Oceania Championships 2013

The Oceania Championships incorporating 3 World Cup races and the Australia-NZ Challenge as well as a few side events were a great start to the 2013 season. The Kiwis put on an incredible amount of events in some very tricky, challenging and tough terrain. Aldo and I were only there for the first part of the events but thoroughly enjoyed the orienteering and watching the elites whiz around their courses.

The results technology was outstanding. They had mounted TV screens under the tents and as soon as a runner started you could watch their running times (and how much time they were loosing) and progress on the course. Brilliant!!

Georgia Jones was part of the Australian Schools team competing against the Kiwis, which the home team won. Lawrence Jones in M18A was part of the Australian Team taking on the Kiwis. Australia was beaten in the Individual challenge, but tied in the relays - thus giving the Kiwis the overall win in the Australia - New Zealand challenge.

Sophie Jones came 2nd in the Oceania Long Distance Championships, while Maureen Ogilvie won the triple (Long, Middle, Sprint) in W80A.

The World Cup races were dominated by the Swiss and Scandinavians, but Lizzie Ingham came 3rd in the Sprint Final in Wellington cheered on by a big supportive crowd. That is quite an achievement which gave her some airtime on the local TV station.

If you are interested in seeing all the results, maps etc you can check out www.oceania2013.co.nz





Oceania Challenge # 1
Mature pine forest on flat to
rolling sand dunes






























Oceania Challenge # 2
Mature pine forest on flat to
rolling sand dunes plus
coastal dunes with mixed
vegetation.
Parts of the forest were used
for filming Osgiliath Woods
scenes for "Lord of the Rings" (2030).





























Oceania Middle Distance
Championships / AUS-NZ challenge / World Cup Middle Distance races

Complex sand dune terrain including open dunes both sandy and covered with grass with very intricate contour detail.

Spectator control for World Cup race was near our start and spectators were able to follow the race from across the river.

Middle Distance Spectator Control

Spectators watching elites cross the bridge

fast finish by the Swedish girl Helena Janssen

Maggie interviewing Swiss Daniel Hubmann

Prize giving Middle Distance Ladies

Price giving Middle Distance Men

Control at the World Cup Sprint Qualification race

Control at the WC Sprint Quali

Control at the WC Sprint Quali

Finish chute at the Sprint Quali

Prize giving Sprint Final Ladies

Prize giving Sprint Final Men