Welcome to life after Oceania + World Masters Orienteering Champs 2017!!

I cannot succinctly explain how proud I feel of the contribution you all made to Oceania + WMG, together with our fellow Auckland clubs, ONZ and some amazing people from outside Auckland. I have thanked AOC and CMOC on behalf of NW, but I've yet to say to my club, to you: thank you - you all are amazing. 

This newsletter looks back at the two huge international events we just delivered, back-to-back, in April. But it also looks forward to the future - lets relish the (relatively) low key events in the club calendar, lets cheer for our WOC and JWOC reps, and lets enjoy the friendships we created in the pressure-cooker of Oceania + WMG.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at an event, soon!

Nick Harris, President. 

In this issue:

1. Upcoming Events
2. Rogaine Series and Hints on Planning a Rogaine Run
3. Congratulations 
4. Club Member Profile - Renee Beveridge
5. Club Member Profile - Rob Garden
6. World Masters Games Results
7. World Masters Games - Reflections by Club Members
8. WMG Lost Property
9. Welcome to new NWOC members
10. MTBO Selection Notice
11. Oceania Results
12. NISS Championship Results
13. Good Luck for Queens Birthday Weekend
14. NWOC website

1. Upcoming Events

28 May, 11 June, 18 June Rogaine Series

25 June Coaching Day (more information via email soon)

9 July AOS 4 Woodhill

30 July AOS 5 (NWOC Club Championships) with a shared picnic lunch after everyone has run!

2. Rogaine Series

First event was last Sunday 28 May at Stoneybrook, with 468 competitors (which may be a record!). This series is a major fundraiser for NWOC - thanks to Rob and Marquita for all the work  they put into making the series such a success and feature of the Auckland Adventure Racing/Orienteering calendar.

Coaching Corner - Rogaine Planning

Thanks to Geoff Mead for the following  coaching piece which was sent out to club members last week before the first Rogaine and is repeated here:

Hints and tips on planning a rogaine run

Rogaine is the sport of cross country navigation in which individuals or teams visit as many check points as possible within a given time. The NWOC rogaine series starts 28 May with the first of three 90 minutes events (details and enter online at:   http://rogaineseries.co.nz/). 

Competing in a rogaine will: use your orienteering map reading and navigational skills; be a great 90 minute physical workout; be fun and social, everyone starts and finishes at the same time and you can compete as an individual or a team; challenge your route planning and decision making skills.

A rogaine is very different from a traditional orienteering event in that you have to work out what check points to visit and the routes between them to maximize your check point score within the 90 minutes. Competitors have about 30 minutes planning time with the event map before the start time to plan their route and what check points to visit. How do you plan your rogaine route during this planning stage? Here are some hints and tips:

Homework before the event

Look at some of your previous rogaine and orienteering event maps and results, and calculate your average number of minutes taken to complete a km of an event (mins/km). You will likely need a piece of string to measure your actual distance travelled (not the straight line on the map) and remember that in a rogaine you are likely to be faster than in a traditional O event (2/3 of rogaine controls are easy or moderate navigation and there is likely to be more people to “follow” in a rogaine). Do this for a range of terrain types as your mins per km is likely to vary between a flat “fast” Woodhill map and a green, hilly Riverhead map. A sleek M21E runner about to head off to the World Orienteering Champs is likely to be running 5 mins/km on a Woodhill map, while a decaying and broken veteran might be stumbling along at 15 to 20 mins/km on the same map? If you wear a GPS you will already have a good idea of your km rates in different terrain. 

Bring to the rogaine

• A piece of string that is the length of how many km’s (at the map scale) you have calculated you will run in the 90 minutes. For example if your estimated km rate for the 28 May Stoneybrook event is 10 min kms then your plan is to cover 9 km in the 90 minutes. So you will have a 90 cm piece of string. (Map scale is 1:10,000, so 1cm on the map = 100m on the ground, so 10cm on the map = 1 km.)
• A highlighter pen.
• A watch (amazing how many people forget one).

Rogaine planning time

• Ignore the buzz of the crowd and advice provided by your “friends” like let’s go for all the controls.
• On the map look for any “easy clusters” of check points that are close together and easy to connect up (eg no big hills, no green terrain, etc). Highlight these check points. 
• Then use your length of string overlaid on the map to figure out a route that covers the “easy clusters” of check points and as many other check points as well. Try different options and add up the check point score for each option. Watch out for excessive climb and slow terrain that may destroy your expected mins/km rate of travel.
• This process should give you a route that is likely to maximise your check point score for the distance you can travel in 90 minutes. 

Then fine tune the route

• From about the half-way point of your course plan a short way (less check points) back to the finish and a long way back (extra check points) to the finish. During the event when you get to this half way point, if you are under 45 minutes take the long version home, conversely if over 45 minutes take the short way home.
• Leave a low value check point (or two) close to the finish “spare”. If you are nearing the finish with a minute or two in hand pick up the “spare” check point, if you are out of time miss it out. Ideally you will get to the finish in about 88 or 89 minutes. Don’t go over 90 minutes and suffer penalty (negative) points.
• Highlight your planned route on the map. Including attack points for the more challenging (50 point) check points.
• I also draw on my map an arc that is one km from the finish. This is to help in the decision making for the last 15 minutes of the event, when the brain is lacking oxygen and the legs are shot. It is very easy to wreck a good rogaine score in this last 15 minutes by coming back to the finish too early or too late. I use this 1 km arc to ensure I am on or inside this line at the 80 minute mark of the event.

Good luck with the rogaine run. At home after the event review how your plan worked out and refine your techniques for the next rogaine.

Further reading

Route planning for a rogaine is an example of the well-known mathematical travelling salesman problem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling_salesman_problem

You can play an online rogaine game http://rogopuzzle.co.nz/

3. Congratulations  

Gene Beveridge

Congratulations to Gene Beveridge on his selection to the NZ team for WOC 2017 in Estonia 30 June-8 July. 

His win of the Oceania Long Distance had special significance as the Oceania Title Holder gains direct entry to this year’s World Championships. This gives New Zealand three spots in the WOC Long Distance in Estonia.

You can read Gene’s blog post on this race here http://genebeveridge.co.nz/3-out-of-3/

Phillippa Poole and Lisa Mead

At the recent Orienteering New Zealand AGM, the 2016 National Awards were confirmed for 2016.  The presentation of the awards will take place at the National Championships at Labour Weekend.

Congratulations to Pip Poole who was confirmed as the 2016 recipient of the Services to New Zealand Orienteering Award.

Congratulations to Lisa Mead who was confirmed as the winner of the Brighouse Trophy for the Best Combined Performance by an affiliated ONZ member in the National and Provincial Championships.

4. Club Member Profile - Renee Beveridge

Renee has represented NZ in Schools Challenges, JWOC WUOC and WOC. We are fortunate to have her as an active club member (schools events, course setting etc) and such a popular, positive mentor and coach to club  junior. Renee won the Oceania Middle Distance title in the recent Oceania Championships, gaining automatic entry to WOC, but unfortunately is unable to attend WOC this year.

Number of years orienteering?
Since I can remember. Started as a baby on mum's back when she went orienteering!

How were you introduced to orienteering?
My parents :) 

Key orienteering achievements to date?
WOC middle and relay 2015. World Cup in Tasmania 2015, WUOC 2014 and JWOC 2013. Winning automatic qualification for WOC middle 2017 because of win in Oceania Middle Champs.

Current orienteering project or goal?
Training for Queens Birthday, Aussie and Nationals

Favourite map and why?
Whites lines....haha jokes.
Any maps from Oringen in Sweden and some Aussie maps because they challenge you in every way. Unfortunately many of our maps have either very good visibility or are open farmland. I'm not saying I don't make mistakes in NZ, but most European and Aussie maps force you to use all your skills.

Map you have yet to experience but aspire to orienteer on?
Some intensely detailed maps in France, Slovenia or Croatia

Orienteering hero?
Ida Bobach

Day job?
Mike Beveridge's PA (course setter)

Other interests?
Karate, Art, Science

5. Club Member Profile - Rob Garden

Rob is a legend in the NW club! His infectious enthusiasm for orienteering and genuine desire to make it an enjoyable experience for anyone new has resulted in a huge number of new members over the years. He is always keen to add just one more event to the calendar and if you join in with one of his trips to overseas events, you know you are destined to have a great time! Thanks Rob for all you do for our sport, not only as Club Captain, but in so many other ways!

Number of years orienteering?
37 years, and still loving it.

How were you introduced to orienteering?
I had a flatmate who taught with Jill Dalton in 1980, and had a go and was hooked from the start

Key orienteering achievements to date?
My best result was winning the 1986 Milo 7 day held by 7 clubs between Auckland and Taupo, and an idea Wayne Aspin was behind. I had a big year in 1984, and won more races than anyone in NZ.

Current orienteering project or goal?
Rogaine series organiser along with Marquita, and starting to think about next year’s Jaffa weekend, as long as Jenny Cade is the organiser!!

Favourite map and why?
I loved the Lake Rototoa map, Marquita and I got to know so well setting the Oceania long event. Loved the Masters Qual 2 and final maps also. My favourite Australian maps are Cascades and Kooyoora.

Map you have yet to experience but aspire to orienteer on?
Central European maps need more exploring, and Scandinavia is a permanent challenge.

Orienteering hero?
Alistair Landels showed everyone what could be done from our little nation in the early 90’s, but Tim Robertson, Matt Ogden, and Nick Hann have amazing talent, and some stunning results for a country with so few coaching resources.

Day job?
All sorts with a farm, property development and share trading, but mostly retired, with time to train, and have lots of holidays.

Other interests?
Mountain biking, MTB orienteering and adventure racing, and active holidays.

6. World Masters Games - Results

Congratulations to Marquita Gelderman who made the podium in both the Sprint (3rd) and Long (2nd) and to Nick Harris for his top 10 finishes in M40 (6th in the Sprint 6th and 7th in the Long).

Congratulations  also to the following who were in the Top 10 Qualifiers for the Finals (and were allocated a Top 10 Bib)

Sprint
M40 Nick Harris
M45 Allan Janes
M60 Geoff Mead
W50 Marquita Gelderman

Long Distance
M40 Nick Harris
M65 Rob Garden
M70 Dave Middleton 
W50 Marquita Gelderman
W55 Pip Poole

And in other sports - well done Rob Garden for a Silver in the World Masters M65 MTB event.

7. World Masters Games - some perspectives from club members

We asked a number of NWOC members who were involved in a variety of ways to reflect on their experience.

WMG competitor’s experience (Geoff Mead)

Orienteering paradise is how I would describe the two weeks of Oceania, Middle Earth (Rotorua) and World Masters Games (WMG). Many events, new maps, a wide variety of terrain, well organised events, great courses and large numbers of competitive international participants. WMG in particular, had a very international flavour, with many languages being spoken, lots of very good orienteers, and many close calls with approaching runners who instinctively went right to avoid collisions. Not so good for NZer’s who drive and run on the left! 

In my M60 grade at the WMG there were 140 competitors, only 8 of these were NZer’s. It felt so different from a typical NZ event, where I will usually know all the competitors in my grade. The maps and courses were a real highlight for me; the map makers and course setters all deserve high praise. The foreign visitors I know enjoyed the Woodhill sand dune terrain and our urban campus style sprint maps. For me the Oceania Long (Lake Rototoa) and the WMG long final (Hedley Dunes) events really stood out with quality and challenging forest orienteering - very worthy of the international status of these events. Both of these new Woodhill maps have a variety of terrain and vegetation cover and are big. I look forward to orienteering again on these maps again in the future. The WMG format of qualification races and then an A final / B final split in the championship races provided a focus for the “average” NZ orienteer - qualifying for the A finals being the goal for the events. This required steady “low error” runs and no disqualification or DNF’s. In M60 I qualified for both A finals (sprint & long), so a happy and satisfied orienteer. My best result was in the WMG M60 sprint, 5th in my qualification heat (I suspect previous experience of the complex Epsom campus map helped here!). I was ranked 9th for the sprint final start and had to wear a special yellow race bib, making me a marked man and adding to general nerves before a major race. I was happy with my final placing of 19th . 

The event organisation was world class with many of the foreign orienteers commenting on the well run events. So high plaudits are due to all the officials and volunteers that made these events happen. A massive amount of work went into the running of these events. As well as needing to provide quality international level orienteering, they were big in terms of competitors (1,700 WMG) and this put stress on items like start time windows, parking, transport, tents, loo’s etc. I saw both the competitor and organiser perspectives of these events as I was the controller for the Oceania Relays and a member of the Oceania / WMG logistics team. In terms of event centres, the WMG sprint final at Auckland University was outstanding. The multilayer finish and arena was amongst the University tower blocks. The start was on the foot bridge over Wellesley Street that connects to the Domain – a great example of how to bring orienteering to the centre of Auckland City on a work day. 

ONZ rep on the Orienteering Oversight Committee (OOC) (Phillippa Poole)

I am still smiling, and at times pinch myself that we've managed to run these huge events so successfully. There were many that doubted we could do it. My involvement was from the time of the bid five or so years ago, then in forming up and being part of an amazing three club / ONZ organising committee (OOC), which also worked with OBOP for Middle Earth.  The OOC was a subcommittee of ONZ. We were guided by IOF event documents, senior event advisers, national controllers and others with big event experience. However, we soon found the two championships were in effect very different, with Oceania more like a big Nationals, whereas WMOC had to meet the requirements of AWMG 2017 as well as IOF. The latter raised several hurdles along the way which took a lot of time and energy to sort out, but we apparently managed that interface better than Italy and Australia did in the past to run a truly top-class world event.   

Three key points for me were: (i) being part of a group of passionate, clever and creative people working together, across clubs and nations; (ii) the dedication at several levels to ensuring quality maps, great course setting, and NO major technical glitches; (iii) the smiles on the faces of the competitors and the volunteers, especially those under 35 who could not compete in WMOC! My personal thanks to everyone who helped out, but a very big shout out to Stephen Reynolds who led the OOC up hill and down dale. His vision, courage and drive were key to making it all come together, so much so that he reports he did not have much to do on the event days except enjoy meeting people. With so much learning and physical legacies, there's no doubt that orienteering in Auckland and NZ is already much stronger. Let's continue to think big as well as enjoy the many collaborations that have been established.   

Head of Team Logistics (Trevor Carswell)

Rule 1:  Always attend the meeting where your name is volunteered for a major position so you can decline immediately! 

Unlike most others sports of WMG, orienteering had a new venue in a new location almost every day.  The Logistics Team were tasked with the simple undertaking of knocking up a few tents, banners, tape and standards, taking them all down again, and moving them to the next location, day by day by day. 

We experienced very long days, with the truck arriving onsite sometimes at 5.30am, the team close behind.  Everything had to be up well before the first competitors arrived so they could experience the magic of the carnival.  We worked throughout the day making sure water stations were full, tents didn’t fly away (we had one), rubbish was cleared, etc.  Not to mention most in the team were also competing!!!  And then at course closure, it all came down and was packed back into the trucks in order for the next day.  I believe the latest we left a venue was 7pm.

What can I say of the team….it wasn’t simple but the team made it look a breeze for which I’m so truly thankful.  No grizzles, no gripes. Lots of jokes…I think if we didn’t we would have cried at the enormity of it all.   The team just got on with it in true orienteering fashion. (and always with a huge smile - Ed)

To coin Mark Lawson’s phrase each day of WMG, “I’ve heard of a thing called sleep.  I’d like to try it sometime. I think I’d be good at it!”

As a final thought: Cable ties, cable ties, cable ties.  Everything attaches with cable ties!!!  Cable ties were our friend, our foe, god send and pain of our days.  What a great product.

WMOG/Oceania Technical team (Max Griffiths)

At most club, and even national, level events the technical sport ident side of things is a relatively small affair with 1-2 download stations and a few tv’s (more for national events). For pretty much all involved in the technical team at the finish/download and results areas for all the events, the scale of the setup was one bigger than seen at any orienteering event in New Zealand prior.  With up to 16 tv’s, 5 parallel download stations and battery backups for everything from the network gear to the splits printers to ensure 100% to download an average of 10 finishers per minute, and occasionally peaking a lot higher. Problem solving on the fly definitely became the name of the game in our area of the events.

Alongside the logistics and arena setup team, the technical setup was amongst the first wave arriving each morning and one of the last leaving each evening, as well as prepping start-lists, relay teams and gear for the next day, well into the night and wee hours of the morning. I initially became a part of the technical team mid-2016 and had to take a step back when I left for uni. Being able to come back on a break from uni and for two weeks, live and breathe two of the things I have a passion for, orienteering and tech, was an incredible experience.

A lot was learned by myself and everyone in the technical team, skills that will help events run bigger and smoother in the future, aided by the new gear acquired through the carnival. The range of questions and complaints from frustrated mispunched competitors was widespread (including one who passionately rallied that SportIdent was inferior to Emit). The overwhelming feedback however from competitors (NZ and international) was how calm and professional the tech team appeared with no sizeable issues visible to the competitors. Huge credit must be given to Martin Peat (on the OOC) who was the mastermind behind the tech team, even through 18 months overseas at Rio 2016 Olympics.

Oh, and for those wondering (or not), we used about 3+km of splits printer paper.

Member of Team Registration (Kaye Griffiths)

As someone who regularly places towards the bottom part of any field, I was initially hesitant in taking part as a competitor in World Masters Games, thinking “surely I am not good enough”. In fact,  I used the word "participant" rather than "competitor" in the weeks leading up to the Games, as I felt a little bit of a fraud! I am so very glad I was persuaded to compete, as it was a phenomenal event in which to be involved -  from the Opening Ceremony at Eden Park to feeling proud of the enjoyment so many overseas visitors were gaining from the venues and courses we provided to lining up and competing  in an event of that scale. And I was particularly excited to qualify for the A Final of the Sprint - far exceeding expectations!

I was also a volunteer as part of the Registration Team. Despite our numbers being depleted at various times during the week, due to the “Registration Team Virus”, the team on Registration managed to have a laugh and deal with everything and everyone with a smile and a professional approach. Huge thanks to Maggi Salmon for her amazing organisation, including complex rosters which allowed for all our race times, and her ability to deal with the trickiest problems without losing her cool!

The requests and issues were many and varied, ranging from confusion over compass orders, transport questions, protests/complaints and  dismay at missing out on maps at map collection (to name a few!) - many of which were quite challenging to deal with via a second language along with a smattering of sign language. Fortunately Jan Safka and Petra Safkova joined our team and their multilingual skills were put to great use – Petra even did a stint on commentary at one stage!

It was a fantastic experience being part of the World Masters Games both as a competitor (yes, competitor and not just a participant!) and a volunteer – I’m thrilled I had the chance to be involved!

8. WMG Lost Property

If anyone has lost any of the following contact Trevor Carswell – ph 479-1384

• 1 x lycra/Velcro arm sleeve for orienteering control descriptions (left at WMG Long Qual days)
• 1 x bike Helmet – RazorII  (left at WMG Long Qual days)  One of the cycle ‘runners’?
• 1 x umbrella – North Harbour colours, burgundy/white  (left at Oceania Middle – left from group packing the truck at days end?)
• 1 x Fairydown Navy Backpack with MiddleEarth Sprint Map (W45A/W16A) and WMG Epsom Spring master control map.  Includes a Green WMG Jacket - XXXXL (Left at WMG Sprint Qual - Espom)

9. Welcome New NorthWest Members.

Welcome to new (and returning) NorthWest members. We look forward to getting to know you.

Coirle Bradding 
Isla, Phia and Matt Hearley
Debby, Dennis, Jack, Grace and Ruby Matulovic
Jennifer Wu
Linda, Greg, Dante, Armani and Alessia Martin
Georgia Fisher
Ben Reynolds- rejoining after a break

10. MTBO - Selection Announcement

Australian Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships, Wingello NSW – 7-8 October 2017

This year NZ takes on Australia in an ANZ challenge competition at the Australian MTBO champs, Wingello NSW on 7- 8 October. The Championships include sprint, middle and long distance races, as well as two warm up events – details can be found at the following website: http://www.ausmtbochamps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/AUS-MTBO-2017-Bulletin-1.pdf

Riders wishing to be considered for selection to the New Zealand Team to compete against Australia  in the up-coming ANZ MTBO Challenge should notify the MTBO Selection Panel Convenor, Peter Swanson, by 11 June  2017.

Notification should be by email to peteswanson64@gmail.com, or to 29a Lewis Road, Lynmore, Rotorua, BOP 3010. Please include your club, date of birth and preferred age class where you are eligible for more than one class (remembering that your age class is determined by your age at 31/12/2017).

Classes to be contested in the Challenge are currently being considered, so interested people are urged to make contact ASAP to assist us in that process. Teams of up to 3 will be selected for each class.

There will be no specific trial event. Selection will be based on all known recent form with emphasis on the recent 2016 NZ MTBO Champs. Please include any relevant recent results in your application.

The ANZ Challenge races include the Australian sprint, middle and long distance MTBO championship races.

11. Oceania Orienteering Championships Results

W21E
Middle   1st Renee Beveridge

M21E
Sprint    2nd Cameron Tier
Long     1st Gene Beveridge, 2nd Matt Ogden
Middle   2nd Matt Ogden

W12A
Sprint     1st Sophie Ryan
Long      2nd Manon Bonar

M14A
Sprint    1st Ryan Moore
Long      3rd Ryan Moore
Middle   2nd Ryan Moore

M16A 
Sprint    1st Sebastian Safka
Middle   2nd Sebastian Safka

W16A
Sprint   1st Sofie Safkova, 3rd Jessica Sewell
Middle  1st Sofie Safkova

M18A
Sprint    2nd Daniel Monckton
Long     2nd Daniel Monckton 
Middle   2nd Daniel Monckton

W20A
Sprint    2nd Kayla Fairbairn, 3rd Alice Tilley
Long     1st Alice Tilley, 2nd Kayla Fairbairn
Middle   3rd Kayla Fairbairn

M20A
Sprint    3rd Cameron de L’Isle
Long     1st Cameron de L’Isle

W21A
Sprint    3rd Kate Salmon
Long     3rd Kate Salmon
Middle  2nd Kate Salmon, 3rd Lauren Holmes

W21AS
Long    1st Lauren Holmes

M40A
Sprint   2nd Nick Harris
Long    3rd Nick Harris
Middle 3rd Nick Harris

W45AS
Sprint   2nd Loren Bruce
Long    2nd Alison Carswell
Middle  3rd Alison Carswell

M45AS
Middle 3rd Craig Bruce

W55AS
Long    2nd Louise Porteous
Middle 1st Jenny Cade, 2nd Louise Porteous

M55AS
Long   1st Tim Longson
Middle 2nd Tim Longson

W60A
Middle 3rd Lisa Mead

M65A
Middle 3rd Rob Garden

M70A
Long   3rd Dave Middleton

Middle Earth Results

W12A
Middle 2nd Manon Bonar
Sprint  1st Manon Bonar

W16A
Middle 2nd Jessica Sewell

M16A
Middle 2nd Sebastian Safka

W18A 
Middle 1st Sofie Safkova

W20A
Sprint  1st Alice Tilley, 3rd Kayla Fairbairn

M20A
Sprint   3rd Cameron de L’Isle

M21E
Sprint   3rd Gene Beveridge

W21A
Middle  2nd Kate Salmon
Sprint   2nd Kate Salmon

M40A
Sprint   1st Nick Harris

W45AS
Sprint   3rd Julia Moore

W50A  
Middle  2nd Marquita Gelderman

M55AS
Middle  2nd Tim Longson
Sprint   2nd Tim Longson

12. NISS Orienteering Championships - Taupo

Congratulations to the following who made the podium at this event recently:

Senior Boys
Sprint  3rd Daniel Monckton
Long   3rd Daniel Monckton

Senior Girls
Sprint  2nd Sofie Safkova

Intermediate Boys
Sprint  3rd Liam Stolberger
Long   2nd Liam Stolberger

Junior Girls
Sprint  1st Katie Ryan, 2nd Penelope Salmon
Long   1st Penelope Ryan, 2nd Katie Ryan

Y7/8 Girls
Sprint  3rd Sophie Ryan

Long - Standard Grades 
Junior Boys
2nd Arthur Elworthy
Intermediate Girls
3rd Gabby de Latour

13. Good Luck for Queens Birthday Weekend

Good luck to all those heading to Christchurch for the Queens Birthday Events - especially to those aiming for selection to the NZSS Team for the trip to Australia later this year.

14. NWOC website - now live! 

Just in case you missed it in all the excitement, NW's new club website went live in the week before Oceania! Go and explore: https://www.nwoc.org.nz/home/  

This is the result of great work by Alan Moore, Owen Means and Jula McMillan - we offer our thanks and congratulations for bringing this to fruition!