Duelling Dual, Knock Out, Reverse and Chasing Starts!

If you were after variation look no further than STB 2014. We are mixing up the way we arrange the start draw this year to keep things fresh. Here is a quick overview of how things will work, with more details to come in the bulletin. 

Stage 1- EIT "Duelling Dual": this start will involve two people from the same grade starting together. The course will be a pivot based loops race with a common last loop. 

Stage 2 - Tamatea "Knock Out": After all other grades have finished get ready to see some fast and furious elite orienteering action! For elite grades only, we will be holding STB's first knock out race! It will work a little different to the usual knock out races due to time constraints. Competitors will be mass started from the event centre. After around 8 minutes of racing the field will come through the event centre for a map change. At this point the first half of the field will get there second map. If you aren't fast enough to make the cut then unfortunately your race ends there! Then, after a further 4-5 minutes there will be another map change and another cull of the field. Once again you need to make sure you are in the right half of the field if you want to win the stage! From there its just 3-4 minutes back to the finish. All competitors will get an official time for this stage. Runners who make the final cut will get their actual time and those in the second and third cuts will be given a time relative to their deficit when they are knocked out. For example: A.Runner is knocked out in the second cut. He was 32 seconds behind making the final loop. His time is then calculated as the last place in the final plus 32 seconds. 

Stage 5 - Hikanui "Reverse Start": Usual STB stages start with the leader of each grade starting last. For this stage though we will mix it up - The leader of each grade will start first. This will also be one of the toughest STB stages so watch out for some big changes in the results! 

Stage 6 - Kopanga Ride "Chasing Start": For elite grades only we will have a chasing start based off the overall standings. The bulletin will be released on Tuesday 4th February with key race information within.

GoPro Video from Tue Lassen's STB 2013 Stage 4 race at Napier Central

Post by Sprint the Bay.

Dirty D Sprint The Bay 2014 - Welcome! Hawkes Bay | New Zealand

That's right folks, once again it's on! From the 7-9th of February 2014 (Waitangi weekend) you're all invited to 3 days of awesome sprint races against on high quality sprint maps at the event that just keeps getting bigger and better each year! As always there will be some great new areas and of course you'll see some of the classics brought back with a full makeover!

Check out our website for entertainment, event info and more at: http://www.sprintthebay.org 

Entry is already open - early-bird entry closes at 11.59pm on the 30th of September 2013 - so get amongst it people!

Check out our 2014 promo video to remind yourselves why you're coming ;)

Bulletin and Start List Out Now!

The Sprint the Bay 2013 online bulletin is out now. This has all the important race info for every stage. For those that ordered a printed magazine bulletin they will be available for payment and collection at the registration and model event this Monday between 4pm and 7pm (compulsory for all competitors to attend). There is also a start list for the first stage available online - for those who ordered a printed bulletin this is included. See you all on Monday, we hope you are all just as excited as we are!

Important Event Info

In 2013 we will be holding an event registration the day before the first stage. The registration will be held at STB HQ - 24 Tauroa Road Havelock North. We ask all competitors to attend any time between 4pm and 7pm. Here you can pay, collect race packs, pick up hire SI and get your bulletin (if ordered). We also will be holding a free model event at this time starting from STB HQ. Registration will be poolside so bring your togs if you fancy a dip. Event Bulletins can now be ordered here for $5 thanks to our awesome sponsors Copyplus. The bulletin will be in a facing page magazine/booklet format with all the important information that you will need. We highly recommend that each family or group has at least one of these bulletins. Also there will be a PDF version of this available on the website shortly. You will be able to collect and pay for these on STB registration day. Start lists for the first stage will also be available shortly, these will be published on the website. Keep checking our Facebook, Twitter or News Feed for further announcements.

Entries Close This Wednesday

Entries for Sprint the Bay 2013 close this Wednesday (19th December). We already have as many entrants as last year so with entries still open for a few more days we expect the largest STB ever! We have some big names, great terrain and exciting courses ready for the 2013 edition so get that entry in for a guaranteed great time. This years Sprint the Bay follows immediately after the final World Cup race in Hawkes Bay. We have grades and courses suitable for just about everyone, Schools, Elite, Hill Climb or Sprint - you choose! For information about STB 2013 click here. For the entry form click here.

The World Class Athletes Keep On Coming

World Champ Minna Kauppi(ranked second in the world) leads a group of classy Finnish nationals that have confirmed they will be racing at the 2013 Sprint the Bay. Kauppi, along with Tuomo Mäkelä, Venla Niemi and Anni-Maija Fincke begin their quest for yellow at Hawkes Bay's Woodford House on January the 15th. The World Ranking Event kicks off the 4th edition of the tour which this year will boast the best elite field in its history. Kauppi, the world middle distance champion will be the highest ranked women in the field. The sole male of the foursome Mäkelä will also be one to watch. His 6th place finish at WOC in Switzerland this year makes him one of the favourites to take out the male category. Niemi and Maija Fincke have also made the podium at WOC in the past two years, both of which in the sprint discipline.