New Zealand Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships 2025 (NZSSOC25) 11-13 July 2025
Sprint – Friday 11 July – St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland
A dramatic start to the NZ Championships saw competitors facing not just a tricky urban course, but also a severe weather event. At 1pm, just as many of the races were underway, heavy rain and strong wind warnings were in full effect for Auckland. Conditions rapidly deteriorated, with bursts of torrential rain, slippery surfaces, and reduced visibility creating extra challenges for athletes and organisers alike.
Despite the wild weather, our students showed grit and determination:
Year 9 – Junior Girls:
- Eva Scott had a promising run, looking like a top 5 finish, but unfortunately recorded a mispunch (MP), missing out on a result.
Year 10/11 – Intermediate Girls:
- Camryn Gornall persevered through both the tricky navigation and wet, windy conditions, finishing 36th in 28:14 (+14:18).
Year 12/13 – Senior Girls:
- Kayleigh Blackburn remained composed and placed 21st with a time of 22:54 (+6:52), a commendable effort given the tough weather.
Long – Saturday 12 July – Mushroom Road, Woodhill Forest
The Long Course event brought much-improved weather, with calm, cool winter conditions under clear skies – perfect for forest navigation. The challenging terrain of Woodhill tested stamina and route choice.
Year 9 – Junior Girls Championship:
- Eva Scott bounced back superbly, claiming 5th place in 39:31 (+3:40).
Year 10/11 – Intermediate Girls Standard:
- Camryn Gornall put in a strong effort over a demanding course to secure 4th place with a time of 1:14:02 (+27:12).
We are incredibly proud of our athletes for their resilience and determination, especially given the extreme weather on Friday. Well done to all competitors!