President’s Rant – May 2015

Queen’s Birthday Weekend is almost here and looks full of promise. The event has a Pinestars v Bushrangers Senior and Under 23 Test event as well as hosting the trials for the NZ Secondary Schools Teams to compete in the Southern Cross Challenge in Ballarat in late September. Please extend a warm welcome to those orienteers and supporters who have made the effort to venture over the ditch. Amongst our visitors from Australia will be the Orienteering Australia’s Director High Performance, Lance Read and also Head Coach Nick Dent. I am sure that Malcolm Ingham in his role as ONZ High Performance Leader will track down Lance and exchange a few ideas.

Whilst thanks are due to North West for organising Queen’s Birthday, I’m sure whether most of you will be aware the Auckland Region Clubs are deep into planning for what will be an orienteering extravaganza – Oceania and Auckland World Masters Games held back to back over Easter 2017 – something not to miss.

We are gradually filling the vacant committee position but have immediate needs for two additional members for the Technical Committee. So here’s a personal plea for anybody interested to stand up and participate in the affairs of this important committee – just forward your name to the ONZ General Manager. Invitations to join the Rogaine Committee will also surface shortly, so look out for this opportunity.

I’ve been trying to get round the clubs and have attended Wellington, Marlborough and Nelson events. Still realise I’ve plenty to learn as I had a d.n.f on an Orange course on the Maitai map last weekend!

David Turner

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Important Changes Announced

2015 Southern Cross Challenge Team Travel

This year Orienteering NZ will be coordinating and booking the travel arrangements for the Southern Cross Challange (NZ Schools) team.  The team (athletes and staff) will travel as a team from Auckland to Melbourne as one group.

The reasons for chosing to make this change are we believe:

• Safety of our team is paramount
• It provides an opportunity to build team spirit and is good for team moral

Operationally it also makes sense as we can

• group book which enables us to secure airfares early (which have been booked)
• we have the flexibility to change names on tickets if required
• The team will travel as a group on one airline, therefore any travel interruptions should not require new ticketing and extra costs

Also, to ensure equity and fairness of team members, all team members will pay the same user-pays fee towards the cost to the travel so no one will be financially disadvantaged by not living in Auckland.

Family travel will not be organised by Orienteering NZ and will be the responsibility of families to arrange.

Derek Morrison has been appointed as one of the Southern Cross Team Staff for 2015.

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2014 Orienteering NZ Awards

At the AGM in April the following Orienteering NZ Awards were presented.  Congratulations to all our worthy recipients.

Services to Orienteering – Malcolm Ingham (WN)

Malcolm had recently accepted the role as Performance Leader but has volunteered his time over the last few years to manage the WOC teams and was very involved in the organisation of Oceania 2013.

International Performance Award – Tim Robertson (HV)

Tim’s performances this year speak for themselves, 1st JWOC Sprint, 1st MTBO Junior World Champion

Kapiti HAVOC Trophy – Tim Robertson (HV)

Coach of the Year – Jean Cory-Wright (PP)

Jean is a very active member of PAPO successfully coaching many club members and school children over the years.  At the national level Jean has been Coaching Director and has been involved in organising junior camps and coaching workshops.  She has been coach for the NZ World Cup team (Oceania 2013) and more recently the Southern Cross Challenge team in 2014 and the ANZ Schools Challenge (Oceania 2015).

Mountain Bike Orienteer of the Year  – Tim Robertson (HV)

Rogainer of the Year – Georgia Whitla (PP)

Georgia was in the top NZ team (with Tim Farrant) at the World Champs in USA last year, she won both the Overall title and the Mixed Open team title at the Australasian Champs last year, and won the Open Mixed Team title  (with Greg Hamilton) at the NZ Champs.

Administrator of the Year – Anna Robertson (HV)

Anna have been the Team Manager for JWOC for three years and has again agreed to manage the team in 2015.  Her enthusiasm for the team and style of management has made these for well managed and very well organised teams which have made the experience for our orienteers so much better.

President’s Award – Unni Lewis (CM)

Unni has been a tireless volunteer in the Counties Manukau club over many decades being involved as an orienteer, club volunteer, club president, youth coach for the club as well as being actively involved in the running national events including this year’s National Championships.

Brighouse Trophy – Danielle Goodall (CM) W16

Volunteer Awards

• Gene Beveridge (NW)
• Dennis de Monchy (BP)
• Nick Hann (WN)
• Nick Smith (PP)
• Peter Watson (HB)

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Orienteering NZ Vacancies

Orienteering NZ is looking for members for the following panels and committees:

• Southern Cross Team Staff Member (Female)
• Rogaine Committee – 3 members
• Selection Panel – Senior – 1 member
• Technical Committee – 2 members
• Fixtures Coordinator
• Auckland World Masters Games National Controller

Full position descriptions for all these roles are available on the Orienteering NZ website.

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Want information on mapping?

Check out the new Mapping Section on Orienteering NZ website.

We are also hoping to add a “Mapper Wanted” table on the website a bit like the Events Calendar so you can post ads for mappers.

New Mapping Section on website
https://www.orienteering.org.nz/resources/mapping/

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JWOC Team prepares to Depart

The JWOC Teams will shortly be departing NZ for Europe.

To keep up with the team check out their blog posts JWOC. We will be following the teams progress closely and wish them luck in Norway.

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2017 World Masters Games – 2 years to go …. and counting down.

Find out more about the Masters Games here

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Advance Notice – 2015 Junior Camp

The Junior Camp is being hosted by Auckland Orienteering Club.
The dates are: Sunday 13 to Friday 18 Dec 2015.

A Camp Bulletin confirming dates and venue will be posted in the beginning of June.

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Upcoming Events

30 May – 1 June – Queens Birthday, North West includes Pinestars Test Match with Australia.
Event link: http://qb2015.aoa.org.nz/

For more events check out the Orienteering NZ website

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We welcome your feedback at any time.

Our mailing address is: gm@orienteering.org.nz