SCHOOLS TEST MATCH
Aussie Schools Team does battle with the Kiwis Following the Oceania Championships held in New Zealand, Australia’s Schools Team participated in a two-day Test Match against the Kiwis’ Team. Schools Orienteering National Coordinator, Ian Dalton, reports: Photos: Andrew Johnstone Schools Individual Race Day 1 of the two-day test match held in Naseby provided a stark contrast to the previous few days in New Zealand. Instead of the warm temperatures and open terrain encountered in the leadup events the competitors were presented with a saturated forest and sodden ground. Being one of New Zealand’s most technical maps, Naseby was going to require a solid set of skills to ensure good results. Kurt Neumann ran through the Junior Boys field to take a convincing win on what was difficult gold mining terrain. From the first control Kurt established a lead and held onto it throughout the race. Kurt won in a time of 26:23, 3min 37sec clear of 2nd placed Ian Lawford (Aus) followed by Oliver Poland (Aus) in 30:09. Best placed New Zealand runner was Alistair Richardson in a time of 32:42. It was a tri-fecta for AUS allowing the Australians to score a point in the Teams competition. Michele Dawson from AUS had a strong run in the Junior Girls to place 3rd in a time of 40:26, 8min behind the eventual winner Laura Robertson of NZ. This was a great result for Michele with the comment “this was my best run of the week” being heard at the finish line. Laura Roberston took the lead early on from fellow Kiwi Selena Metherell (2nd) and demonstrated a clean run to hold onto first place. The Senior Girls category provided close competition with the first three placegetters being within 27secs of each other. Krystal Neumann (AUS) won in a time of 41:21 closely followed by Belinda Lawford (AUS) in 41:28 and Kate Morrison (NZ) 3rd in 41:48. The lead changed several times throughout the race with any of the top three runners having a chance for the win. This gave Krystal Neumann her best result for the week. Lachlan Dow was our only strong performer in the Senior Boys event with a 2nd placing (47:43), 1min 26sec behind eventual winner Toby Scott (NZ). The other AUS team members struggled in the gold mining terrain. A four minute error at the second control probably cost Lachlan a win but he showed consistency throughout the rest of the race cementing a second place. Controls 6 -9 caused Joshua Blatchford (AUS) to drop several minutes taking away any chance of a podium place for the first time during the week.
Ian Lawford and Josh Blatchford lead the way in the relay
Australian team for the lead but with Kurt being our anchorman, a win was secured with Kurt’s fastest run of the day. The New Zealand Junior Girls lead runner unfortunately had trouble on one leg putting the Australian girls in a commanding position, with the Australians ending up a whole leg in front. The winning Australian team consisted of Rebekah Sunley, Jackie Doyle, Katie Doyle and Michele Dawson, with Michele Dawson having her best two runs of the Carnival at the Schools events.
Schools Relay
The Australian Senior Boys team consisting of Joshua Blatchford, Joshua Neumann, Patrick Watts and Lachlan Dow battled hard against the New Zealand Team. After two legs the AUS team had a lead of 10mins with two legs to go. Toby Scott (NZ) produced the fastest split of the Senior Boys course, overhauling Patrick Watts to put the New Zealand team in a strong position for a win. Scott McDonald eventually led the New Zealand team across the finish line for a win.
Day 2 and the area used was the more intricate detail of Naseby. Winning times were predicted to be 30min which by the way the first leg runners were travelling, was thought to be a little ambitious. Three runners out of 16 were only able to achieve times in the 30-40min range. The Relay was showing that slower speeds and constant map contact would produce results.
An unfortunate incident left the Australian Senior Girl lead runner, Belinda Lawford, behind the NZ team by over 15mins. An incorrectly labelled control description on the maps caused uncertainty for Belinda who abandoned her course to have the issue clarified. The rest of the Australian girls put up a good fight but Naseby’s terrain proved too difficult for the Senior Girls.
The Australian Junior Boys consisting of Ian Lawford, Max Neumann, Oliver Poland and Kurt Neumann produced another awesome result winning the Relay after a tight tussle with the NZ team. The New Zealand team came close to challenging the
The New Zealand Secondary Schools Team took the Test match win 5-3, once again giving the New Zealanders victory for the third time in a row. Australia took consolation in trouncing New Zealand in the Curling on Saturday evening.
8 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER MARCH 2009
