Australia-New Zealand Challenge

The Australia-New Zealand Challenge will be contested in October in conjunction with the Oceania Championships week. The formal Challenge events will be the Long Distance and Relay Championships on the final weekend. Teams of three, and reserves, will be selected in all Challenge age groups. The Challenge age groups are:

M/W16, 18, 20, 21, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70. (M/W18 and 20 will both compete on the 17-20E course). Note that it has been agreed, since the notice in the ‘Australian Orienteer’ was published, to contest W70 in addition to all other classes.

The selection trials will be as follows:

M/W21

The M/W21 teams will be Bushrangers teams chosen in accordance with normal Bushrangers selection criteria.

M/W18 and 20

The principal selection trials for these classes will be the JWOC selection trials, as well as performances in JWOC itself for those who are members of the team.

All other classes

The principal selection trials for all other classes will be the Australian 3-Days and Australian Long Distance Championships.

Nomination procedure and eligibility

To be eligible to be a team member you must be an Australian citizen at the time of the event.

No nominations will be required. However, the selectors would appreciate being advised if any of the following apply:

• You know that you will not be available for selection.
• You wish to be considered for selection in a different age group to that in which you competed in the selection races.
• You are not an Australian citizen, or have recently taken out citizenship (if you have been ineligible in the past).

The selection panel may be contacted through the Chair of the Junior Panel, Blair Trewin, atb.trewin@bom.gov.au. The team will be chosen by members of both the Senior and Junior Panels. It is hoped to be able to announce the team (with the possible exception of M/W21) at or shortly after the Australian Relays.

Australia-NZ Schools Test Match

There will also be a Schools Test Match between Australia and New Zealand contested during the Oceania Championships week. Teams of four will be chosen in each of the four Schools age groups (M/W-15 and M/W16-19).

Subject to ratification by School Sport Australia, the selection trials will be the Australian Schools Championships individual event, and the Australian Long Distance Championships.

Under School Sport Australia rules, to be eligible for selection, candidates must be a member of a State team at the Australian Schools Championships (which will have the effect of making any school-aged JWOC team members ineligible).

There is no nationality requirement for this team – anyone attending an Australian school is eligible.

As for the Australia-New Zealand Challenge team, no nominations are required, but it would be of assistance if anyone unavailable for selection could advise the selectors in advance.