2021 NZ MTBO CHAMPS - OTAGO
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The 2021 NZ Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO) Champs is a multi day event on some of New Zealand's best mountain bike orienteering maps around Alexandra with fantastic trails in a stunningly beautiful part of the country. The area has a wealth of Mountain Biking opportunities ranging from easy rail trail style riding to technical trails, with over 80km of single track, including a ride that the Kennett Brothers rate as the 7th best in the country!
Starting with a warm up MTB rogaine on Sat 17th April hosted by Highlands events, the competition then amps up with riders vying for honours in the NZ MTBO champs Long distance, Middle distance, and Sprint distance events between 18th - 20th April. PAPO and Central Otago orienteers, with support from Dunedin Orienteering are hosting the championship events, as well as organizing prize giving and social and some low key follow on events and riding opportunities between Weds 21st and Friday 23rd April.
Details on the event programme, links to associated events, and entry details are provided on the Event Programme page of this website.
We expect competitive fields that will suit experienced and competitive athletes, however there will also be recreational courses for people newer to the sport, or who don't wish to compete in a competitive grade. These recreational courses are especially suited to newcomers, and are also an option for E Bike riders, where the emphasis is on participating rather than competing.
Junior riders are especially encouraged and welcome to compete at the 2021 MTBO Champs. There are 2 Junior Championship classes available; M/W 16 is open to juniors aged 16 and under, and if there are enough numbers there will also be a M/W 14 class for juniors aged 14 and under. These are Championship events, so strictly no shadowing of riders by parents or others - it must be a solo effort. Junior riders who are not able or confident to ride solo, can enter the recreational 2 grade, and be shadowed or accompanied by an adult who is not competing or who has completed their course already. There will also be another short easy course for young children and families that will be available on the day at no cost.
The information on this website gives preliminary information useful to know ahead of the NZ Champs happening. More detailed information will be provided in a bulletin (which can be downloaded and printed) at least 2 weeks prior to the event.
Check in to this website to stay up to date with other information, including entry lists going up, and any changes to plans that may happen prior to or during the event.
Starting with a warm up MTB rogaine on Sat 17th April hosted by Highlands events, the competition then amps up with riders vying for honours in the NZ MTBO champs Long distance, Middle distance, and Sprint distance events between 18th - 20th April. PAPO and Central Otago orienteers, with support from Dunedin Orienteering are hosting the championship events, as well as organizing prize giving and social and some low key follow on events and riding opportunities between Weds 21st and Friday 23rd April.
Details on the event programme, links to associated events, and entry details are provided on the Event Programme page of this website.
We expect competitive fields that will suit experienced and competitive athletes, however there will also be recreational courses for people newer to the sport, or who don't wish to compete in a competitive grade. These recreational courses are especially suited to newcomers, and are also an option for E Bike riders, where the emphasis is on participating rather than competing.
Junior riders are especially encouraged and welcome to compete at the 2021 MTBO Champs. There are 2 Junior Championship classes available; M/W 16 is open to juniors aged 16 and under, and if there are enough numbers there will also be a M/W 14 class for juniors aged 14 and under. These are Championship events, so strictly no shadowing of riders by parents or others - it must be a solo effort. Junior riders who are not able or confident to ride solo, can enter the recreational 2 grade, and be shadowed or accompanied by an adult who is not competing or who has completed their course already. There will also be another short easy course for young children and families that will be available on the day at no cost.
The information on this website gives preliminary information useful to know ahead of the NZ Champs happening. More detailed information will be provided in a bulletin (which can be downloaded and printed) at least 2 weeks prior to the event.
Check in to this website to stay up to date with other information, including entry lists going up, and any changes to plans that may happen prior to or during the event.
COURSES & GRADES
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The NZ MTBO Champs includes 3 events:
The NZ Championships is contested in the Open and Age grades. Recreational classes are not championship events, and are open to anyone of any age, who may wish to participate in a less competitive environment. Recreational grades are also open to families, or people who may wish to ride with someone else in a pair or team. E-Bikes are welcome to participate in the longer recreational course but are not eligible for Championship grades. There will be no winners in the M10 and W10 grades. Instead each competitor will receive a certificate of participation. To calculate your age grade, you base it on your age as at 31 December 2019. Junior grades are age 20 and below, and riders in those grades must ride their age grade or higher - eg a 15 year old would be eligible for M/W16, but could ride M/W20 or even Open if they wish (but not any of the older grades above Open). Senior grades are age 21 and above, and riders in those grades must ride their age grade or lower - eg a 65 year old is eligible for M/W60, but could ride M/W50, 40, or Open (but not below 21). |
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SOUTH ISLAND FOOT ORIENTEERING CHAMPS
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Whilst not directly connected to the MTBO Champs, Dunedin Orienteering is also hosting the South Island Foot Orienteering Champs between Saturday 24th and Monday 26th April, also based in Alexandra. So all up there is a fantastic 10 days of orienteering offering challenge and fun for Mountain Bikers, Orienteers, and Adventure Racers of all abilities. |
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MTBO CHAMPS KEY PEOPLE & CONTACT
- Event Organiser - Joe Sherriff
- Sprint Setter/Controller - Joe Sherriff and Alister Metherell
- Middle Setter/Controller - Viv Prince and Dave Armstrong
- Long Setter/Controller - Conal Boland-Bristow and Matt Bixley
Contact
- Joe Sherriff; email [email protected], Ph 0275 343 513
EMBARGOED AREAS
The following embargo conditions apply to venues being used for the NZ Champs:
- Ngapara Ponds (Sprint Champs) - no person may access the Ngapara Ponds 4 x 4 training area or the pine forest between Alexandra and Clyde prior to the event
- Naseby (Long Distance Champs) - no person may access the Naseby Forest within 2 weeks of the event being held. As this is a public riding area, access prior to this time is permitted, however only on the condition that competitors do not carry, use or access a map, or enter with the express purpose of learning the terrain for navigation purposes.
- Chatto Creek (Middle Distance Champs)- this is private land and entry is not allowed at any time except for the day of the event.
ACCOMMODATION
The Alexandra Basin has a huge range of accommodation but best to book early as this is peak season for the Otago Central Rail Trail.
https://centralotagonz.com/experience/accommodation/
https://centralotagonz.com/experience/accommodation/
PRIOR MAPS
Chatto Creek and Naseby have been used previously, with map samples below. The sprint area is on a new map so no previous map is available.
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