Adventure Racing team delivers strong performance in Rotorua
Posted on June 18, 2026
Macleans College’s Adventure Racing Hillary Challenge team delivered a strong performance at the national qualifying event in Rotorua, placing 16th in the Mixed Open category against teams from across New Zealand.
The team of eight competed in a six-hour adventure race that tested navigation, endurance, teamwork and problem-solving skills. The event included a navigational rogaine challenge on foot, mountain biking and a series of logic-based tasks.
The course took participants around the perimeter of Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Lake Ōkāreka before leading them deep into the Whakarewarewa Forest by mountain bike.
Over the six hours, the team covered more than 30 kilometres across steep terrain and rugged tracks. Competitors were required to remain within 50 metres of one another throughout the race, adding an extra layer of challenge. Their determination, resilience and teamwork were evident throughout the event.
Despite being made up largely of Year 11 students, the Macleans College team performed strongly and gained valuable experience for future competitions.
The Macleans College team consisted of Emerson Strevens (Kupe House), Luke Jardine (Snell), Chris Robert (Snell), Hamish Ward (Te Kanawa), Fleur Findlay (Mansfield), Martina Beavis (Kupe), Valentina Wells (Upham) and Krizelle Soriano (Batten).
