Today’s Oceania Sprint Championships at the Australian National University (ANU) brought the Oceania 2026 carnival to a fast finish in the heart of Canberra. After a week of racing through some of Canberra’s toughest and most spectacular bush terrain, the Oceania Championships shifted dramatically in character today as competitors descended on the ANU campus.
The expansive ANU campus provided an intricate finale, with a maze of buildings, courtyards, covered areas and pathways demanding instant decisions and relentless concentration. At sprint speed, even the smallest hesitation or wrong turn had the potential to decide places.
It was a fitting contrast to yesterday’s extraordinary Long Distance at Stromlo. After battling torrential rain, lightning, flooded creeks and sodden forest, competitors were back running flat-out through an urban environment where the challenge was no longer surviving the elements, but staying one step ahead of the map.
The Oceania Orienteering Championships produced clear wins with Australia dominating, but plenty of close racing behind them. Australia’s Cooper Horley claimed the Oceania Men’s title in 14:26, finishing 20 seconds ahead of David Stocks (AUS), with Aston Key (AUS) 3rd in 15:12. Zefa Fa’avae (NZ) and Joseph Lynch (NZ) were also within a minute of the winning time, highlighting the depth of the field.
Nea Shingler (AUS) was crowned Oceania Sprint Champion taking the win in 15:57, 40 seconds ahead of Justine Hobson (AUS). The battle behind them was much tighter, with Caitlin Young (AUS), Milla Key (AUS) and Zara Stewart (NZ) separated by just 4 seconds from 3rd to 5th.
The Oceania Junior classes also delivered close racing. Euan Best (AUS) won M20 in 16:11, 27 seconds ahead of Isaac Stewart (NZ), while Rory Shedden (AUS) edged Thomas Potts (NZ) by only 3 seconds for 3rd. In the women’s race, Niamh Hoare (NZ) won by just 12 seconds over Liana Stubbs (AUS), with Katherine Maundrell (AUS) in 3rd.
In the Oceania Youth M18 class, Henry Hodgson (NZ) completed the 3.5km in 18:54, nearly one minute ahead of Aidan Tomlins (AUS) and Ryan McDonnell (AUS). Local Canberran orienteer Mira Walter took the win in the Oceania Youth W18 class in 20:12, 33 seconds ahead of Anna Wright (NZ), with Torun Joergensen (NZ) 3rd.
The Oceania Youth M16 competition was exceptionally competitive. Ruben Claessens (AUS) won in 15:36, but the next 6 runners all finished within 43 seconds of him. Aidan Barrett-Hamilton (NZ) was 2nd, James Diprose (NZ) 3rd, while George Abbott (NZ), Alfie Cochrane (NZ), Felix Ward (AUS) and Archie Brownlie (AUS) were all separated by only 11 seconds from 4th through 7th.
New Zealand took a clean sweep in the Oceania Youth W16 class with Sophie Bacchus winning in 15:32, Kara Morgan was just 15 seconds behind and Maggie Bauzon another 8 seconds back.
The Oceania Sprint concluded a memorable Oceania 2026 Carnival, capping a demanding week of racing for competitors from across Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and beyond. From granite and open forest at Bogong Creek to the mist of Honeysuckle Creek, storm-lashed Stromlo and the final dash through ANU, the carnival delivered contrasting terrain, dramatic weather and countless close finishes, providing a fitting showcase of Canberra orienteering from start to finish.
Photos
You can view photos from the Sprint via the link below. Please credit the photographer when sharing these photos!
Official photographers for the Carnival are Tom de Jongh (photosbytom) and Kelvin Meng (photosinsitu.com). Other Orienteering Australia certified photographers have also contributed to our albums for the Carnival. Check for the photographer’s name at the bottom left of each photo.
Results
Official results for the Oceania Sprint Distance Championship on Eventor.
