A Sample of the Orienteering Maps

The Start of my long distance course, my route in purple.

Auckland Champs

Last weekend, PK and I cruised up to Akld for the Auckland Orienteering Champs held in Woodhill forest. Stayed with Brent on the way in Rotorua. There was a middle distance first up in which Penny and I both finished 2nd which was a good result. After this we cruised up to Rob Gardens place on South Head and played tennis, went kayaking etc. Good times. Sunday was a long distance event on some real awesome terrain, firstly native bush previously used for NZ's only World Cup in 1994 and then some real nice tricky Woodhill sanddunes...reminded me what I like about orienteering!! Unfortunately we had a bad day, Penny mispunched and I tired towards the end..then the long journey home

Taupo Squad Weekend

Hey, this weekend just being I was down in Taupo running an orienteering squad weekend. Good to get people together. We did some good runs around the local tracks. Taupo is one of those visionary areas that has really developed its local track network to cater for runners/mtbers and other users. Its fantastic, and you always end up running past Huka falls at some stage. Photo is of me and Bryn Davies and Piret Klade at the Craters of the Moon volcanic site. Penny spent the weekend in Gizzy partying with the Doctors, hopefully she might have some stories to tell.

Jamies week in Vegas

Not as exciting as it sounds...Penny went away tramping for the week down south so I popped over to Rotovegas to do some event organising. Supported Rachel Smith at the Coromandel Classic multisport race first up and caught up with a few people I hadn't seen for a while which was good, then headed down to Rotorua, checked out some areas, spoke to lots of landowners and generally made a nuisance of myself. Highlight was probably a bit of wood falling off a rimu tree and hitting me in the head as a I walked along...ended up getting a few stitches in Taupo medical centre. Also went for a nice drive with Simon Addison to the West Coast of the North Island, Kawhia, Taharoa (where they sand mine) and back via Waitomo. Taharoa was our main destination as we had spotted a likely looking orienteering area. Unfirtunately it was indeed fantastic but was in the process of being felled (this is a horrible experience for an orienteer). I will convince Penny to post a report of her expedition which will be much more interesting!