The outcome of the 2009 Silva Superseries for orienteering will be determined this weekend over four races set in the intricate boulder fields of Wharapapa South and the pineforests of Aramiro.
Darren Ashmore, leading the mens Superseries is relaxed and in good shape for his last major races before heading to Chinese Taipei for the World Games in July.
"Training has been going well and I'm looking forward to some fun racing, particularly in the rocky areas on Saturday and Sunday" said Darren from his training base in Rotorua where he manages the Get2Go programme for SPARC in New Zealand.
"To be honest, the focus is more on the World Games" he added.
Ashmore shot to the lead of the Silva Superseries after a win in the selection trial for the World Games, the Middle Distance National Championships, followed by a second place behind Carsten Joergensen over the Long Distance Championships.
Former Danish National Joergensen, currently third in the Superseries, won't be challenging Ashmore over the weekend as he is, along with nine other 'superheroes', attempting to set a Guiness Book World Record for running a marathon in a superhero costume, in Christchurch.
Second placed James Bradshaw (Auckland) and current World Adventure Racing Champion Brent Edwards (Rotorua) can take out the Superseries with several top placings over the Queens Birthday weekend races.
"This competition is relatively open. Smart money would be on Darren dominating most of the races as he continues his great form and builds up to the World Games" commented Bradshaw.
Edwards is also likely to feature in the steeper terrain.
"Nice grunty terrain suits me, and I feel I'm running strongly at the moment" he said.
"I will be looking to minimise my errors though, as I'm lacking technical training lately".
While the mens series is too close to call, the womens series leader, Lizzie Ingham of Wellington is so far in front she is assured of a win regardless of the weekends races, and is also looking forward to some final top-level racing before heading to the World Games.
Ingham has won seven of the ten Silva Superseries races to date, and with only nine of 14 to count cannot be beaten.
Minor placings will be hotly contested by Rita Holmes (Hawkes Bay) and Greta Knarston (Auckland), separated by one point, while Lara Prince and Tania Robinson, only two points back, are also expected to challenge.
Tania Robinson is also in the World Games team with Ingham and Ashmore, along with Danish-based Ross Morrison (Hawkes Bay).
The Silva Silverseries races commence on Saturday 30 May at Castle Rock, Wharapapa South with a Middle Distance race in the boulder fields followed by a Night Orienteering race.
