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Oceania Orienteering Championships -Middle Distance

Friday 9 January 2009, 5:15PM

By Orienteering New Zealand

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OTAGO

Third Test Match victory for New Zealand orienteers against Australia.
 
The New Zealand Pinestars elite orienteering team had no hesitation in trouncing the Australian Bushrangers for a third time this week in the Test Match series held at the Oceania Orienteering Championships in the South Island.

Although Australian Simon Uppill picked up a second Oceania title in the Middle Distance at Duntroon, North Otago, the important minor placings by New Zealanders Thomas Reynolds (3rd) and Michael Adams (4th) ensured that the Pinestar men won by 28 points to 22.

Uppill was denied all three Oceania titles at the Sprint Distance by NZ Pinestars team manager Jamie Stewart's efforts in defeating Uppill by one second earlier in the week.

In the Women's Test Match the New Zealand Pinestars were once again dominant with six minor placings behind winning Finn, Mari Vanaanen, giving them the Women's Test Match by 34 points to 18.

Wellingtonian Lizzie Ingham was in superb form for the third time this week with another resident Oceania title, defeating former NZ number one Tania Robinson (Auckland) by one second.

Although not eligible for the resident Oceania title, visiting Finnish woman Mari Vanaanen goes home with two firsts and a second in the World ranking Events at the Oceania Championships which should easily propel her ranking into the top 100.

Finn Miika Hernalahti was hot on the heels of Australian Uppill once again, finishing second by three seconds, and should also see a lift in his World Rankings.

The combined totals for all three Test matches were NZ Pinestars 170, to the Australian Bushrangers 118 points, one of the biggest margins ever.

The Oceania Orienteering Championships concluded on Friday, January 9, but the carnival continues with the Australia-New Zealand Schools Test match at Naseby on Saturday and Sunday 10/11 January.

Oceania Orienteering Championships Middle Distance results.
M21Elite
1  Simon Uppill, Aus/Bushrangers 37:29;
2  Miika Hernelahti, 75 Finland  37:32;
3  Thomas Reynolds, NZ/Pinestars 39:43;
4 Michael Adams, NZ/Pinestars 39:35; 
5 Michael Smithson, NZ 40:00;
6  Ryan Smythe, Aus/Bushrangers 40:11;
7  Darren Ashmore, NZ/Pinestars 40:42;
8 Bill Edwards, NZ 41:47;
9 Reuben Smith. Aus 42:13;
10  Riki Cambridge,  NZ/Pinestars 42:43.

W21Elite
1 Mari Vaananen, Finland 38:58;
2 Lizzie Ingham, NZ/Pinestars 39:54;
3 Tania Robinson, NZ/Pinestars  39:55;
4 Lara Prince, NZ 42:40;
5 Penny Kane NZ 43:41;
6 Rita Homes, NZ/Pinestars  43:56;
7 Rebecca Smith, NZ 45:07;
8 Vanessa Round, Aus/Bushrangers 46:15;
9 Briohny Davy, Aus/Bushrangers 47:06;
10 Claire Paterson, NZ 48:200.

Australia - New Zealand Elite Test Match results
Test Match 1: New Zealand Pinestars 64: Australia Bushrangers 38; 
Test Match 2: New Zealand Pinestars 44: Australia Bushrangers 40;
Test Match 2: New Zealand Pinestars 62: Australia Bushrangers 40;
Overall standings: New Zealand Pinestars 170: Australia Bushrangers 118.