QB 3 day - Superseries Final

Queens Birthday weekend 2012 has it all. A Bushrangers vs Pinestars testmatch, World Ranking event, North Island Champs and to top it all off it is the Silva Superseries finale for 2012. The fields are packed, the courses and set and the terrain is waiting for some hot competition.

The weekend opens with a forest sprint race in Waitarere Forest. The forest terrain will challenge the sprint sensations of 2012 - the Robertson siblings. Tim and Laura will be out to show they can put it together in the forest as well as on high speed urban courses. Snapping at their heels will be the other overall contenders for the Silva Superseries titles.

Tane, Tom and Toby, joined by Tim, are blocking out the top places in the mens competition. The year of the T has seen these 4 jump away with some consistently high placings. The neutral terrain around the Manawatu should mean that the final long distance and loops races are a real test.

Across in the womens competition Greta Knarston has signaled her return to the top, and she holds a solid lead in the womens Silva Superseries. Chasing her are Laura, Kate, Amber and Imogene. With all of these girls Europe bound in the coming months the racing will surely be tight.

Further down the fields there are some close battles for the minor placings. Tessa Ramsden has played the consistency card and sits poised to jump up the top 10 with some solid runs. Northerners duo, Nick Mead and Greg Flynn also lie as dark horses in the mens grade. Some break out runs by Nick this year have him as a contendor, while Greg is rediscovering the form of years past.

In the teams race the Northerners hold a commanding lead. Sending a strong contingent south paid dividends as they banked a big points haul. If the Bivouac Southerly Storm fire, they could catch the Central Scorchers in what would be a huge comeback.

Keep and eye on the blog for updates over the weekend. For up to date results check http://wn.orienteering.org.nz/events/north-island-championships/
or follow @tomreynoldsnz on twitter for tweets over the weekend.

Superseries Points Update

Racing travelled South over the weekend, as the Bivouac Southerly Storm hosted round 3 of the 2012 Silva Superseries. A long race at Orton Bradley, a Sumner sprint and a loops race at Pines Beach made up the 3 races of the round. A big group of Northerners travelled down from Auckland, joined by a scattering of Central Scorchers runners.

Round 3 coincided with the NI and SI Secondary School Champs, meaning this would not count for the Junior Superseries. In the elites however, the race was on for Superseries Points! After Nationals. Greta Knarston had grabbed the lead in the women. She was chased by a trio of Central runners - Kate Morrison, Amber Morrison and Lizzie Ingham. With none of them being able to race in Christchurch Greta was poised to grab a lead. In the mens field, Toby Scott demonstrated his versatility with a solid lead over sprint specialist Tim Robertson. Tane Cambridge was the best placed Southern runner in 5th.

In the teams competition, the Northerners and Scorchers held a big lead over the Storm. A few races in Christchurch would hopefully have them back in the hunt.

Check back for race reports from the weekend. In terms of overall points there was a bit of a shake up. Toby and Greta both staked claims to the title and hold commanding leads in the respective individual grades. Only Tane, Tom and Tim can mathematically beat Toby, once dropped races come into play at the next round it could be a very close run competition.

In the womens, Laura and Georgia Whitla are still in the race behind Greta, with Kate Morrison and Imogene Scott still in with an outside chance of a win Across in the teams race, the Northerners have benefited from a big points haul down south and now have an almost unassailable lead, with 640 points to the Scorchers' 511 and 450 for the Storm. Full points below.

The 2012 Silva Superseries winds up at Queens Birthday Weekend in the Manawatu. Will Toby and Greta be able to hold the lead or will we see a bolt from one of the others. Keep an eye on the blog for more stories and reports.

Points after 9 of 12 races
Superseries Men
Toby Scott Northern 91
Tane Cambridge Southern 66
Thomas Reynolds Northern 63
Tim Robertson Central 52
Jourdan Harvey Northern 41
Karl Dravitski Central 39
Chris Forne Southern 36
Carsten Jorgenson Southern 35
James Bradshaw Northern 30
Greg Flynn Northern 25
Bryn Davies Central 20
Jamie Stewart Central 18
 Michael Adams Southern 17
Matthew Ogden Northern 15
Nick Mead Northern 12
 Michael Smithson Southern 12
Darren Ashmore Northern 11
Josh Campbell Southern 11
Gene Beveridge Northern 8
Nick Hann Central 8
 Greig Hamilton Southern 6
Martin Peat Northern 5
Riki Cambridge Southern 5
Ryan Batin Southern 4
 Eugene Campbell Southern 4
Thomas Eatson Central 4
 Brent Edwards Northern 4
 Liam Patterson Central 4
Alistair Richardson Southern 4
 Kieran Woods Northern 4
Aidan Elmers Northern 3
 Nick Harris Northern 3
Simon Jager Northern 3
Tim Farrant Southern 3
Conal Bowland-Bristow Southern 3
Paul Jensen Central 2
Scott McDonald Central 2
Andrew Johnstone Southern 2

Superseries Women

Greta Knarston Northern 90
Laura Robertson Central 68
Georgia Whitla Southern 66
Kate Morrison Central 52
Imogene Scott Northern 50
Lizzie Ingham Central 45
Amber Morrison Central 42
Angela Simpson Northern 40
Tessa Ramsden Central 36
Katie Bolt Southern 19
Anna Gray Northern 17
Penny Kane Central 16
Piret Klade Central 15
Jenni Adams Southern 10
Rachel Smith Northern 9
Jula McMillan Northern 8
Yvette Baker Central 7
Cosette Saville Northern 7
Sara Bailey Central 6
Sarah Gray Central 6
Selena Metheral Southern 6
Emily Wall Southern 6
Claire Flynn Northern 5
Renee Beveridge Northern 4
Emily Dinsdale Central 3
Katalla Kramer Northern 3

Silva Superseries Teams

 Northerners 640
Central Scorchers 511
 Bivouac Southerly Storm 450

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.

Superseries 2012

Since 2002 the New Zealand Superseries has been the premier, season long competition for New Zealand’s elite orienteers. Speed, accuracy, determination and consistency – all are qualities of Superseries winners. In 2011 it was Ross Morrison and Angela Simpson who best combined their running speed with navigation skill to claim the titles.

The Superseries is back again in 2012 for its 10th year. New Zealand’s elite orienteers will battle it out across the country while representing their region. With the 10 year milestone there are a few changes to the series. The first is a renewed focus on the team element of the series. Team uniforms will be compulsory so that the regional origins of each runner are clear to see.

The other change is the timetable for 2012. The year will open with a shortened race series. Taking in Sprint the Bay, the National Champs, a South Island weekend and Queens Birthday 3 day, the series will be decided by June. The area champs later in the year will be included in the 2012/2013 Superseries. This format places more emphasis on Nationals at Easter as the pinnacle event in the calendar, with it falling later in the Superseries in years to come.

So who will be the ones to challenge for the titles in 2012? The last Superseries included some breakout runs by some of the younger, junior elite runners. Will this continue into 2012? And will there be any more surprise packages this year. The 2012 Superseries has the added importance of being the prelude to a World Cup in early 2013. Runners will be looking to prove themselves and grab a coveted spot in the 2013 team. It may even pull some old hands from out of the woodwork.

On the men’s side, the reigning champion will not be competing this year. Ross Morrison has shifted to Finland. The gap at the head of the field is filled ably with the return of Chris Forne from living abroad in Norway. Pushing Chris hard will be some of the younger runners who are now much more consistent. Tom Reynolds, Toby Scott and Tane Cambridge will look to build on WOC experience from the last few years. Darren Ashmore and Karl Dravitzki, both former champions, will be looking to reclaim the title. Dark horses include the young Central Scorchers duo; Nick Hahn and Tim Robertson.

Women’s in 2012 will be a close run thing. Lizzie Ingham, the star from WOC 2011, will travel to NZ for some of the events and is sure to have some big battles with the Angela Simpson, who visited the JWOC podium in 2011. Add to the mix the resurgent Greta Knarston and Amber Morrison, as well as the rapidly improving Imogene Scott, and women’s will be a tightly fought battle.

2012 is all about supporting your region. The Northerners, Central Scorchers and Southerly Storm each represent multiple clubs. The teams competition in the past has been a real see-saw battle, with the Storm and Scorchers battling for the win over the last few years. It is the Northerners however who have the depth of young runners coming through, and the team is looking for 2012 to be the year of the North.

Keep an eye on the Superseries Blog for some athlete profiles over the coming days as we look to the first round for 2012 – DirtyD Sprint the Bay. Waitangi Weekend will see some hard and fast sprint racing around the Hawkes Bay to open the year.

Australia New Zealand Testmatch video

The finale of the 2011 SILVA Superseries was run in conjunction with the trans-Tasman Testmatch, the focus of this video. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to interview Toby Scott, who was the overall winner of the weekend racing, or Amber Morrison and Karl Dravitzki, who won the day 2 Individual race.
A Superseries wrap-up video is in the pipeline too.