Katoa Po 2020 - Night Relay
Event Info
When - Saturday 14th March 2020
- 4:00pm Campsite opens
- 5:30pm Registration opens
- 6:30pm return Team lists with names in running order
- 7:00pm Briefing for all competitors
- Relay Starts at Dusk
Where - Rangatira North map, (off Poihipi Road)
Organizer - Taupo Orienteering Club
Planner - Graham Teahan
Controller - Phil White
Entry Deadline - Tue 10th March 9pm
Courses - see below.
Entry fees per team
- 7 person team $145
- 5 person team $105
- 5 all juniors team $75
What -
The premier night orienteering competition in New Zealand. 2020 is going to be a real classic so bring your tent, your cow bell and your club spirit for this event! This night relay for 5 and 7 person teams runs deep into the night. The relay starts about dusk with a mass start for the white course. It progresses to harder and longer courses. The final two legs are mainly for elite runners. Individuals enter the event and the clubs will be sent a list of competitors from which they will allocate the legs, according to ability and age, according to the criteria below.
The Terrain -
The event is on the Rangatira North map, last used in 2015.
It is mainly a farm map with rolling to steep hills that are incised with complex, intricate gullies and other negative terrain features. An area of forest has been added to the map which will add a little spice to the courses particularly the longer legs.
Camp site -
The event centre and camp site will be located on the central part of the map with great night time views of the town.
The camp site is a paddock adjacent to the event centre and start finish. There will be plenty of camping space for tents and campervans. There will be portaloos on site. There will be room for club tents overlooking the finish. You will need to be self sufficient for camping including water.
Eligibility -
| Course | Grade restrictions | ONZ Colour Code |
|---|---|---|
| Leg 1 | No M16A-70A, No W16A-65A (All B grades allowed) | White |
| Leg 2 | No M16A-70A, No W18A-55A (All B grades allowed) | Yellow |
| Leg 3 | No M18A-55A, No W20A-35A (All B grades allowed) | Orange |
| Leg 4 | M20A-45A, No W21E | Orange/Red |
| Leg 5 | No M21E (allowed if last leg of of 5 person team) | Red |
| Leg 6 | Open | Red |
| Leg 7 | Open | Red |
• In the past we have allowed runners on the 1st leg to represent more than 1 team. This year we would prefer each team provide 5 or 7 separate members, who are running for 1 team only. We have broadened the eligibility for most legs to help with this.
• Exemptions to the above rules will be considered on their merits by the controller. The essential essence of the competition is fairness. The controller will use this as the guiding principle for determining if nominally ineligible runners can drop down a leg.
Estimated Winning Times -
- Leg 1 - 2.5km 15 minutes, median time 25 minutes (white)
- Leg 2 - 3.5km 20 minutes, median time 35 minutes (yellow)
- Leg 3 - 4.0km 30 minutes (orange)
- Leg 4 - 4.9km 40 minutes (orange/red)
- Leg 5 - 5.1km 50 minutes (red)
- Leg 6 - 6.2km 50-55 minutes (red)
- Leg 7 - 8.0km 60-65 minutes (red)
Special Rules -
Every team finishes, so there are no DSQs. Every missed punch incurs a 15 minute penalty. DNF are the slowest time for that leg (when all the penalties are added in) plus a 15 minute penalty. Placing’s are determined solely by time, including penalties.
Deliberate manipulation of the rules, eg having an overseas W21E running Leg 4, can incur additional penalties at the discretion of the controller.
Sport Ident -
To allow for smooth organization and cater for the inevitable last minute changes all teams will be issued with a set of SI cards allocated to each leg.
It is imperative that these cards are given to the appropriate leg.
Some notes from the Course Setter -
- There will be two to three loops for legs 4-7. Runners will pass back through the Finish area to maximise spectator appeal. Care will be needed when passing through the Event Centre
- Fences will be shown on all maps. There are various types of fences eg some with 2 top barb wires, but they are all crossable with care. Gates are shown [gate symbol] as well as crossing points which are horse jumps [top two wires are lowered]. The horse jumps will be shown with the purple crossing point symbol )( . Electric fences will be turned off. Fences in the forest may be difficult to see in places due to thinnings lying across the fence
- The forest runnability is variable but generally slow due to poor visibility caused by unpruned trees and thinnings on the ground. Its difficult to run in a straight line
- There are some distinctive animal (deer) trails in the forest that are not shown on the map
- The farmland is fast with most paddocks having little grass
- There are the usual farm hazards including some thistles, a few pits [some will be roped off], pinecones underneath the large pine trees, and rough ground [in places].
Event Location
The Katoa Po relay is on the Rangatira North map which is accessed from Poihipi Road, a short distance from the top of Control Gates Hill. The location will be signposted from the top of Control Gates Hill.
