Doman storms into Australian MTBO team
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 April 2019 14:07
In one of the most meteoric rises in any sport, Newcastle adventure racer and mountain bike marathoner Tim Doman is off to the MTBO world championships after competing in just a handful of events.
Doman made such an impact at the recent NSW MTBO championships on home turf in Newcastle – winning two of the three disciplines (Sprint and Long) that the national selectors had no option but to ‘have a chat’ to this complete stranger.
He was encouraged to back up immediately and flew to Ballarat last weekend to take on Victoria’s best MTBO talent – and streeted the field by 22 minutes, taking out the 29km elite course in just under an hour and a half.
That left the selectors with little choice but to name the 31-year-old rookie in the three-man Australian team to compete in Denmark in late July and early August.
He'll be joining WA veteran Ricky Thackray and Queenslander Joel Young who'll be attending his second WOC.
“It's a bit of a blur really - two weeks ago I didn't realise it was an option and now I've made the Australian team!,” Tim said on Wednesday as he packed for a wilderness holiday.
Doman first heard about MTBO in late 2018 through brochures in a mate’s bike shop promoting the Newcastle club’s monthly BOSS events. He easily won his first event in the casual category, then beat all the experienced riders in his two events in the elite class.
That prompted him to enter the NSW Champs. The rest, as they say, is history.
“I'm hooked,” he said.
“You have the freedom to choose how technical and fast you want to ride, and the race atmosphere is pretty relaxed and social. I've started doing foot orienteering events as well, but MTBO is definitely my preferred discipline, mostly because I can ride better than I can run!”
Redeem your Active Kids vouchers
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 10 April 2019 12:32
Orienteering NSW is continuing the Active Kids Rebate program in partnership with the NSW government.
This scheme provides a $100 voucher to parents/guardians of school-enrolled children. The $100 voucher can be used for registration and participation costs for sport and fitness activities.
Students who choose orienteering as a sport have three options for their 2019 voucher:
* ONSW family or junior membership + entry to 8 local/club events (inc SI stick hire)
* entry to 8 NSW State League events (excluding ones organised by OACT)
* entry to 10 SOS events (inc SI stick hire)
Please note these options cannot be mixed.
For further information, see the NSW government fact sheet and the ONSW information brochure.
MTBO hat-tricks to Skelton, Ridley-Smith
- Last Updated: Monday, 08 April 2019 09:46
ONSW director Michael Ridley-Smith had a weekend to remember, winning all three M40 races at the NSW MTBO titles in Newcastle.
New Zealander Georgia Skelton did likewise in the open women (W21) class, as Sunday's Long Distance champs presented a spider web of tracks both sides of the Pacific Highway in Killingworth.
Rookie Tim Doman, who came into the weekend with just a few BOSS events under his belt, again streeted the field - this time by 15 minutes in taking out M21 over a gruelling
The start and finish took competitors through the area for Saturday's Sprint race, while west of the freeway it was very scenic... but very muddy. One creek crossing was thigh-deep and 5m wide! Great fun but slow going - more like Tough Mudder!
More than 100mm of rain in the past fortnight made conditions tough for all riders, adding about 20 minutes to the anticipated winning time for each course.
The forest was lovely and cool, while outside in the sun the mercury was in the high 20s. The cleared dirt tracks beneath the powerlines were surprisingly badly rutted and not always the best route choice option despite the ease of navigation.
Congratulations to these NSW orienteers who won Long titles: Erika Enderby (W14, NC), Mikayla Enderby (W16, NC), Rhiannon Prentice (W20, NC), Carolyn Haupt (W40, GO), Carolyn Matthews (W50, NC), Toy Martin (W70, NC), Anakin Trotter (M14, NC), Tim Doman (M21), Michael Ridley-Smith (M40, GO), Andrew Haigh (M50, NC), Malcolm Roberts (M60, NC).
A big thank you to all our course setters, controllers, organisers and especially Greg Bacon the overall co-ordinator.
The next MTBO events are two introductory DuO events on Sydney's northern beaches at Easter (see the flyer for details).
Rookie Tim Doman-ant at NSW MTBO champs
- Last Updated: Saturday, 06 April 2019 22:14
Rookie Tim Doman upstaged the big names to win the NSW MTBO Sprint and Middle titles at Newcastle on Saturday.
Tim is an adventure racer whose first foray into MTBO was a few BOSS events this summer, where he took out the Line Score rookie award.
Today he pipped Kiwi Tommy Hayes by four seconds in the morning Sprint, then took out the Middle by a minute and a half - knocking over Australian reps Joel Young, Glen Charlton and Ricky Thackray in an impressive continuance of his form.
Could he be a smokey for the world champs?
Similarly, Kiwi JWOC rep Georgia Skelton won both W21 races and is on track for the treble.
It was grea to see riders from WA, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand in action.
Congratulations to these NSW orienteers who won Sprint titles: Erika Enderby (W14, NC), Mikayla Enderby (W16, NC), Nicole Sellin (W40, GO), Carolyn Matthews (W50, NC), Anakin Trotter (M14, NC), Tim Doman (M21), Michael Ridley-Smith (M40, GO), Greg Barbour (M50, BF).
Congratulations to these NSW orienteers who won Middle titles: Erika Enderby (W14, NC), Mikayla Enderby (W16, NC), Rhiannon Prentice (W20, NC), Carolyn Haupt (W40, GO), Jenny Enderby (W50, NC), Toy Martin (W70, NC), Anakin Trotter (M14, NC), Tim Doman (M21), Michael Ridley-Smith (M40, GO), Andew Haigh (M50, NC), Rob Vincent (M60, NC).
The Long champs are on Sunday morning at Holmesville.
You can see the Sprint results here and the Middle results here.
