Australian MTBO champs | NZ victory despite covid challenges

By Christo Peters - Thu 31 Oct 2024 11:12pm

The Australia – New Zealand Challenge held in conjunction with the Australian MTBO championships had some COVID-19 challenges, but fortunately almost all team members avoided infection until racing was over. Big thanks to organisers Rob Garden and Marquita Gelderman for coordinating event logistics, and to the MTBO selection panel (Pete Swanson, Martin Peat and Sara Prince) and Steve Pyatt, the team manager for their commitment and communications with athletes prior to the event. The champs had much positive feedback for the Orienteering ACT organisers and commentators.
The final long-distance race was crucial, resulting in a narrow win for the NZ team (18-17), with standout performances from the M21 and W40 categories. The competition scores were close across various events, with some decided by mere seconds.

The NZ / AUS event series tally:

5-3 Mass Start (voided in W60 as they had a rider crash and our riders gave aid)
6-3 Middle
5-4 Sprint
2-7 Long

Friday I8 October – Mass start event @ West Stromlo
A magpie attack on the way to the start certainly got the heart pumping. Riders lined up to the start 7 minutes prior to the race. Then it poured. As they waited to flip their maps 15 seconds before the start, they got soaked by the downpour. The rain continued through most of the race ensuring all grades were muddy and wet. There were many kangaroos crossing just in front of the racers and several butterfly loops. A tricky orange (free ride) section early in the race tripped up a few people. Overall, great performances by the NZ team to lead.
With great sportsmanship, Viv Prince stopped her race and provided aid for an Australian who crashed with a broken wrist.

MASS START RESULTS:
M21
2nd Tom Reynolds OBOP
3rd Timothy Farrant PAPO
W21
3rd Lisa Haycock OBOP
M40
2nd Peter Swanson OBOP
W40
1st Marquita Gelderman NWOC
2nd Tui Hambrook OBOP
3rd Kath Copland PAPO
M50
2nd Andrew Skelton CMOC
3rd John Robertson OHV
W50
2nd Christine Browne OBOP
3rd Nicola Mitchell OHV
M60
2nd Rob Garden NWOC
M70
3rd Joe Sheriff DUN
M E-bike
2nd Day Armstrong PAPO

Saturday I9 October – Middle distance @ Stringybark Hill & Sprint @Sutton Road Driving Centre

The middle was hosted on a new map with a complex network of twisting, squiggly trails. There were a lot of route options with technical nav and interesting bike trails. NZ scored 6-3 against Australia to increase our lead to 11-6.

The sprint was on a driver training ground with all the terrain open for riding. It was a sprint-O-style map used two years ago. The off trail riding had creeks and holes to negotiate. The NZ team said it was lot of fun and fast and they enjoyed the ‘ride anywhere’ event rule. There was a lot of excitement at the finish line due to the commentator providing frequent radio control updates with the changing leads. The NZ team beat the Aussies 5-4 which extended our overall lead to 15-10, with the exciting long distance remaining.

MIDDLE RESULTS:
M21
1st Stuart Lynch NWOC
2nd Tom Reynolds OBOP
W40
1st Marquita Gelderman NWOC
2nd Kath Copland PAPO
3rd Tui Hambrook OBOP
M40
2nd Liam Drew OHV
3rd Peter Swanson OBOP
W50
3rd Christine Browne OBOP
W60
3rd Deb Bain PAPO
M70
2nd Joe Sheriff DUN
3rd Pat Bodger PAPO

SPRINT RESULTS:
M21
2nd Tom Reynolds OBOP
3rd Stuart Lynch NWOC
W40
1st Marquita Gelderman NWOC
2nd Tui Hambrook OBOP
3rd Kath Copland PAPO
M40
3rd Peter Swanson OBOP
M50
1st Andrew Skelton CMOC
W50
1st Christine Browne OBOP
3rd Nicola Mitchell OHV
M60
3rd Rob Garden NWOC
W60
2nd Deb Bain PAPO
M70
1st Joe Sheriff DUN
3rd Nick Collins TAR

Sunday 20 October – Long distance @ West Kowen

We made it, but it was tight in the end. Despite losing 2-7 in the long, the final score was 18-17 to NZ. The race organisers emphasised that the course was going to be long and hard… inclusive of a lot of climbing. It was a great conclusion to 8 days of racing for the NZ team as we completed our perfect score in M21 and W40. Kangaroos were again across the course. Route decision was key to the long course with some very long legs with many options on all courses. Smiles around as we finished, cleaned the bikes and packed for the return trip to NZ.

LONG RESULTS:

W21
1st Lisa Haycock OBOP
M21
1st Suart Lynch NWOC
3rd Tom Reynolds OBOP
W40
1st Marquita Gelderman NWOC
2nd Tui Hambrook OBOP
3rd Karyn Kerrison OBOP
M40
3rd Peter Swanson OBOP
W50
3rd Christine Browne OBOP
W60
2nd Anne Mortimer TAU
3rd Vivienne Prince PAPO
M60
3rd Rob Garden NWOC
M70
3rd Nick Collins TAR

It has been an excellent set of MTBO races for the kiwi riders in Australia featuring fantastic maps and courses. Many thanks to all organisers, planners, controllers and volunteers involved. We are looking forward to seeing some competitive MTBO riding in central Otago, in the South Island in February 2025.