AUSSIES OVERSEAS
BUSHRANGERS IN NEW ZEALAND
Bushrangers invade New Zealand T
HE Bushrangers is the Australia A team, an elite development squad for those runners on the verge of making the Australian Orienteering Team for the next World Championships. Special “Test” The Australian team after the final day at Woodhill: L-R: Jason McCrae (Coach), Craig Dufty, Rachel matches have been arranged for the West, Bruce Arthur, Kathryn Ewels, Ian Meyer, Robbie Preston, Reuben Smith, Simon Goddard, Hanny Australian Bushrangers against the New Allston, Orla Murray, Danielle Winslow and Anna Sheldon. Photo: Jill Smith (NZ) Zealand National Team. This year the first …… and from the New Zealand perspective Test matches were held in the sand dune forests surrounding Auckland in New Zealand. The Bushrangers arrived in New Zealand keen and raring to have a crack at the Kiwis on their home turf in the sand dune forests around EW ZEALAND’S Queens Birthday weekend saw the locals play host Auckland. After some Friday-training, in the rain, in Woodhill forest, to the visiting Aussie Bushrangers team for the second time. As the ‘Bushies’ travelled next day an hour’s drive south of Auckland to with the first visit, the Kiwis ended up victorious over the three days map a named Kelland Road. The terrain was like nothing we have in of competition, but not before some of the Australians showed Australia - steep, lush, farmland in sand dune formations that fell (again) their competitiveness on New Zealand terrain. away steeply to the coast on its edge. While competitors could see a The Aussie women, led by strong performances from Hanny Allston long way the route choice was most challenging, the contour detail and Anna Sheldon, could claim a moral win after drawing with their intricate and the unique Kiwi-approach of not marking fences on the New Zealand counterparts over three days, a victory denied by a map meant you had to be on your toes. It was also pouring down rain. dominant NZ second day performance in coastal sand dunes. Allston The physical nature of the terrain held the female Bushrangers in and Sheldon were 1-2 on the first day, separated by a mere two good stead with Hanny Allston, Anna Sheldon, Danielle Winslow and seconds (the first of a remarkable number of close finishes) and Kathryn Ewels taking 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th respectively to give the pushing NZ’s top-ranked orienteer Tania Robinson down to third Bushrangers a comprehensive victory in the women’s Test match. A place. After a disappointing second day where NZ filled six of the top solid performance from Reuben Smith was not enough to carry our seven places, the Aussie women bounced back on the final day with men over the line with Chris Forne leading NZ to a strong opening Sheldon, Orla Murray, Danielle Winslow and Allston all finishing win. within a few minutes of the last day winner, Marquita Gelderman. The 2nd day saw the competition move to the famed Woodhill Gelderman won overall, and took out the New Zealand domestic forest north of Auckland. Woodhill can be hard to describe to league title, which also concluded over the weekend. Like a good Australian orienteers simply because we have so little like it here. wine, Gelderman is getting better with age and despite a lack of Think of Pittwater Dunes in Hobart (Day 3 Easter, 1999) with denser physical training can continue to outperform her younger competitors. forest and combine that with sections of coastal terrain reminiscent She reminds the writer of a certain Melbourne bike shop owner who of Cantara Dunes in SA (Australian Champs, 1994). Then imagine you could also perform well in elite grade in his late 30’s on the back of are racing against a team that has orienteered there more often than experience and little else. you’ve had hot dinners and you get an idea of what the Bushrangers The Australian men were well beaten, although there were a few were up against. Despite the challenges our men improved on their individual highlights. Reuben Smith handled the first day well on a Day 1 result with Robbie Preston backing up from a sub-par first day physically demanding farmland map, finishing third while Robbie to produce a scintillating run, winning the men’s class. Young gun’s Preston showed his technical ability with a win and a fourth in the Ian Meyer and Simon Goddard also improved greatly. The women sand dune forest. Overall, Preston was the best of the visitors Bushrangers were not as successful as on Day 1 with only Hanny finishing sixth, 13 minutes down on winner and NZ’s top-ranked Allston expressing some satisfaction with her run. We were, however, orienteer Chris Forne. Full results can be found on the Auckland getting used to the rain. Orienteering Club’s website – follow the link from www.nzorienteering. The final day was also at Woodhill and the Bushrangers, as is the com. purpose of the team, improved. The women led the way again taking Australia will have a chance for revenge in the return leg during 2nd (Anna Sheldon), 3rd (Orla Murray), 4th (Danielle Winslow), 5th the upcoming Australian Championship carnival. (Hanny Allston) and 7th (Kathryn Ewels) to take their Test match The NZ team is: Men: Darren Ashmore, James Bradshaw, Karl comprehensively. This was a great achievement, particularly in Dravitzki, Chris Forne, Rob Jessop, Neil Kerrison. Women: Marquita Woodhill. Victory eluded us again in the men’s Test however another Gelderman, Penny Kane, Amber Morrison, Claire Paterson, Tania good run by Robbie Preston and Simon Goddard and Ian Meyer, Robinson, Rebecca Smith maintaining their gains of the previous day, were encouraging signs. It also stopped raining for the presentation which was nice. World MTB-O team named Overall the trip was a resounding success. Although we did not Another team is also invading Aussie shores. With the World return with the Key-Aspin trophy our women managed to tie their MTB-O Championships in the lucky country, NZ has selected a large series against the Kiwis and all Bushrangers gained greatly in terms team after the NZ MTB-O Championships, held recently in Waiuku of international experience and knowledge. We look forward to the Forest (near Auckland). The men will be led by Stu Lynch and Phil next Test matches at the Grapes of Rock carnival in NSW in September Wood, consistently the best MTB-O riders here over the past two where, hopefully, the Bushrangers will teach the NZ team a thing or years, while the women’s team features the selection of remarkable two about orienteering in rock. Oh, and when we flew out it was veteran Di Michels, who proved her worth by winning both open titles raining. at Waiuku. Jason McCrae, Coach/Manager, Bushranger Team Rob Crawford
Bushrangers Bushwhacked
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18 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER SEPTEMBER 2004
