcement of Teams

The Selectors plan to name team as soon as possible after the King’s Birthday weekend trials. As per ONZ Policy, the team will be ratified by the ONZ Board Executive Committee after being selected with the intent to have teams published by 30 June 2024.