Pedalling to the podium I

Once we arrived, we started training in the surrounding forests to help acclimatise ourselves to the Estonian terrain. The forests are very dense compared with New Zealand forests, with many marshes and lakes throughout. Fortunately, only one of us was unlucky enough to experience the local ticks that live in the forests. We had all been warned to pack tweezers for this reason!

We stayed in accommodation on site with teams from Italy and Israel. Even though it was spring, the weather was very changeable: sunny and 25 degrees one day and then two degrees and snowing he next! One of our races was held in these freezing temperatures, with sleet and snow making for a new and exciting experience for us.

A total of 23 countries was involved in the competition, with more than 800 competitors racing. The competition consisted of both a long- and middle-distance race, as well as the ‘friendship event’ where we were put into relay teams with orienteers from different countries. Having to work together as a team in the friendship event proved challenging without a common spoken language.

We were excited with our fifth placing in the senior girls’ division of these World Championships, behind Sweden, Finland, France and Estonia. All the hard work training and competing paid off for our Diocesan orienteering team. Thanks to our coaches, team managers and parents for all their hard work supporting us on this trip.

Orienteering at Dio has provided us with amazing opportunities whether that be the various places we have visited or the countless friends we have made along the way. The sport has provided us with very strong connections, not only in Auckland and New Zealand, but all over the world, and our passion for the sport continues to grow. This competition was an amazing and rewarding experience for us and allowed us to get a taste of competing internationally.

Footnote: Dio’s senior orienteers continue to excel. Jessica Sewell and Cara Bradding were recently selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ team competing in the 2019 Australian Championships at the end of September in Wagga Wagga, Australia.

As well as the NZSS team, Jessica has also been selected as a reserve, together with Georgia Skelton, for the team travelling to the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Aarhus, Austria, over the July holidays. Congratulations to our orienteers, and good luck for these competitions!

PEDALLING

TO THE PODIUM

Prudence Fowler has again started 2019 in fine form with some extremely impressive cycling results. So far this season she has collected numerous titles at regional, North Island and national level, including the following:

• 1st U-17 Auckland Secondary Schools’ Pukekohe points race • 1st U-17 North Island Secondary Schools’ road cycling road race • 1st U-17 North Island Secondary Schools’ road cycling criterium • 1st U-17 North Island Secondary Schools’ track cycling championships scratch race • 1st U17 National age group criterium cycling championships • 1st U17 National Cycling Club Championships 15k individual time trial • 1st U17 National Cycling Club Championships 63km road race • 1st U17 National age group track cycling championships points race

These are only a few of Prudence’s achievements so far this season as she continues to go from strength to strength. Her incredible determination and work ethic have also seen her rewarded with selection into the New Zealand U-19 team that will be competing in the Oceania Track Cycling Championships in Invercargill in October. Here she will compete against some of the best from Australia and the Pacific in a four-day competition.

Prudence continues to support our School cycling team which has seen some great growth this year under the leadership of Jose Fowler and Code Captain Emily Bashford. She is a great role model for all of our young cyclists; we are extremely proud of all that she has achieved and look forward to seeing what the end of the year has in store for her.