Metro finalists decided after fast fathers day flog
- Last Updated: Sunday, 03 September 2017 23:30
All nine competing clubs will contest the Sydney Metro League finals after a fast and flat round 5 at Castle Hill on Sunday.
We say a massive thank you to hosts and setters WHO, the results team from Garingal, Bennelong for rego and starts, and Big Foot for the whiteboards as we put this event together at very short notice.
A warm day thankfully resulted in some shortish courses at Fred Caterson Reserve (see Div 3 and Div 5) that favoured the speedsters - and there were a whopping 64 runners back in under 35 minutes.
Fathers Day took out a few regulars, so it was delightful to see around 30 enter-on-day people, including German exchange students Kari and Siggy (pictured).
In Division 1 where it's first past the post, Big Foot thrashed an undermanned WHO to take first place on points difference. In next Sunday's last round at Lansdowne, Big Foot can regain the trophy by beating Garingal. WHO will need GO to spring an upset to have any chance.
In the other divisions we will have the usual finals with 1 v 2 as follows:
Division 2: UR-CC v Big Foot
Division 3: KNOX v SHOO-IKO
Division 4: GO Monitors v Bennelong
Division 5: UR-CC v WHO
In Division 3, KNOX won both their matches to leap into first place and knocking Bennelong out of the final. GO Molochs paid the price for two mps in their loss to Big Foot. UR-CC inflicted a first defeat on WHO in Division 5, setting up a rematch next week. And in Division 2 the front-runners UR-CC and Big Foot won to ensure they meet in the final.
Team and individual scores have been updated on the Metro League web page, and IKO have posted a lovely photo album on Facebook.
Congratulations to Ross Morrison (GO, Divn 2) and Clyde McGhee (BN, Divn 3) who already have their individual medals sewn up.
Our finals are next Sunday (Sep 10) at Boggabilla Reserve, Lansdowne. Entry is open via Eventor.
Aus champs entries have closed
- Last Updated: Friday, 01 September 2017 17:58
Thank you to everyone who has pre-entered for the Australian championships carnival around Bathurst and Hill End later this month.
When late entries closed at midnight on Thursday, we had 941 unique entrants. Of those, 188 are trying out the new SI Air touchless contact timing sticks.
Our biggest event is the Middle Distance champs with 886 entries. The midweek Bathurst 3-Days has attracted 449 people keen to try their hands at the courses being used for the Australian schools champs.
We will be offering enter on day at each of the 7 events - stay tuned for EOD details.
Waggaroos retain annual Interclub trophy
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 29 August 2017 15:07
Waggaroos have easily retained the annual Interclub trophy after a narrow 16-13 last round win over Albury-Wodonga.
Held in a cold and wet Murraguldrie State Forest - venue for day two of this year's big June long weekend carnival - the courses regularly challenged participants in a number of respects.
The forest was open enough to attack the control on the direct line route which had to be considered against the option of running wide and avoiding some steeper slopes. Then as the control site was approached careful navigation was required to home in on the target feature.
Finally, the slippery conditions in some areas meant traversing the hillsides became difficult and times were slightly slower than usual. Wagga won the eight-event series 160-145.
We thank John Oliver for his regular reports from Wagga, and look forward to the 2019 Oceania championships being held in the area.
MTBO success bodes well for Aus champs
- Last Updated: Sunday, 27 August 2017 17:40
A hugely successful week for NSW riders in mountain bike orienteering has set the stage for a big Australian championships in the Southern Highlands in early October.
Lucy Mackie (Big Foot), younger brother Fergus, and Newcastle's Glen Charlton (pictured) have just finished their world championship commitments in Lithuania.
Lucy stamped herself on the international scene with silver in the Middle and seventh in the Long. Fergus notched his first top-10 finish with 9th in the Middle. Glen was beset by mechanical issues but loved the atmosphere and will return much wiser.
At the Queensland MTBO champs this weekend, the small contingent of NSW riders was well and truly among the medals.
Rhiannon Prentice (Newcastle) won all 3 formats in W14-16 and dad Robert did likewise in M60-69.
Michael Ridley-Smith (Garingal) won the M50-59 Long champs and was third in the Middle. In the same age class, Andrew Power (NC) took silver in the Long and won the Middle. Both men mispunched in the opening Sprint.
With our three WOC representatives buoyed by their experience, NSW will be well primed for the national titles on home turf at Wingello from October 7-8. Entries close on Sunday September 17 via Eventor.
