Australian – New Zealand Challenge

Preliminary Information

At each Oceania Championships Australia and New Zealand will compete in a two-nation orienteering competition, known as The Australia – New ZealandChallenge (AUS NZL Challenge).

The Challenge will consist of an Individual Challenge, based on the Oceania Long Distance Championships, and a Relay Challenge, based on the Oceania Relay Championships.

Challenge Teams

The Challenge shall be conducted in M21 and W21 and any of the following age classes W-16, W-18, W-20, W21, W35, W40, W45, W50, W55, W60, W65, W70, M-16, M-18, M-20, M21,M35, M40, M45, M50, M55, M60, M65, M70. The visiting nation shall determine the actual classes to be contested in the Challenge, with the minimum number nominated being men’s and women’s 21, -16, -20, 40, 50 and 60.

Each nation’s team will consist of three competitors only in each Challenge age class. Team members must be full passport-holding citizens of the nation they are representing. Each team member may be nominated for one age class only.The visiting nation is to advise the host nation of the classes to be contested at least three months prior to the Challenge (July 1st) and the teams are to be notified by both nations to each other and to the Oceania Championships organiser at least one month prior to the Challenge. (Sept 4th)

Team Selection

(Operational Manual 5.1) “Where selection of veteran age groups is required (such as Australia/New Zealand Challenges) the selection panel shall consist of the Manager, High Performance (as chairperson) and respective chairs of the Junior and Senior Selection Panels (foot).

Selection Process for 2011

The 2011 Australia-New Zealand Foot Orienteering Challenge will be contested at the Oceania Long Distance and Relay Championships in October. Teams of 3 will be selected in each of the following age groups:
Men – 16, 20, 21, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70
Women – 16, 20, 21, 40, 50, 60
Any Australian citizen (regardless of where they live) is eligible; non-Australian citizens are not.

The primary guides to selection, except in M/21E which will be selected as a Bushrangers team, will be performance at last year’s Australian Championships and this year’s Australian 3-Days. People who contested only one of these will still be considered.
In general nominations will not be required. However, please advise the High Performance Manager, Kay Haarsma (kayhaarsma@hotmail.com) no later than 27 July if any of the following apply to you:
- you know at this point that you will not be available for selection
- you did not compete in either of the major selection trials and still wish to be considered
- you wish to be considered for an age group other than the one you contested at Easter
- you did not compete at Easter and have changed age groups this year
- your citizenship status has recently changed and you are now eligible for selection
- you want to apply for special consideration because your performance in one or more selection trials was affected by injury or illness
- you know you are ranked in the top 5 in the following age groups (men’s and women’s 16, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70) and wish to be considered for selection: please advise your name, age class running, email address, ph numbers, and whether you need an Australian O running shirt. If yes, give chest size in cms. This information will enable the OA Office both to contact you and to order O tops in time for those who do not already have them.

The team will be announced in early August.