New Zealand Orienteering Federation (Inc)

GENERAL MANAGER:  Stuart Payne, 171A Fifield Tce, Christchurch 8002, NEW ZEALAND
ph/fax: 64 - 3 - 337 2275   email: nzof@nzorienteering.com

NZOF NEWS - NOVEMBER 2002

WORLD CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to New Zealand’s medallists at the World Masters Championships held in Victoria, Australia during October.  Most notably our three gold medallists: Marquita Gelderman (W35), Patricia Aspin (W55) and Ross Brighouse (M55), but not forgetting Jill Dalton, silver in W55 and Jean Cory-Wright, bronze in W40.

MTBO CHAMPIONSHIPS
Well done WACO, one of our smallest clubs, for a successful New Zealand MTBO Championships on the 2/3 November.  Now an annual event, these were NZ’s third such championships with this year’s open champions being Phil Wood (WACO) and Kelly Fogden (WHO).

SITUATION VACANT
Jan Davies has advised that she will not be renewing her contract as Coaching Director for 2003.  Increased hours of alternative employment means Jan is unable to do justice to both jobs.  The NZOF thanks Jan for her excellent and thorough service during 2002.  The position of Coaching Director is now open (see separate advertisement); applications closing 31 December.

JALAS SPONSORSHIP
NZOF, and in particular the NZOF Development Squad, continues to benefit from sponsorship courtesy of The MAPsport Shop through the sales of Jalas O-shoes.  The NZOF thanks Michael Wood and The MAPsport Shop for this ongoing support for orienteering.

NZOF COMPETITION RULES ON PARTICIPATION IN MAJOR EVENTS
Up to 2002, some clubs had social members and NZOF operated a system whereby these social members could enter major events by way of a one-event affiliation levy.  This year all club members became full NZOF members once their club paid a club affiliation levy.  Accordingly it was decided to replace the "one-event affiliation levy" with a "one-event participation levy".
 

NZOF Competition Rule 6.2 was therefore amended to read:
"Entries to A level competitions shall be from persons affiliated to NZOF or an IOF member organisation, or who pay a one-event participation levy fixed by the NZOF council.  In the case of a multi-day event, a one-event levy must be paid for each separate competition entered.  This rule does not apply to the National Secondary School Championships."
 
At the same time Competition Rule 6.3, which deals with NZ Championship eligibility, was also reviewed with the following result:
"NZ championship titles may only be held by individual members of NZOF-affiliated clubs who are also NZ citizens or permanent residents, as defined by the NZ Immigration Service].  Payment of a one-event participation levy does not grant eligibility."
 
The use of the word "individual" means that being a club member via an institutional membership is not enough.  With the amendment to Rule 6.3, national championships eligibility applies regardless of the status (ie A-level, B-level) of the event.