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.

The event will take place as part of the Australian Schools Championships which will be held in and around St Helens in Tasmania as part of the Australian Championships carnival which runs from 25 September to 3 October 2021.

The specific School’s championship events are:

• Sprint Championship – 28 September

• Individual Long Championship – 29 September

• Relay Championship – 30 September

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 2005 or earlier. Junior grades have a birth year of 2006 or later.

The intention of selection is for the teams to travel to Australia for these events. In the event of COVID-19 disruption, NZOF may convert the selected teams to paper (non-travelling) teams only, and this will be communicated to selected athletes as soon as a decision has been made.

Selection Criteria

The team selection will be made in accordance with the Orienteering NZ Policy G1 – Selection Policy and Appendix.  This policy is available on the Orienteering NZ website.

The 2021 New Zealand Secondary Schools Teams will be based on performances at the following event:

• Queen’s Birthday Weekend orienteering event hosted by Peninsula and Plains Orienteering Club in and around Christchurch, Saturday 05 June to Monday 07 June 2020

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 Queen’s Birthday event in Auckland.  Junior: born 2006 or later.  Senior: born 2005 or earlier.

As per the selection policy, non-attendance at the selection event, except in exceptional circumstances (such as injury or religious beliefs) would indicate that the athlete was not available to be considered for selection. Partial attendance would rely more heavily on the attended events and recent known form. In either event, notification of the selectors regarding availability is required prior to the selection races.

Availability for selection

It will be assumed all orienteers entered in Junior Boys/Girls or Senior Boys/Girls ‘A’ Grades at the Queen’s Birthday event will be available for selection, so no nomination is necessary.

Athletes whose performances at the Queen’s Birthday event may result in their consideration for selection, but who are not available for selection, should advise the Selectors Junior Panel Convenor, Tessa Ramsden (tessamramsden@gmail.com) by Friday 04 June 2021.  

Team Travel & Costs

Orienteering New Zealand’s International Team Travel Policy (G6) necessitates that athletes are responsible for the pro-rata cost of attending any international event.  This includes all trip costs (food, entry, trainings, warm-up events, travel…).  If ONZ books airfares for team travel, athletes will also be responsible for the pro rata cost of these as well.

ONZ has budgeted to cover the coach and manager costs for the trip.  In the unlikely event that coach and manager costs exceed this budget, the additional cost will be divided evenly between all athletes.  Athletes will be informed of trip costs at the same time the team is announced.  

Appointment of Manager and Coach

ONZ will be advertising for a coach and manager for the Southern Cross Challenge shortly.  One of the managers first duties will be to cost and book travel for the trip. 

Announcement of Team

The Selectors plan to announce the team as soon as possible after the Queen’s Birthday weekend trials and no later than 30 June 2021.

Key dates

4 June – athletes not available for selection that wish to be considered must inform Junior Selection Panel Convenor.

5-7 June – trials take place (hosted by Peninsula and Plains Orienteering Club)

30 June – latest date that team will be announced.

25 September– team leaves for Australia.

3 October – team returns to New Zealand.