Marquita Gelderman

Profiled May 2015

In this edition we profile a club member who is perhaps our most complete orienteer. Marquita Gelderman is a 9th-dan Black Belt in Orienteering. Her deep expertise is a crucial foundation of North West's reputation as a high quality orienteering club. Marquita's impressive competitive record includes multiple National Championships and NZ team appearances in foot-O, but also an astonishing 4th in World MTBO Champs (2005). And at the quieter end of the sport, Marquita is an IOF-accredited controller, a cunning course-setter, an accomplished mapper, an ONZ selector, a member of the ONZ Technical Committee, a long-serving member of the NW exec-committee and custodian of not only the club trailer but also our club captain, Rob Garden. 
Honestly, how she finds time to practice as a Veterinarian is beyond me! I know that we are very lucky that Marquita is in our club - thanks for everything Marquita, you're a legend!

Marquita spared a few minutes amidst her very busy life to answer a few questions:

Number of years orienteering? 
31.5 - first event was 10/12/83. I know this because I still have the map with the date on it!

How were you introduced to orienteering? 
Hutt Valley O Club ran a promotional event near my home in Dec 1983. I had heard of orienteering and really wanted to try it so this was my chance. Michael Wood took a small group of newcomers around a course, observing that I "thought like an orienteer". I then did all the other courses on offer and I was hooked. I had to count the sleeps until the next event in February.

Key orienteering achievements to date? 
Best foot orienteering results would be winning W35 at World Masters in 2002 (by 9 minutes :)), I won W40 sprint at WMOC in 2009. I competed in a few World Champs and World Cups during the 90's although never really excelled, although together with Tania Robinson and Antonia Wood we came 6th in a World Cup relay in Norway which was pretty exciting. I did come 11th in the World Cup run in Woodhill in 1994. I was always there or thereabouts in W21E in NZ through the 90's winning about 6 national middle distance titles but had to wait until 2002 to finally win a long. More recently I've been doing more MTBO and have had two 4th places and a 5th in the World MTBO Champs in the open class in 2006 and 2008, and got two golds and a bronze in W40 at World Masters last year.

Other orienteering roles? 
I've always been involved with setting and controlling events and have organised several major events over the years. Probably the biggest was being co-planner of the World Masters final in 2000 with Mike Beveridge when it was held near Feilding. I'm currently an IOF Adviser (which is like a controller) and am going to be on the jury for the World Champs in Scotland this year (hopefully we won't be needed!). I was also a national selector for many years and am currently on the technical committee.

Current orienteering project or goal? 
Up to my eyeballs in organising the rogaine series and the first day of the Queens Birthday 3-Day. A week after the last rogaine Rob and I are heading to Europe for 7 weeks of MTBO and foot orienteering - no big championships but just for fun!

Favourite map and why? 
I have a few - Surebridge Mountain in Harriman State Park, New York State, scene of the 1993 World Orienteering Champs long distance race, and Le Clos de la Balme, near Grenoble in France where the final World Cup race was held in 1996. Both areas were unbelievably tricky rocky sort of terrain and both races were run in misty, cloudy wet conditions which made you feel like you were on the moon. Didn't do particuarly well in either race but loved the maps! I also quite like Mosquito Flat, in Maryborough, Victoria which is a pretty tricky MTBO map.

Orienteering hero? 
Wayne and Trish Aspin - a bit past their prime now although watch out for Trish in any Masters competition. A great couple who have done so much for our sport and whose approach to life and its hurdles is truly inspiring.

Day job? 
Veterinarian

Other interests? 
Mountain biking, a bit of adventure racing, reading, puzzles, trying to keep up with Rob.

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