Orienteering series stops off at Te Wharau

The Long Distance Championships at Te Wharau on Thursday was just one event in a series of orienteering challenges taking place across the country this month.

Contestants ranged from under 10 to over 80 and 28 countries participated, with competitors from as far away as Switzerland.

Zoe Dowling, 14, of Hobart, Tasmania, travelled to New Zealand for the Oceania World Cup Orienteering Carnival and participated in the girls up to 16 race.

"It was pretty hard, lots of hills but a good challenge," Zoe said.

There were 62 classes on the course, with the longest course the Men's 21 elite at 12.9km with a 755-metre climb.

Event organiser Graham Teahan said the hot weather was hampering some competitors.

"It's a hot day. The issues are water, sunblock, especially for people from the Northern Hemisphere countries, they aren't aware of the what the sun can do here," Mr Teahan said.

The races finished up about 4pm and a prizegiving was held afterwards.

Owners of Kaiawa Station, where the events took place, Craig and Janet Morrison, said they had been preparing food for the day to raise money for the Te Wharau community hall.

"The district's been fabulous and all baked and a local farmer donated meat for the sausages. It's been a tremendous country district effort," Mrs Morrison said. "The hall is expensive to keep going because it's district-owned not council-owned, so we have been fundraising to keep it going."