Our Otago Girls' High School orienteers have had a busy and successful few weeks, showcasing impressive navigation skills and determination at both the regional and national levels.

Otago SS Orienteering Champs (28–29 June)

The regional championship was held out at Waikouaiti across open farmlands. Featuring a long, technical course, it challenged the runners while providing a lot of fun.

Championship Results:

• Julia Hodgson: 1st place – Intermediate Girls

• Penelope Hodgson: 1st place – Junior Girls

The night before the championships, the Otago Orienteering Club hosted a fun night rogaine, which saw fantastic participation from Otago Girls. Well done to our three competing pairs:

• Julia Hodgson & Carlotta Schwefel

• Penelope Hodgson & Greta Schwefel

• Toni Haraki & Maggie Longdell

NZSS Orienteering and Rogaine Champs (16–19 July)

Over the school holidays, our team traveled to Christchurch for the New Zealand Secondary School Championships. Competing across four action-packed days, the athletes took on a different challenge each day: the Relay, Long, Sprint, and Rogaine.

For the Relay, Otago Girls teamed up with Balmacewen Intermediate to form a Hodgson sisters trio (Julia, Penelope, and Genevieve Hodgson) in the Intermediate grade. The team put in a stellar performance, placing 2nd in the Intermediate Composite category and being awarded the Bayleys Real Estate "All Together Better" Award from Orienteering New Zealand!

In the grueling 3-hour Rogaine, Penelope and Julia teamed up to take out 5th place overall in a tough Junior Girls field.

NZSS Individual Results:

• Penelope Hodgson: 3rd Junior Girls Sprint | 4th Junior Girls Long

• Julia Hodgson: 26th Intermediate Girls Long

NZSS Team Results:

• Relay: 2nd Intermediate Composite (Julia, Penelope, and Genevieve Hodgson)

• Rogaine: 5th Junior Girls (Julia and Penelope Hodgson)

Congratulations to all our competitors on an amazing series of events, fantastic teamwork, and brilliant results!

(Photos from the NZ Championships attached)