It's summer series time...
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 15 October 2019 11:36
Daylight saving is here, the formal bush season has finished, which means... it's time for the annual summer series to start around the state.
That's when we turn our attention to navigating our way through some of the most scenic parks, reserves and foreshores that our clubs have mapped. Many newcomers are amazed at the views on offer and the areas they discover through our summer series.
As an example, a map from a previous event is here. The maps usually cover an area of 2km x 1km. The fastest runners will often cover 9-10km in 45 minutes, while the more social may do 2-4km.
It's up to you how competitive or social you are. Here's what's on offer:
* On Wednesday, Newcastle gets underway at Raymond Terrace. See their info page for full details. You only get two minutes of planning time, so make full use of it. Newcastle even offer a pram-walking category (see pic)!
* At the same time at Putney, Sydneysiders will number around 200 for the second event in the Sydney Summer Series. You get unlimited planning time (see picture, left, for a family hard at work). This serves a wonderful social purpose as much as maximising your score. This summer we are offering a free, short, off-road MINI course for children at most events.
* On Saturday morning the SOS, run by our partner Bold Horizons, opens for Term 4 at Gore Hill Cemetery. These are mostly 'Sprint' maps focusing on small, mainly urban areas.
* On Sunday mornings in Dec-Jan, the Western SSS in the Hills District is on, while the Southern SSS (now known as the River and Bay Series) is already underway.
* Coffs Harbour (Wed) and Grafton (Fri) start up in late October.
* In November, summer series start up in the Central Coast, Orange, Wagga and our new club at Port Macquarie will have events roughly every two months.
Beginners will get coaching at the events. We hope to see you there.
11 NSW orienteers top non-elite rankings for 2019
- Last Updated: Saturday, 12 October 2019 11:45
Eleven NSW orienteers have finished the 2019 bush season ranked No.1 in Australia in their age class.
The recent Oceania champs in NSW and Victoria wrapped up the rankings events, which included Easter (WA) and the Australian champs (WA and NSW).
Three of the 11 who finished with a ranking of 100% were relegated to second place on countback based on average winning margins.
Congratulations to:
Erika Enderby (Newcastle, W14), Nikolett Halmai (Garingal, W35), Jean Baldwin (Goldseekers, W75), Maureen Ogilvie (Uringa, W85).
Alton Freeman (Big Foot, M10, pictured), Oliver Freeman (BF, M14), Istvan Kertesz (GO, M35), Stephen Craig (NC, M50), Jock Davis (BF, M50), Greg Barbour (BF, M55), Basil Baldwin (GS, M80).
Read the full OA article and see the top-10 list for each age class here.
BOSS starts up on Sunday
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 09 October 2019 12:48
Our Newcastle club leads the way in mountain bike orienteering (MTBO) and their annual BOSS starts up again on Sunday at Killingworth South.
Newcomers and 'casuals' do a 75-minute score course, while those riders seeking a tougher challenge do a line course then a score course, all within the 75-minute time frame.
You can start any time between 8-9am - map board and SI timing sticks can be hired on the day. Pre-entry not required - just rock up on the day... but allow time for a briefing and gear prep.
Full BOSS details are in the series flyer here. Parking for event 1 is on Killingworth Road next to the big sub station.
Beginners will get instruction from our friendly Newcastle organisers.
Remember - this year one of the BOSS newcomers (Tim Doman) was so good he was picked for Australia to ride at the world champs! Could this be you in 2020?
And a reminder of closing date deadlines for looming interstate MTBO events:
* Sun Oct 13 Australian champs (in Victoria from Oct 25-27)
* Mon Oct 14 ACT champs (in Canberra from Oct 18-20)
Stephen Craig wins OA Silva medal
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 08 October 2019 16:16
Newcastle's Stephen Craig has won OA's prestigious Silva Medal for best-performed orienteer in their age class in Australia in 2019.
Points are awarded in the Australian Championships (Sprint, Middle and Long), Easter (each day is considered a separate event) and the Oceania Championships (Sprint, Middle and Long) for Elite and A classes in M/W16 and above.
Your best 6 events counts towards this award, with points as follows: 1st – 4; 2nd – 3; 3rd – 2 and 1 for finishing, 1 point if there are fewer than 4 starters.
Stephen ran in M35 and finished on the maximum of 24 points with Victorians Bruce Arthur and Jenny Bourne as well as South Australian Robin Uppill, and prevailed in a countback based on average winning margins.
Oceania also signalled the end of the National Orienteering League for 2019.
Congratulations also go to Big Foot's Alastair George who finished second in the junior men's elite comp where NSW was runner-up to ACT.
Our highest-placed athletes in the other NOL divisions were: Anna Fitzgerald (Goldseekers) 8th in senior women, Toby Wilson (Garingal) 8th in senior men and Iida Lehtonen (GO) 9th in junior women.
