They started with a very complex urban course at Epsom Campus, with multi-level control placement creating confusion for some. This was followed by two days in Woodhill Forest, again providing technically challenging maps that kept everyone thinking hard. Everyone found their way home again, although it took a couple of hours for some! After one day of rest on Wednesday, we saw the team back in a slightly less complex but more physically demanding urban course at James Cook High School and the neighbouring Mountford Park. Like the urban course, the two following days on farmland at Awhitu Peninsula were not for the fainthearted. Steep hills and many fences made this a far more athletic experience than the forest events earlier in the week. The addition of South Auckland schools and some North Island Schools who chose not to travel for both events, made the competition much fiercer. Despite not gaining the same podium exposure, Dio girls were consistently in the top 10, and frequently 4^th or 5^th place, resulting in the Top Small School award (fewer than five secondary age competitors) at both events.

Results

NISSOC Podium placings

Sprint:

Senior Girls 3^rd place – Lucy Russ

Intermediate Girls 3^rd – Sienna Payne

Relay:

Senior Girls 3^rd place – Lucy Russ, Amelia McIntosh, Sienna Payne (the latter two are Intermediate age runners)

Year 7/8 Girls 1^st place – Cerys Findlow, Ada Findlow, Mila Walsh

Overall:

Small Secondary Schools’ Competition Girls – 1^st place (Lucy Russ, Amelia McIntosh, Sienna Payne, Gemma Twist)

Year 7/8 Girls’ School – 3^rd place (Cerys Findlow, Ada Findlow, Mila Walsh, Laura Bunbury, Charlotte Locke)

NZSSOC Podium placings

Long:

Intermediate Girls 3^rd place – Sienna Payne

Overall:

Small Secondary Schools Competition Girls – 1^st place (Lucy Russ, Amelia McIntosh, Sienna Payne, Gemma Twist)