Katoa Po 2020

By Lisa Mead

Once again, a huge thank you to the Carswell family for spearheading NWOC’s team effort at the 40th anniversary Katoa Po all night relays in Taupo; Scott did a great job as team selector and Trevor provided a stash of powerful headlamps, flashing decorations for the club tent and a distinctive large sign that glowed in the night.  Not to mention the psychedelic flashing shoes, neon glasses and jewelry…

Our new club member and 1st leg runner for all three teams, Portia D’Ath did a fantastic job getting around for her first run as a club member. Sadly, Auckland Orienteering Club proved invincible this year with their anchor 7th leg runner back home before any other team had started the final leg. Recent years have seen the relay mostly all done and dusted by midnight but this year legs 5, 6 and 7 featured very challenging red courses with multiple controls in super dark forest full of trimmings underfoot (as in 7-15 metre long whole trees  strewn across the terrain) which made it difficult to keep to a compass bearing. The mass start was just after 1 am and I believe the last stragglers made it back to base around 3.00am.

Well done to Cam de l’Isle on the fastest time on leg 7.

The prize giving took place on Sunday morning followed by a one hour mini-rogaine – a good opportunity to check out the forest checkpoints which were still tricky even in daylight. Well done, Mark Lawson for getting one of the top scores.
Overall, a fantastic weekend weekend from Taupo O Club, with wonderful views over the lake and the twinkling lights of the city.