Big Foot Orienteers
3/4 November 2007 – Cessnock
Mountain Bike Orienteering
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS - AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND CHALLENGE - WORLD RANKING EVENTS
Welcome
Big Foot Orienteers Inc. welcomes all riders to the 2007 Australian Championships. This event is open to all riders of all standards, not just those wishing to compete for an Australian title. The championships will be contested in specified age classes. Non-championship (or open) classes are also offered for those who want to ride an easier course. This event is an excellent opportunity for all riders to experience the best maps and courses that MTBO has to offer!
Results
Races | Venue & Terrain | Directions | Classes | Courses | Maps | Race Programme | Punching System | Competition Rules | Prizes | Facilities | Accommodation | Training | Entries | Start Lists | Event Team
Final Information sheet (30/10/07)
2007 Aust MBO Champs Final Info
Start List (1/11/07)
2007 Aust MBO Champs Start List
Australia-New Zealand Challenge (30/10/07)
2007 ANZ Challenge teams
The Championships will be contested over three distances; sprint, middle and long. The elite men and women’s middle and long distance courses are World Ranking Events (WRE). The schedule for races over the weekend will be:
Saturday 3rd November (morning) Australian Middle Distance Championships (WRE)
Saturday 3rd November (afternoon) Australian Sprint Distance Championships
Sunday 4th November (morning) Australian Long Distance Championships (WRE)
The three areas are near Cessnock. All three areas are outstanding MBO terrain, mostly flat to undulating and have a dense network of single tracks and 4wd tracks. The three maps have been specially prepared by Andrew Slattery (WOC mapper) and Denis Lyons.
Saturday – Australian Middle and Sprint Distance Championships.
The venue is Killingworth. The access road is off The Boulevard in Killingworth. Turn west off the Wakefield Road onto The Broadway to Killingworth. Turn north onto The Boulevard and drive about 500 metres and turn left onto a rough, dirt road (sign-posted) to the event parking about 300 metres further. Travel time from Sydney is about 75 minutes from the start of the F3 freeway.
Sunday – Australian Long Distance Championships
The venue is Poppet Head Park, Kitchener. This is on Cessnock Street (also known as Quorrobolong Road). Travel time from Sydney is about 90 minutes from the start of the F3 freeway.
FindNearest.com
Course 1: Men Elite
Course 2: M17-20, M40-49, Women Elite, M Open B
Course 3: M15-16, M50-59, W17-20, W40-49, W Open B, M Open C
Course 4: M 60-69, W15-16, W 50-59, M Open D, W Open C
Course 5: M 70+, M-14, W60+, W-14, W Open D
Following a few queries the age classes have been clarified above. If you need to change your age class please contact the organisers at ausmbochamps@psd.net.au. Classes designated as 'Open' can be entered by anyone of any age.
Any class with fewer than 5 entries may be combined with the nearest class.
Details of the courses are set out below. Distances and climb are measured by the optimum route.
The sprint race terrain is generally flat with a few small hills. Track speed varies greatly, due to occasional rocky sections and ruts, but is generally fast. The area is dominated mostly by 4wd tracks, but has some single track created by motorbikes. There is a moderately dense network of tracks and paths with a number of areas of very complex networks. The broad, flat areas between the hills get flooded after rain and can have many puddles. The biggest possible climb on the map is 40 metres. Sprint courses will be short, flat, fast and have many check points. The map scale will be 1:7,500.
| Course |
Distance (km)
|
Climb (m) |
Check points |
Expected Winning Time (min) |
| 1 |
7.1
|
40 |
16 |
20 |
| 2 |
6.2 |
30 |
11 |
20 |
| 3 |
5.7 |
30 |
8 |
20 |
| 4 |
3.6 |
20 |
7 |
20 |
| 5 |
3.6 |
20 |
7 |
20 |
The middle distance race terrain is generally undulating. Two steep ridges are separated by a number of broad, gentle spurs and large flatter areas. Track speed is generally fast, but varies greatly. In addition to the many 4wd tracks there is an extensive network of fast, flowing single track made for mountain bike racing. Some parts of the area have very thick, heavy mud after rain and tracks in the flatter parts of the map can have many puddles. The middle distance courses will generally be flat to undulating with a mixture of long and short legs between check points. The map scale will be 1:10,000.
| Course |
Distance (km)
|
Climb (m)
|
Check points
|
Expected Winning Time (min)
|
| 1 |
18 |
300 |
18 |
50 |
| 2 |
16 |
180 |
13 |
45 |
| 3 |
12.7 |
150 |
13 |
45 |
| 4 |
10 |
120 |
13 |
45 |
| 5 |
8 |
100 |
8 |
45 |
The long distance race terrain consists of a steep ridge with a large gently sloping area. The whole area has a very dense network of 4wd tracks and single tracks made by motor bikes. Track speed varies greatly. Overall the area is fast but has many small sections of rock, sand and can have mud after rain. The long distance courses will generally be flat to undulating with the longer courses going into the steeper sections of the map. The courses will have a mixture of long and short legs between check points. The map scale will be 1:15,000.
| Course |
Distance (km)
|
Climb (m)
|
Check points
|
Expected Winning Time (min)
|
| 1 |
35 |
440 |
24
|
110 |
| 2 |
25 |
300 |
17
|
90 |
| 3 |
19.5 |
200 |
13 |
80 |
| 4 |
16 |
100 |
11
|
70 |
| 5 |
12 |
80 |
12 |
70 |
The maps have been prepared to the IOF standard for MBO maps with the exception that we are using the Australian 2 x 4 track grading system which is shown below.
Tracks are greater than 1.5 metres wide. Paths are less than 1.5 metres wide. Speeds are mapped on the basis of how fast an elite rider can pass along the tracks. For these races competitors should note we have made the speed of tracks and paths consistent, i.e. the speed on a long dash track should be the same as the speed on a long dash path. All grading was prepared in dry weather. All tracks will be slower in wet weather.
The basis for the speed of the tracks is:
Fast – little or no restriction to the speed which a rider can proceed.
Moderate – generally good riding with some reduction in speed and a requirement to keep an eye on where you are going to avoid obstacles such as stones, rocks, ruts, etc.
Slow – sufficient obstacles to require the rider to pick lines to avoid obstacles. Consistently rocky, rutted or sandy. Skilled, fit riders should be able to ride almost always. Less skilled and fit riders may have to dismount.
Difficult – a technical track/path which may require the rider to dismount. Skilled, fit riders may be able to ride without dismounting. For this competition, Difficult grade usually means bad ruts, loose and rough surface or sand.
The IOF standard has been used for showing the clarity of track junctions; where the lines of the two tracks join it means a distinct junction. If the lines of the two tracks do not join each other it means an indistinct track junction.
For more information about IOF Mapping standards follow this link.
Saturday Middle distance - Starts from 10:00am
Sprint distance - Starts from 3:00pm
Sunday Long distance – Starts from 10:00am
Note - Start times will be pre-allocated. Startlists will be posted on this website and emailed to entrants in the week before the event.
Prize giving presentations will be held as soon as practical after each race.
The SportIdent electronic punching system will be used at check points for all races. If you do not own a SportIdent stick, units will be available for hire. See Entry Fees below for more information.
All
Australian MTBO Championship races are governed by the IOF and
Australian competition rules. Specific attention is drawn to the
following points:
1)
Riders may not ride, walk or carry their bikes off mapped tracks, with the
exception of open (yellow) areas on the map. Riders can cross any area marked
as yellow on the map. This includes open areas, semi-open, rough-open and
variants of these which are shown as 'slow-run, good visibility' or 'walk, good
visibility'. The IOF mapping standards can be found
here.
2)
Riders should observe the road rules, i.e. keep to the left and overtake on the
right. If you approach a slower rider from behind, the faster rider behind
should clearly call 'track' or other indication and the rider in front should
clear the path as the first opportunity.
3)
Riders coming downhill give way to riders going uphill.
Australian men and women’s long distance elite champions will receive perpetual trophies. Age group winners will receive prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings for classes which have more than 5 competitors. The winners of open classes will receive a prize for classes with more than 3 competitors. The winner of the Australian-New Zealand Challenge will receive the ANZ Challenge trophy.
Mountain Biking Australia - Six Subscriptions to MTBA Magazine (Two will be given away in a random draw of online entrants - See Entries)
AROC Sport - Two $80 vouchers for the Paddy Pallin Adventure Race Series
Wild Horizons - 1 Team Entry to the 2007 Urban Polaris and Two Wild Horizons R4 mapboards
Windchill Sports - 2 Windchill Mapboards
The venues have toilets. All competitors should be self-sufficient for water. Food will be available at each competition and from nearby shops.
Accommodation anywhere in the Cessnock-Maitland-Newcastle-Morisset area has good access to the race venues. For anyone wishing to stay in Sydney the race venues are up to 90 minutes drive from the start of the F3 in Hornsby.
Training maps will be available for interstate and overseas competitors. We recommend the following training opportunities:
21st October – ACT Championships
at Kowen Forest.
27th - 28th October – NSW Championships at Lidsdale State Forest near Lithgow. A great area on a new map with a sprint race on Saturday afternoon and long distance race on Sunday.
29th October – 2nd November (mid week). Maps are available for the following areas;
Near Lithgow:
Sunny Corner (1:20,000, 2002)
Duckmaloi (1:20,000, 2003)
Black Springs (1:20,000, 2004)
Around Sydney:
Yellomundee (1,7,500, 2007)
Glenbrook (1:7,500, 2006)
Paul’s backyard (1:25,000, 2006)
Near Newcastle:
The Lot (1:15,000, 2007)
Wallaroo (1:20,000, rev 2007)
Go to FindNearest.com for locations and directions to these maps.
Anyone wishing to train on these maps should contact the event organiser.
The preferred method of entry to this event was via the Bigfoot online entry system. Competitors entering this event online go into a draw to win one of 2 subscriptions to Mountain Biking Australia magazine.
Entry Fees:
Seniors (15yrs and over) $35 per course ($100 for all 3 events)
Juniors (under 15yrs) $20 per course ($55 for all 3 events)
Competitors who are not a member of an orienteering club must pay $5 per course extra.
Competitors wishing to hire a SportIdent stick should add $3.50 to their entry fees.
Entries accepted after the published deadline will attract a $10 late fee.
Start List (30/10/07) - 2007 Aust MBO Champs Start List
Event team
Organiser: Paul Darvodelsky - Phone 0407 152 168 - Email ausmbochamps@psd.net.au for Big Foot Orienteers Inc.
Planners: Mark Shingler & Paul Darvodelsky
Special Guest Course Consultant: Michael Billinghurst (direct from the UK and at great personal expense)
Event adviser: Terry Bluett
Website: Anthony Darr - Email ajdarr@ozemail.com.au
Races | Venue & Terrain | Directions | Classes | Courses | Maps | Race Programme | Punching System | Prizes | Facilities | Accommodation | Training | Entries | Start lists | Event Team