Silva Superseries Points after STB

Some tight racing over Waitangi weekend has set up some real battles in across all of the grades, that will surely take until Queens Birthday to play out. In the teams competition, Central took advantage of home territory and hold a solid lead ahead of Northern, with the Storm trailing.

Central Scorchers - 229
Northerner - 189
Southerly Storm - 144

The Scorchers are a team packed with young sprint specialists who could really capitalise at STB. Look for Southern to make a move at nationals, same too for Northern who will have Matt Ogden back in the game.

In the Mens Superseries, Tim Robertson has a solid lead. Though things are looking tight right behind. As a sprint specialist, Tim will have to really step up in the forest to consolidate this lead at nationals. Stranger things have happened!

Tim Robertson (C) - 40
Tom Reynolds (N) - 24
Karl Dravitzki (C) - 23
Toby Scott (N) - 22
Tane Cambridge (S) - 18

Lizzie Ingham has shown her class and leads with a perfect score. Amber, Greta and Angela are all effectively a race down after mp's and a dns. Lizzie is probably more formidable in the forest than in sprints, so the other girls will have to work hard to reel her in.

Lizzie Ingham (C) - 45
Angela Simpson (N) - 24
Kate Morrison (C) - 22
Amber Morrison (C) - 20
Georgia Whitla (S) - 19



In the Junior Superseries, Tim has a clear lead with a perfect score. Nick Hann will be looking to grab points back in the forest events.

Tom Robertson (C) - 30
Nick Hann (C) - 23
Eugene Campbell (S) - 22

Tim's big sister Laura matched her brother and has a perfect score in the junior womens grade after STB. This grade will be interesting as the girls all fight for JWOC spots.

Laura Robertson (C) - 30
Cosette Saville (N) - 22
Jula McMillan (N) - 22

Nationals is next for the Silva Superseries. Keep an eye out for previews and profiles. For more up to date news from individual runners check out the links on the right hand side of the page.

Sprint the Bay

Hawkes Bay turned on a dry weekend for Sprint the Bay, Round 1 of the 2012 Silva Superseries. A large Australian contingent joined the best of New Zealand's elite orienteers for 6 races over the 3 days. Each of the races took place on a different sprint map around Napier, Hastings and Havelock North. 14 minute - 16 minute winning times for each race meant that the action was fast and intense with a number of close battles playing out over the weekend.


Rachel Effeney (Aus) took control of the weekend from race 1. Some storming runs by the young Queenslander had her out in front for the first 4 races. Trying hard to match her speed were Angela Simpson (Northern), Lizzie Ingham (Central) and Greta Knarston (Northern). These 3 traded places from race to race, with seconds often being all that spread the top 5. Race 5 on Te Mata Peak turned results on their head, with Angela grabbing the leaders yellow singlet for the first time all weekend. She maintained speed through the technical forest sections on the peak to reverse the gap to Rachel and grab a slim 8 second lead before the finale. Lizzie and Greta also moved up too after the Te Mata Peak stage.

The close contest on the final stage played out in from of spectators as the leaders started head to head on a loops course. Rachel seemed to grab an early lead, and managed to keep the pace high to hold off her Kiwi challengers. Lizzie and Kate Morrison (Central) rounded out the overall podium as Greta and Angela both suffered mispunches on the tight Arataki courses.



The battle in the mens grade ran even closer. A hard and fast opening stage had the top 8 separated by less than 10 seconds. Tim Robertson (Central) grabbed the stage win by tenths of a second over Tane Cambridge (Southern). Oscar McNulty (Aus), a very quick track and cross country runner from Queensland seized stages 2 and 4, held in Napier Central and Frimley Park respectively. It would be stage 5 that was decisive for the men too. Toby Scott (Northern) and Thomas Reynolds (Northern) used the technial courses to reverse the small losses they had made on the pure sprint courses and move into 1st and 2nd overall. Starting the final leg at Arataki Toby held a 60 second advantage over Thomas, with Matt Parton (Aus) a further 35 seconds behind. The pair both placed in the top 10 on the final stage to hold onto their positions and ensure a mens victory for New Zealand.

Team Profile - Bivouac Southerly Storm

Meet the Bivouac Southerly Storm. A well travelled group of orienteers, who are almost all based in Christchurch. Despite some setbacks lately with earthquake related damage to maps and training routes (not to mention house damage) they will still be formidable come this years races. Traditionally strong in a variety of terrain they will have runners near the head of the field throughout the year. Below are some brief introductions of some of the runners competing for the Storm this year.

Chris Forne:
Currently ranked no.1 orienteer in Oceania, Chris is back in NZ after living and orienteering for 3 years in Trondheim Norway. Chris is the current world rogaining champion, and has previously held the world adventure race champs title, with team Nike. He has also won national titles and represented NZ at the world champs in both MTBO and Ski-O. Now supposedly a veteran, he hopes to keep those youngsters in their place.

Tane Cambridge:
Has worked at Tait Communications the past 2 years to fund his orienteering habit. Often seen up and down the country traveling to any orienteering he can get his hands on! Represented NZ at the past two World champs in Sprint and Middle distance and currently the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and South Island Long distance champion. Does a bit of running when not Orienteering and raced at the National Cross country champs last year.

Georgia Whitla:
All-round navigator in foot-o, MTBO and rogaines; 2008 world junior mixed champion in rogaining (with Tim Farrant). 3rd open women (with Fleur Lattimore) in the 2010 world rogaine champs. First year graduate engineer with lots of orienteering potential.



Selena Metherel:
Has been a JWOC team member for the last 2 years in a row and has been part of a few successful NZ school team raids against the Aussies. Though still in the Junior Superseries she will no doubt push some of the older elites hard.

Michael Adams:
Is the running training guru in NZ orienteering and uses this knowledge to improve his own and other athletes running. Has competed at the World Orienteering Champs in 2009 and 2011 narrowly missing out of the long distance final. Now based in Auckland, he has been dominating the Off Road running scene in the northern city.




Al Richardson:
Has been orienteering since 2007, from then onwards he has won 19 Canterbury titles and 16 South Island titles (in various age grades and events). Raced for the NZ schools team in 2009, 2010 and 2011, aiming to compete at JWOC in both 2012 and 2013. Also has a background in Cross-country, Athletics and Sprint Kayaking. Watch for some breakthrough runs this season

Carsten Jorgensen:
Former Danish National Team Athlete with 1 World Championship gold medal in relay and 4 individual top 7 places (best: Bronze) is now again training hard and very motivated to keep the young ones behind and loves going hard out in all the orienteering he can get close to in New Zealand. He is also a former European Cross Country Champion.