IOF’s World Maze Race first stated in 2021. This year OACT had a bit of fun with a free, fun, and fast (if you feel like it), come and try event. After a 4-year break Orienteering, ACT jumped on board with the IOF sponsored World Orienteering Day activities – this time with a new twist!
Held on the delightful Patrick White Lawns in the nation’s Parliamentary Triangle the maze proved to be both challenging (especially the set up in what felt like gale force winds) and loads of fun.
The parliamentary lawns were chosen as a high-profile location that would catch the eye of outdoor Sunday morning strollers, runners, dog handlers and the like. Well, it did just that! An organised FUN Run passing our ‘front door’ meant that our sport was seen by thousands, plus the regulars who love their Lake Burley Griffin circuit AND tourists passing by.
The morning started early with people turning up from 9am – yes, right on opening time!! But the biggest crowds came around 10-11am and many stayed on for a good hour running all the courses and more. There were a number of families who discovered the Duel course and there was absolutely no stopping them!! Mother/daughter challenges. People who had orienteered in their former lives before children (Ben Corry past Western Nomad, Alice Moore past OACT). More than 70 people stopped and participated in the maze event for fun!
So how then to safely run the World Maze Race?? To have it as fair and fun??
For a short period from around 11am we cleared the Maze and invited all present to take part in the ‘formal’ part of the race. Full SI, blind start, all welcome.
Kas Gregory kicked of the race and set a stunning time of 1.17sec. World Maze Race competitors included regular orienteers as well as some people who had never orienteered before.
The end result was 2021 Champion Kas Gregory now holds the ACT World Maze Race title for 2023.
FINAL RESULTS
| Place | Time | Name | Category | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.17 | Kas Gregory | Adult | M |
| 2 | 1.28 | Arlo | Junior | M |
| 3 | 1.38 | Ollie | Junior | M |
| 4 | 1.39 | Mia | Junior | F |
| 5 | 1.47 | Campbell | Junior | M |
| 6 | 1.5 | Kate | Adult | F |
| 7 | 1.51 | Sanda | Junior | F |
| 8 | 1.54 | Toni | Adult | F |
| 9 | 1.57 | Nicolas | Adult | M |
| 10 | 1.59 | Mat | Adult | M |
| 11 | 2.02 | Alice | Adult | F |
| 12 | 2.04 | David | Adult | M |
| 13 | 2.08 | John | Adult | M |
| 14 | 2.1 | Ruth | Junior | F |
| 15 | 2.15 | Leon | Junior | M |
| 16 | 2.45 | Louise | Adult | F |
| 17 | 2.45 | Fiona | Adult | F |
| 18 | 2.46 | Jo | Adult | F |
| 19 | 2.54 | Evie | Adult | F |
| 20 | 2.57 | Lani | Adult | F |
Final Tally of events/participants conducted in the ACT over the week of World Maze Race
| Time | Place | Possible Coordinator | Comments | Estimated numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.30-5pm | Gossan Hill | Toni Brown | Training activity | 11 |
| 10-1pm | The Pinnacle | Andrew Johnson | Saturday Metro/Junior League | 122 |
| 1.30 – 3pm | Blue Gum | Hannah Vardy/Toni Brown | Sporting Schools Program | 38 |
| 9am-1pm | Patrick White Lawns | Toni Brown | World Maze Race – public event/activity open to passers-by | 75 |
| 18th-22nd | Macquarie | John Harding | Map Run – street series | 59 |
| TOTAL | 305 |
