Navigating unfamiliar terrain is challenging enough, but throw in a few kangaroos and snakes, and you’ve got yourself a proper Australian adventure!
During the school holidays, Eva Scott (Year 10) and Lacey Gornall (Year 9) headed to Canberra to represent New Zealand at the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships (ASOC) and Oceania Orienteering Championships.
Eva competed as part of New Zealand’s Harua Team, while Lacey represented the New Zealand Development Squad. Between them, they tackled seven days of racing over nine days, navigating unfamiliar Australian bushland and competing against some of the region’s best young orienteers.
And they certainly gave it their all!
The girls saved some of their best results for the final race, the Oceania Sprint Championships, where Eva claimed 3rd place and Lacey finished 7th out of 29 competitors, less than two minutes behind the winner.
Eva also secured 3rd place in the Oceania Long Championships, while Lacey’s relay team finished 4th.
At the Australian Schools Championships, both girls stepped up to compete in the Junior Girls category against older athletes. Eva finished equal 4th in the Sprint, with her relay team taking 2nd place, while Lacey placed 30th out of 62 competitors in the Sprint and 13th with her relay team.
Beyond the results, the experience gave both girls the chance to test themselves against older, more experienced competitors, adapt to different terrain and make those all-important split-second decisions that orienteering demands.
And, of course, there were a few memorable encounters with the local wildlife along the way!
A huge congratulations to Eva and Lacey. Representing New Zealand on the international stage is a wonderful achievement, and we’re delighted to see their hard work and determination paying off.
