The Wildfire Sports Oceania Long Distance Championships at Stromlo Forest Park delivered a day that competitors are unlikely to forget. Mt Stromlo was cloaked in low cloud and driving rain, with the surrounding hills and Black Mountain Tower disappearing at times into the grey. The relentless rain also created challenges behind the scenes, with the download tent having to be relocated 3 times prior to 9am!
Lightning crackled through the area, forcing a delay to the start, while competitors waited for the storm to pass. Water spread across the cross-country course, transforming parts of it into a lake, while normally dry creek beds suddenly filled and began carrying fast-flowing water through the landscape. When racing finally commenced, persistent showers, saturated ground and slick slopes created a physically demanding backdrop to the day’s competition.
The conditions were extraordinary for early October. Canberra Airport recorded 45mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am, making it Canberra’s wettest October day since 1976 (50 years ago!). The deluge was particularly striking for a month in which Canberra typically receives only around 50mm of rain in total, meaning almost an entire average October’s rainfall fell in a single day.
Once racing began, the elite fields produced some outstanding performances.
In W21E, New Zealand’s Rachel Baker prevailed in a superbly close contest, finishing in 1:30:3 just 30 seconds ahead of Lara Molloy (NZ). Emily Sorensen (AUS) was third in 1:34:21, while less than 5 minutes separated 1st from 5th. In such wet, slippery conditions, that is a remarkably tight elite race over 11km.
The M21E race was much more decisive. Zefa Fa’avae (NZ) won in 1:21:11, opening a substantial 6:19 advantage over Leith Soden (AUS). Joseph Lynch (NZ) was another 30 seconds back in third, with Australians Ryan Stocks, Kylian Wymer and David Stocks tightly grouped behind them. Only 33 seconds separated 3rd through 6th.
Winners, Rachel Baker and Zefa Fa’avae, also earned a personal place in the Long Distance at the 2027 World Orienteering Championships in Hungary, adding an extra prize to the Oceania title.
Australia enjoyed success in the junior elite classes. Erika Enderby won W20E by 5:35 from Liana Stubbs with Ella Clauson in 3rd. Rory Shedden took M20E with a winning margin of 5:44 from local Canberran Maty Maundrell and Oscar Burns.
The 16 and 18 Youth classes produced plenty of close racing. In M18A, Henry Hodgson led a strong New Zealand contingent, winning in 1:06:45, 1:14 ahead of Micah Dunn, with Lachlan Cameron 3rd. Keely Williams (AUS) took W18A in 1:05:25, just 1:18 ahead of Mira Walter (AUS), while Anna Wright (NZ) was 3rd.
New Zealand runners filled the podium in M16A, with Daniel Porteous winning in 46:08 ahead of Alfie Cochrane and Max Morgan. In W16A, Jemima Hoskin led another strong New Zealand performance, winning in 50:52 from Victoria Underwood and Elena Burns.
Photos
You can view photos from the Oceania Long 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 Long Distance Championship on Eventor.
