ACT MTB Orienteering Treble Opens with Middle Distance Championships

Saturday, 17 October 2015

A fine and warm morning greeted 54 riders at the 2015 MTBO Middle Distance Championships on Saturday morning at Sparrow Hill, Kowen Forest.  The Championships were the first leg of a treble of events being staged over the weekend.

The event was organised by Abominable O-Men, Julie and Sean Sunley, who have been bringing MTB Orienteering to the ACT for the past few years. Assistance on the day was provided by club members John Scown, Jane Saye, John Shelton Agar and Connor Bendle, along with support from invited Parawangans Pat Meithke and Rob Jessop.

The challenge for the course planner, Ann Scown, was to not have anyone remember where they might have ridden in 2014. Reportedly this was achieved as most returnees had a different experience of the wonderful fast flowing tracks of Sparrow Hill.

Courses challenged the navigation and climbing ability of all from W14 to M80. Most competitors finished their Middle Distance with enough energy to tackle the intricate tracks of Bruce Ridge later in the afternoon at the Sprint Distance race. Others, however, chose to give the racing a miss and enjoy the rest of the tracks that Kowen Forest has to offer.

There were a couple of first time riders who showed they have just what is needed for some fast racing. A little more concentration on navigation will see them do very well at future events.  The results are on Eventor and here, the splits are here and on Winsplits by course.  Some photos are on OACT Facebook page

A full report of this weekend’s three events will be published after the Long Distance Championships on Sunday.