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Katoa Po Explorer  and National Sprint League sprints  11/12March 2023 

The 2023 Katoa Po and explorer weekend in Taupo is going to be a blockbuster because for the Katoa Po night relay and Explorer we have a wide variety of terrain with typical Taupo farmland as well as Pine, Eucalypt and even some Manuka forest to suit all skill levels and  we will also have one of the rounds of the National League Sprint series for 2023.

The Program ensures a full weekend of orienteering that should satisfy the most ardent orienteer.

The venue and camping area for the night relay is close to the town – less than a 10 minute drive. The sprint events will be in the Town on local parks.

The Program

Saturday 11th March

- First NSL sprint start  ~3pm

-  at dusk start of 43^rd  Katoa Po Night Relay

- 8:30pm start of 3^rd  Katoa Po Explorer Night Rogaine

Sunday 12th March

- 9.00am start of Katoa Po Explorer Daylight Rogaine

- 9.30am start of 90 minute post relay Rogaine

- Second NSL sprint  start ~12.30 pm

About the events

Katoa Po is te reo  for “all night” and the event is the annual interclub night relay hosted by the Taupo Orienteering Club. The first relay was held at the end of January 1981 but nowadays is usually in March when dusk is earlier but the weather still generally good. Teams are made up of seven members, of mixed ages and abilities who contest for the Owl trophy or five members who compete in the first five legs for the Po Kerukeru trophy. The legs are designed so that all ages , levels of fitness and abilities are catered for. The Rules and details of how Club teams are put together will be advised in a future Bulletin.

The Katoa Po Explorer is a teams event that has been designed for adventure racers wanting to practise their night navigation and teamwork. This event will comprise a three hour rogaine on Saturday night and a 90 minute rogaine on Sunday morning for teams of two or four. The course has been designed by experienced adventure racers, but will be set for a range of abilities, from beginners to expert. Secondary School teams have found this event to be an excellent navigation team exercise.

The National Sprint League sprints will have 2 courses for Men and Women open and a shorter third course to suit a wider range of orienteers.

The planners and controllers are very experienced in these events so you can be sure of  great courses.

NSL Information

National Sprint League Race 3 – Saturday 11 March

Map:                  Waipahihi Botanical Reserve, Taupo

Scale:                 1:4000                                            Contour interval:  5 m

Planner:            Malcolm Ingham                         Controller:        Chris Morris

Directions:        From the lakefront at Taupo take the Napier Road (SH5). At the top of the hill (first roundabout) turn right on to Arrowsmith Avenue, then second left on to Shepherd Road. The main entrance to Waipahihi is 400 m along Shepherd Road.

Parking:             Park along the north side of Shepherd Road. Do not drive into the Botanical Reserve.

Event centre:   Follow the road into the Botanical Reserve for approximately 100 m. Follow tapes/signs to the event centre.

Start:                  The start is 300 m back along Shepherd Road.

Start times:      From 2.30 pm for NSL classes, from 3 pm for Recreational classes. Start times will be allocated for the NSL.

Terrain:             Botanical reserve with a complex road/track network. Moderately steep in places.

Map notes:       Most of the bush areas are marked as out of bounds (olive green colouring). Some junctions of large tracks with minor tracks (marked as black dashed lines) are hard to pick and, if appropriate, will be marked by tape. There are multiple man-made objects (black cross). These may be benches, drinking fountains, signs or art works.

Hazards:            (1) There is a single road that loops through the reserve. There may be traffic on this. (2) Following Cyclone Gabrielle there may still be some windfall on some tracks. (3) There are likely to be public users of the reserve, please be courteous and avoid collisions.

Courses:

National Sprint League Race 4 – Sunday 12 March

Map:                  Tongariro Domain, Taupo

Scale:                 1:4000                                            Contour interval:  2 m

Planner:            Malcolm Ingham                         Controller:        Chris Morris

Directions:        After crossing the Waikato River at the Control Gates, follow Tongariro Street to the lakefront. At the lakefront turn right on to Ferry Road.

Parking:             Park in one of the car parks on the left (south) side of Ferry Road adjacent to the lake.

Event centre:   The event centre is on the north side of Ferry Road adjacent to the bowling club.

Start:                  The start is 150 m back along Ferry Road.

Start times:      From 12 pm for NSL classes, from 12.30 pm for Recreational classes. Start times will be allocated for the NSL.

Terrain:             Public park with multiple buildings, paths, formal gardens and open/semi-open areas.

Map notes:       Courses 1, 2 and 3 all have a map-flip.

Hazards:            (1) There are multiple roads and parking areas within the domain. Please exercise extreme caution when running on/across roads and parking areas. (2) There will be public users of the domain, please be courteous and avoid collisions.

Courses:

We expect that each Club will appoint a liaison person to publicise the event within their club and gather together and arrange the Club teams for the night relay. This is in direct response to our survey earlier this year in which it was clear that publicity for the Katoa Po weekend could do with improvement.