Orienteering Wellington

Are you set ready for the night event in Karori on Wednesday?

Get all the details, sign-up information and generally everything you need to know here: https://www.orienteering.org.nz/events/wellington-night-champs-2026/

Starts from 6 to 7 pm on a newly updated map. Night-O brings a whole new feel to an event. If you've never tried orienteering at night, this is the one to come along to. Sign up, dust off your head torch, and see you there on Wednesday evening!

Well done to everyone who braved the iffy-looking weather on Sunday. You were rewarded with sunny spells and challenging courses from planner Lauren Wills and controller Gillian Ingham and can feel suitably virtuous vs. the people who didn't get out of bed :)

Results are on Winsplits: https://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=classes&databaseId=114144

And routes are on Livelox: https://www.livelox.com/Events/Show/196841/Kaukau-OY

Please ask below if you want more information about using either. They're both very helpful for figuring out what you did well or understanding how your mistakes happened.

As always, we couldn't run these events without the generosity of volunteers: Many thanks to Alan, Bill, Rob, Simon, Helen, Lachlan, Murray, Yvette, Shoko, Brian, Elsa, Danny, Malcolm, Jake, Paul and Will. Phew.

As a bonus round, how many teeny-tiny orienteers can you spot in Lauren's photos?

Congratulations to Orienteering Hutt Valley stalwart Michael Wood for winning the NZSS Champs Caltex Good Sport Award. Wellington members have long benefitted from Michael's knowledge, generosity and good humour—thank you, Michael!

WINNER: Caltex NZ NZSS Champs Caltex Good Sport Award went to Michael Wood who is the coach of Hutt Valley High School. As a team coach for Hutt Valley High School, Michael is an inspirational orienteering legend from Orienteering Hutt Valley. He supports our students to lead and coach each other, encouraging the next generation of orienteers. He supports them at weekly training sessions, organises extra events on weekends when we have no club activities, takes a personal interest in all our kids and recognises big & small achievements in club newsletters and is a wealth of knowledge and encouragement. We're so lucky to have him on our team. Michael's dedication to organising extra trainings, sharing his knowledge, and growing the sport in the Hutt Valley and Greater Wellington Region is astounding!!

Better read that embargo notice linked below! Fantastic news, and motivation to train harder over the next few years :)

New Zealand appointed to host JWOC in 2029 | International Orienteering Federation The best junior orienteers in the world will head to New Zealand in 2029 to compete at the Junior World Orienteering Championships.

How about this leg (4 -> 5) from the World Cup knock-out sprint semi-final? Suggest your preferred option in the comments.

Imagine finding a viable route under the pressure of competition!

Congratulations to the top 2 placed NZ athletes who learned their trade in our region: Tim Roberson 9th, Joe Lynch 11th. Impressive results on the world stage!

The College Sport Wellington orienteering series wrapped up at the weekend with a prize-giving before the slippery slidey perils of Karori Park.

Congratulations to everyone who placed or took part, especially the Perfect Navigation recipients, who finished every CSW event without mis-punching or bailing. Not an easy thing to do at all!

Thanks to Chris & Rachel Holden for photos.

Amazing results on the world stage for club juniors Rachel and Jake!

If you have sulted, you can sult again here:
REsults: https://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=classes&databaseId=113771

Big thanks to Murray and Rob for the courses today, and the Wellington weather for adding the extra odd challenge along the way! Also thanks to all the volunteers who helped in running the event.

obasen.orientering.se

Some quickfire questions with our very own Rachel Baker, profiled as part of Orienteering NZ's Junior World Orienteering Champs (JWOC) team!

JWOC ATHLETE - Rachel Baker
The start of our profiles for the Junior World Orienteering Championships in the historic centre of Karlskrona, Sweden from 29th June – 4th July.
1. What makes an orienteering event truly successful?
Technical Forest

2. Apart from JWOC, what places do you want to go orienteering ?
Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Font Romeu in France, Idre fjäll in Sweden, and lots more!

3. "What's an orienteering skill you've been nailing recently?
I’ve been doing pretty well with my compass, and keeping a cool head in the forest.

4. What gets you fired up to train, and what's your go-to reward when you're done?
I’m motivated to go and chat with my friends at training, and post training ice cream, or packinsave pick&mix is always good!

6. I can't wait for JWOC because... I’m racing my final JWOC in super technical terrain, with a fun and supportive NZ team.

Follow:
IOF broadcast: https://tv.orienteering.sport/jwoc-2026-all-races-swe-eng
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585244859334
https://www.instagram.com/jwoc2026/