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O-Max 2008 Results Link here to Series Points.
Event SIX: Wgtn Gardens, 11 Dec 08
Mick Finn had once last chance to catch (but not pass) Rob Collier in the vets class. And both were trying hard, gaining second and third outright. But Collier was 27sec ahead, settling the score in his favour. Nick Hann wrapped up the small schoolboy class with his sixth win. And this two nights after the 14yo had completed a 3hr rogaine! Remember this name! Jula McMillan was the winner of the smaller schoolgirl category. Classmate Laura Robertson was justified in running open, finishing second behind Ingham. The course was planned by Neil Kane, who set a remote pivot with alternative controls on the way, and a two-loop micr-o of which one loop was five controls in any order. The variations on the loop theme, first used at a World Cup in Hagaby, Sweden, are endless! Results
Event FIVE: CIT and HIBS, 3 Dec 08
Tonight's O-Max featured a brand-new piece of mapping, fieldworked and drawn by planners Laura Robertson and Jula McMillan. The Hutt International Boys School makes a complex little addition to the leafy grounds of the former Central Institute of Technology, and they used it to good effect. The juniors set a two-loop micro based on a grassy mound, and a second pair of loops in the school. Two controls on the way there and back further split up the four runners who started in each wave.
Todd Oates made sure of the open mens class with his third win in a row. But next week's final will be needed to sort out second place, with Bill Edwards (second tonight) needing to prevent Aaron Searle or Tim Robertson from winning and sharing the spot. Lizzie Ingham is the womens winner and Laura Robertson is safe in second place. The vets race was crucial, with Rob Collier winning the first two and Mick Finn the last two; but the NZO editor ran amok in the SW corner of the map and finished over a minute down. By winning next week he can pull back to equal points, but Collier of course will be trying to prevent that! The final is the the Botanical Gardens, Wellington. Results
Event FOUR: Lower Hutt Centre, 25 Nov 08Another new twist tonight, the multiple pivot. Consisting of four controls on the rim of the control circle, a different one had to be clipped each time the card said "P". The two-loop micr-o covered the Lower Hutt Civic Centre which has a maze of gardens around the town hall, library, church, information centre, district court and art gallery. Then there was a common third leg which led further afield through Hutt Valley High School.In spite of some mobile controls courtesy of Lower Hutt's youth, Todd Oates extended his lead. Aaron Searle only has one life left - he needs to win both the remaining two races, and then he only manages a tie! Lizzie Ingham also won in spite of running into the finish pole as she started out, and looks likely to stay in front; but both Laura and Anna Robertson could possibly catch if everything went their way. The vets is the most open class at this stage. Rob Collier who won both the first two was only third tonight, and Mick Finn is charging through the field. Next week we start dropping the worst so far, and if they go 1-2 they will be within a point of each other. Tonight's runner-up Paul Clarke can't catch but could influence results by pushing these guys down. Exciting stuff; the only disappointment this year is the lack of schoolies. Results updated 26 Nov
Event THREE: Wellington Waterfront 20 Nov 08A beautiful warm evening, people enjoying afterwork drinks on the waterfront, orienteers running fast. This is just the atmosphere that O-Max was designed to encourage. The turnout of 41 is the second-highest ever.David Turner, WOC's new Convenor, set a 3-loop micr-o from the little green triangle on the corner of Harris St. The longer loops were on the waterfront, reaching the Meridian Centre and the Overseas Terminal, while the short loop was around the Civic Centre. Todd Oates who had difficulty with a riverside control last week confirmed his position at the top of the table with the only time under 20min, followed by Aaron Searle. Last week's fastest Tim Robertson was 6th, just ahead of the top woman Lizzie Ingham, while vet Mick Finn nudged Rob Collier aside for the first time this series - by 6 seconds. A welcome back from overseas to previous winner Penny Kane, though she's not in top form at present. A few months on Wellington's hills should see her right. And also to Jess Young, who's been studying in Dunedin after a gap year in Britain. O-Max Course
Event TWO: Avalon Park 12 Nov 08Past O-Max winner Bill Edwards had some tricks up his sleeve for tonight's O-Max.The map is divided by the Hutt River, out of bounds tonight except for the bridge, and it's common to have a remote pivot control over the other side. The first trick: on the way, you had to visit either one or three "X" controls. Then there was a figure-of-eight, back across the bridge, and the remainder of the "X"s. And then another figure of eight. But wait, there's more. You could leave out any two controls. With some exceptions: the X's and the pivots were compulsory, and only one of the miss-outs could be over the river. Whew! The usual rapid set-off was interrupted by concentrated map study. And which wily old campaigner made all the right calls, while running at top speed through riverbank willows, complex school buildings, playground equipment and groves of trees? Schoolboy Tim Robertson, over a minute faster than elites Todd Oates and Aaron Searle! Over 5 minutes faster than top-ranked NZ woman Lizzie Ingham! This makes an interesting base for the rest of the series, with Robertson, Oates, Searle and planner Edwards all sharing the lead. Laura Robertson, only 3rd woman tonight, nevertheless is ahead of Sarah Gray (2nd) and Ingham. Rob Collier won vets again, but a surprise runner-up is Bruce Worsley, and he leaps into second in the series. As last week Nick Hann won schoolboys, while Jula McMillan began her series with the schoolgirl win. However Hannah Sampson retains the series lead. And what were the right calls? Pending Tim's choice, we can report that every control on the start side of the river was dropped by at least one competitor; but only a few were missed on the other side. The top picks were W (6 runners), S and K (5), U and V (4). Th only adjacent pairs that were missed by more than one person were K&L, U&V, and S&W. Seems like there were a lot of different strategies. And all this on Hutt Valley's most-used map! O-Max Course
Event ONE: McAlister Park 4 Nov 08Jim Hickey promised widespread rain by evening, with gale north-westerlies. But the 2008 O-Max kicked off at 6:30 in the dry and runners only got a vigorous spray while running against the wind.
With Ross Morrison and Bryn Davies overseas, it was Aaron Searle who posted FTD. He had 40sec over Bill Edwards and Tim Robertson, who has chosen to run open this year. Rob Collier, 4th vet last year, was next, notching up his first win in class. And Laura Robertson won Open Women, Lizzie watch out! She was 8th overall. Nick Hann and Hannah Sampson won the school classes. Todd Oates planned a two-loop micr-o with a common third loop, with controls in the park and town belt as far as the show buildings. The pivot on a sawhorse in the middle of the park survived the wind almost to the end! At 5km the length was, ahhh, generous, and times were middle-distance rather than sprint. But with 31 runners in spite of gloomy weather, the series is off to a good start. O-Max Course
Regular Courses TBA Course planner Todd Oates |
Todd Oates just cruised round tonights O-Max in the Botanical Gardens, but he didn't need any more points. The pressure was on Bill Edwards to secure second series place, and young Tim Robertson was only a minute from preventing that. Anyone thinking of David and Goliath? The other contender for second, Aaron Searle was way back. Lizzie Ingham also had an easy ride in the convoluted paths (and quite a bit of climb) of the gardens.