Victorian Mountain Bike Orienteering Champs, 22-23 April 2023

Just two weekends after Easter, the Victorian MTBO Championships are happening on the 22nd and 23rd of April at Castlemaine and Muckleford.

These events will also be the first round of the 2023 National MTBO Series and Selection Races for the Australian team for this year’s World Champs. You can find out more information about the selection races in the next newsletter article 

The Sprint and Middle events will be run at Castlemaine using a completely remapped Walmer Forest (formerly Hills Upsan Downs) map. The Long event will be on the Muckleford Diggings map that has been updated for the Championships.

The events are organised by the Bendigo, Bayside Kangaroos and Nillumbik Emus clubs.

Bulletin 1 is available on Eventor now, and Bulletin 2 will be published in early April. There will be a Championships Dinner at Five Flags Hotel in Cambells Creek on the Saturday evening.

Please note: It’s worth booking your acccomodation ASAP, as it already seems hard to find in Castlemaine due to people making it a long weekend with ANZAC day. You might need to find accommodation in surrounding towns.

WORLD CHAMPS TEAM SELECTION TRIALS

Riders wishing to try out for the Australian MTBO Team will be able to demonstrate they meet the standard required at the selection races to be held at the Victorian MTBO Champs on 22 and 23rd April in Castlemaine. The trial events will comprise the Sprint, Middle and Long distance stage at the VIC ChampS.

The trials are for both the Men’s and Women’s Elite and the Junior (U21yrs) World Championship teams.

If you’re interested in nominating for the team, you will need to:

• Read the Selection Criteria for 2023
• Fill in the Nomination Form below Team Nomination
• Attend the trials

The World Championships are being held in the Czech Republic (18-27th August) but team members will also be required to attend the overseas pre-champs training camp in the weeks beforehand.  Riders receive some funding support from Orienteering Australia but will need to pay their own airfare, uniform and other travel expenses.

OA is also seeking expressions of interest for the positions of Team Manager and Team Coach.

For more information contact the – Craig Steffens – craig.s@orienteering.asn.au