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.