Night orienteering

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 23

Night orienteering

Freezing temperatures and the dark created new challenges foi Christchurch orienteers at their first night event. Times were very fast considering the conditions. and Graham Boniface was fastest in 46 minutes. 46 seconds, winning narrowly from Graham Frith (South Auckland Orienteering Club) and David Laurie. . ~ The course was around the University grounds at Ham, 7 km measured on the map, but much further taking into account actual running distance. One competitor, walking across the University playing fields in the dark on the C course, was surprised to find herself temporarily trapped In a hockey goal. _ Linda Ball won the B course from Ray Hall and Malcolm Cunningham. . , . Orienteering in the dark proved

to be very different from daylight orienteering, made more difficult by a mass start and an unusually large number of alternative route choices. Paul Dale, from Dunedin, and Les White were both handicapped by faulty torches, and there were a few minor mapping errors, but otherwise the 35 competitors enjoyed the frosty evening. The next event will be at Victoria Park on August 24. Results:—

A course: G. Boniface, 46min 46sec, 1; G. Firth, 47 07, 2; D. Laurie, 48.24, 3; A. Buchanan, 52.07, 4. B course: L. Ball, 54.07. 1; R. Hall. 56.27, '2; M. Cunningham, 65.30, 3; E. Bone, 7p.40, 4. C course: I. Plalsted and J. Hoetjes, 30.00, 1; L. Scow, 46.00, 2; S. McCormick, 48.00, 3; J. Fisher, 51.00. 4.