The Oceania Championships Carnival kicked off today with the ACT Long Distance Championships. The venue was Foxlow Flats, classic Canberra spur-gully formerly known as Antill’s Creek, but unused for so long that the only version of the map is at 1:20,000!

The women’s elite race showed the strength and depth of Australian elite orienteering, with Grace Elson, Vanessa Round and Jo Allison all sharing the lead during the day, and finishing within a minute of each in that order. The New Zealanders seemed to be saving themselves for later in the week — Penny Kane was their quickest in 6th place.

The men’s elite race suffered from programming schedule; over half the field DNFed with most saving themselves for tomorrow’s Oceania Middle Distance Champs at Honeysuckle Creek. Julian Dent blew the field away, winning 20 of the 30 legs and finishing 5 minutes ahead of David Shepherd. Kerrin Rattray was 3rd, another 5 minutes back. The fastest Kiwi was James Bradshaw in 9th.