Blue Lightning Junior Orienteering is excited to announce the upcoming 2024 Australian Mountain Bike Orienteering Carnival and Championships! This thrilling event will take place in Canberra from 17 to 20 October 2024, bringing together mountain bike orienteering enthusiasts from all over the country to compete in various championship races.
The carnival will kick off with a social warm-up SCORE event on Thursday, 17 October, at Bruce Ridge. This location, just a short ride from the city centre, offers an exciting network of singletrack trails through native eucalyptus forest for participants to enjoy.
On Friday, 18 October, the Australian Mass Start Championships will be held at West Stromlo, only a 20-minute drive west of central Canberra. Participants will get the chance to tackle a challenging course designed by Cathy Hogg and Belinda Allison.
The action continues on Saturday, 19 October, with the Australian Middle Distance Championships at Stringybark Hill. This new map, never before used for MTBO, features rocky singletrack trails set amongst hilly native forest. Competitors will navigate their way through a course designed by Michael Reed, Emily Walter, and Tom Walter.
Also on Saturday, the Australian Sprint Distance Championships will take place at Sutton Road, offering a unique mix of terrain for participants to conquer. The course, designed by Cath Chalmers and Eoin Rothery, promises an exciting and dynamic challenge for all.
Finally, on Sunday, 20 October, the Australian Long Distance Championships will take place at West Kowen and Kowen Homestead. This expansive pine plantation provides a variety of trails and terrain for competitors to test their skills on, with a course designed by Fedor Iskhakov and Marina Iskhakova.
To enter the carnival, interested participants can register via Eventor. Early bird entries are open until Monday, 1 April 2024, with standard entries closing on Tuesday, 10 September. Late entries will be accepted until Thursday, 10 October. Prices for the different events range from $10 to $50, with discounted rates available for juniors under 21 and masters 75 and above.
For more information, individuals can reach out to the event director, Marina ISKHAKOVA, at 0412 308 310 or via email. The 2024 Australian MTBO Carnival and Championships are proudly supported by Major Events. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to compete in one of the premier orienteering events in Australia!
