Tasmania's Schools Orienteering Team have returned from Canberra after an outstanding Australian Schools Orienteering Championships and Oceania Championships carnival, claiming national titles, relay victories, Australian Honour Team selections and numerous top-six Oceania Championship performances.

The 20-member Schools Team delivered a strong performance, finishing second overall in the Australian Schools team competition, just five points behind the ACT. Tasmania was the only state to finish in the top three across all four competition categories, winning the Senior Girls division and placing second in Junior Boys and third in both Junior Girls and Senior Boys.

Tasmanian Team Coach Alison Stubbs said the result reflected the strength and consistency of the entire team. "Finishing second overall was an outstanding achievement, but what impressed us most was the depth across the entire team,"

“Tasmania was the only state to place in the top three in every category in ASOC. That does not happen through one or two individual results. It reflects the contribution of the whole team and the way these young athletes supported one another through seven events in nine days.”

“Five students were representing Tasmania for the first time, while our returning team members brought valuable experience and leadership. We could not be prouder of the way they competed and represented their state.”

National ASOC Champions and Relay Success

Tasmania's strongest individual performances came in the Australian Schools Long Distance Championships.

Ella Clauson won the Senior Girls title and Felix Ward claiming the Junior Boys title. Henry Jordan added a bronze medal in the Junior Boys competition, giving Tasmania two athletes on the podium.

Ella Clauson was also the leading Australian athlete in the Senior Girls Sprint, claiming Australian Schools gold despite the presence of strong New Zealand competition in the combined Southern Cross Challenge field.

Tasmania's strength across all age groups was on full display in the relay championships, where the team secured two Australian Schools relay titles.

Tasmania's relay teams continued the success, winning two Australian Schools relay titles. The Senior Girls team of Ella Clauson, Katie Clauson and Margot Marcant secured victory in the Australian teams, while the Junior Boys team of Angus Hewitt, Felix Ward and Henry Jordan won gold after a dominant team performance.

The Junior Girls team of Ivy Rapley, Beatrix Louis and Aria Butler added a silver medal, helping Tasmania secure second place overall in the championship standings.

Four Tasmanians selected in Australian Honour Team

Four Tasmanian athletes were recognised for their consistency across the Sprint, Long Distance and Relay events with selection in the 2026 Australian Schools Orienteering Honour Team

• Ivy Rapley, Junior Girls
• Angus Hewitt, Junior Boys
• Henry Jordan, Junior Boys
• Ella Clauson, Senior Girls.

Strong results against international competition

The team also enjoyed significant success during the Oceania Orienteering Championships, competing against some of Australasia's best athletes.

• In the Oceania Middle Distance Championships, Edward Burford won M12A and Felix Ward won M16A. Henry Jordan finished second in M16A, while Beatrix Louis placed third in W16A, Callum Degenaar third in M18A and Ella Clauson fifth in W20E.
• Tasmania added top results in the Oceania Long Distance Championships. Ella Clauson placed third in W20E and Chloe Marcant third in W12A. Elsie Elson, Felix Ward, Katie Clauson and Ivy Rapley each finished fifth in their respective classes, while Henry Jordan, Isaac Butler and Sophie Hartmann recorded sixth-place finishes.
• The Oceania Sprint Championships produced further top-six podium results with Ella Clauson placed fifth in W20E and Felix Ward finished sixth in M16A

Additional Tasmanian Junior Success at Oceania Championships

The Oceania Championships also saw strong performances from former Tasmanian Schools Team members continuing their progression in the sport.

• Euan Best claimed Oceania titles in both the M20E Middle Distance and Sprint Championships, while Liana Stubbs secured silver medals in the W20E Long Distance and Sprint Championships.

2026 Tasmanian Schools Orienteering Team