The four events at the Pokapū Champs saw some fascinating racing. The middle and long distances were held on Knottingly and Koitiata respectively, both using areas of the map essentially untouched by the Oceania Champs last January. They presented very low, intricate topography requiring both accurate compass use and reading of the contour detail. In the case of the Koitiata areas, quite rough running added to the challenge. The sprint saw the first full use of a map which featured two schools and Pit Park. It was initially intended for the 2020 ONZ Champs but in the end was unavailable after the Covid-induced delay. Extra spice was added by a night sprint on the Palmerston North Esplanade, run to the accompaniment of the sounds from the nearby Palmerston North speedway.

In M21E honours were evenly shared by Joseph Lynch and Zefa Fa’avae, with Joseph taking out both sprints and Zefa both the forest races. There were also good runs from Cameron Bonar, securing a 2nd, 3rd and 4th place. All weekend there was an intriguing 3-way battle in W21E between Norwegian Anna Taksdal, Lara Molloy and Renee Beveridge. The three of them covered by 61s in the middle, won by Anna, 16s in the night sprint, won by Lara, 1min 59s in the long, won by Renee, and 60s in the sprint, won by Anna. The only comparably close racing came in W50A where Antonia Wood, Jenni Adams and Yvette Baker were separated by only 2 minutes in the long distance and 15s in the sprint!

Thanks to Red Kiwi for a well organised weekend, especially planners Chris Tuffley, Wayne Gray and Kyle Higham, and controllers Graham Teahan, Russell Higham and Malcolm Ingham. Also to Simon Rea and OHV for running the start so well, and not forgetting Wellington’s Lizzie and Gillian Ingham for the fantastic night sprint.

by Malcolm Ingham

Elite podium placings below – full results are on Winsplits and all maps are available on Routegadget.
Photos by: Fraser Abernethy

MIDDLE:
M21E
1 Zefa Fa’avae 34.04
2 Joseph Lynch 35.57 +1.53
3 Oliver Egan 42.09 +8.05    
W21E
1 Anna Taksdal    34.55 
2 Lara Molloy    35.40 +0.45
3  Renee Beveridge 36.06 +1.11
M20E
1 Jake McLellan    37.05  
2 Oscar Burns 52.29 +15.2
3 James Wright 56.14 +19.0
W20E
1 Zara Toes 40.38  
2 Morag McLellan 44.10    +3.32
3 Amy Nicoll 47.36 +6.58

LONG:
M21E
1 Zefa Fa’avae 1:18.03     
2 Joseph Lynch    1:24.02    +5.59
3 Cameron Bonar    1:25.31    +7.28
W21E
1 Renee Beveridge 1:16.17    
2 Anna Taksdal 1:17.20    +1.03    
3 Lara Molloy 1:18.16    +1.59
M20E
1 Oscar Burns    1:24.37         
2 James Wright    1:39.52    +15.15
W20E
1 Zara Toes 1:18.09  
2 Morag McLellan 1:25.53 +7.44
3 Alison Power 1:48.49    +30.40

SPRINT:
M21E
1 Joseph Lynch 12.43
2 Zefa Faavae 13.34 +0.51
3 Nathan Borton    13.41 +0.58
W21E
1 Anna Taksdal 14.34      
2 Renee Beveridge (NW) 15.21    
3 Lara Molloy (AK) 15.34 +1.00
M20E 
1 Jake McLellan    14.04 
2 Oscar Burns    15.08 +1.04
3 James Wright    16.37 +2.33
W20E
1 Zara Toes 15.21 
2 Amy Nicoll 16.42 +1.21
3 Morag McLellan 18.59 +3.38