Orienteering Championships

Orienteering is a family a air for the Thrower family, with Dad Gordon Gordon Gordon Gordon and Mum Jocelyn Jocelyn Jocelyn Jocelyn, having been involved for fifteen years, and children William William William William and Caitlyn Caitlyn Caitlyn Caitlyn since they were three years old. Gordon and Jocelyn would guide and then shadow the children around easy courses. At about eight years old they were able to navigate the easier courses by themselves. The family were introduced to the sport through friends and have enjoyed being involved ever since. Recently at Easter weekend, William and Caitlyn competed at the 2022 New Zealand Orienteering Championships that were held in the Nelson/Tasman Region. William, a Year 7 student at Darfield High School, competed in the M12 (Men’s 12) age group. He successfully won his Long Course and came away with the National Waitemata Trophy for his age group. He also placed second in the Sprint Race and third in the Middle Distance Race. The Sprint Race was around Nelson College and surrounds, and the Middle and Long Distance Races were held up at Canaan Downs, at the top of Takaha Hill, in a mixture of native bush and grasslands with impressive rock formations and sinkholes. “I found the course fun and challenging, with interesting terrain. I enjoyed the great social environment and made new friends. I am looking forward to a more challenging grade next year and the Mountain Biking Orienteering next month at Bottle Lake,” William commented. Caitlyn, a Year 4 student at Kirwee Model School, competed for the first time at Nationals in the W10 (Women’s 10) age group, achieving two seconds and a third place. “I found the courses tiring, challenging but enjoyable. I am looking forward to going faster and finding the controls easier,” Caitlyn commented. The family all race as part of the PAPO Club (Peninsula and Plains Orienteering Club). The Club puts on training days throughout the year, and Club Events help build up navigational skills. “Often you learn from the mistakes you make and at the end of courses, going over the course map with more experienced orienteers who openly share their knowledge,” commented Jocelyn. “We find orienteering is a great family sport, as we can all go out and compete on our various courses at the same time, often with three generations of families competing. It is mentally and physically challenging, you

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can choose to be competitive or just go out and enjoy the experience, sometimes in amazing locations around the country. It builds personal confidence in the children in their own ability to solve problems and to preserve when it goes wrong. You don't always have to be the fastest runner to win an event, it is about the best route course to a control. “We have local club competitions next month at Waikari, and a Mountain Biking Orienteering Event at Bottle Lake. Nonmembers of the Club are more than welcome to enter Club events, there are courses for all abilities from beginners to experienced. PAPO Club runs events all around Canterbury throughout the year. If you want to give orienteering ago but do not want to come along to events, PAPO has permanent courses that people can try. It is also a great activity if the children are bored over the holidays and need to get rid of some energy,” Jocelyn concluded.

To find out more information To find out more information To find out more information To find out more information about orienteering visit: about orienteering visit: about orienteering visit: about orienteering visit: papo.org.nz papo.org.nz papo.org.nz papo.org.nz

William with the trophy he won at Easter.

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