2017 State League openers a contrast in terrains
- Last Updated: Monday, 27 March 2017 12:30
A flat campus and a very steep, rocky hillside offered total contrasts in courses as our State League kicked off in Canberra at the weekend.
Combined with the second round of the National Orienteering League, the events drew more than 370 entries from across the country.
Saturday was the ACT Sprint Champs on a new map at Canberra Girls Grammar School. The courses, set by NSW Stinger Dave Meyer, offered fast running in light drizzle. Route choice was not always apparent as there was lots of dark grey, light grey and olive green OOB close together on the map. ONSW runners claimed 17 titles. Our NOL runners did a qualifying bush sprint at nearby Red Hill before the final at the school. Duncan Currie (Garingal) edged out clubmate Toby Wilson by five seconds for third place in the junior men's final.
Sunday was the ACT Middle Distance Champs at Isaacs Ridge in lovely autumn warmth. This involved an 800m walk to the assembly, then a tough 1km walk with 120m of climb to the top of the ridge. Stunning views and a chance to catch your breath before starting. Steep, wooded hillsides with rocky ground everywhere made for very slow going for most competitors. Nicola Blatchford (Newcastle) and Georgia Jones (Uringa) impressed with fourth placings in the NOL women, while Toby Wilson continued his great form with second in the junior men to be second in the overall standings.
ONSW runners took out 21 titles. Weekend doubles went to W35A Alitia Dougall (Bennelong), W40A Tracy Marsh (Big Foot), W60A Debbie Davey (Waggaroos), W65A Jenny Hawkins (Northern Tablelands), W80A Maureen Ogilvie (UR), WJuniorB Andra Leung (GO), M16A Alvin Craig (NC, pictured), M20A Alex Kennedy (GO), M35A Stephen Craig (NC) and M75A John le Carpentier (Southern Highlands).
Results and Winsplits are on the ONSW State League page. NOL standings are here.
We thank our friends at OACT for co-sanctioning the weekend. And a reminder that our next State League weekend is May 13-14 in the Southern Highlands for the NSW Middle and Long Champs. Entries are open in Eventor.
Wet weather doesn't dampen Women's weekend
- Last Updated: Thursday, 23 March 2017 11:36
Feet were wet, rainjackets were worn, but big smiles and warm hearts were aplenty at the women's coaching weekend near Lithgow.
This annual fixture on our calendar is for females of all ages and abilities; it introduces rookies to the bush while refreshing experienced orienteers as we head into our winter season.
Run by our partner organisation Bold Horizons, 46 women were entertained and educated by coaches Barbara Hill, Gill Fowler, Tracy Marsh, Maggie Jones and Martina Craig over the two days.
First-timer Cassie Thompson said: "Great weekend. The coaches were great and I came home with a list of new skills to perfect."
Entries open for 2017 Australian champs carnival
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 21 March 2017 15:24
ONSW is excited to announce that entries have opened for the Australian championships carnival, to be held around Bathurst and Hill End in late September.
Bulletin 1 contains all the preliminary information, including a detailed explanation of how to enter multiple events for multiple family members in the one transaction.
The three Hill End maps are new and showcase legendary gold mining country, while the Sprint events are in Bathurst.
Early bird discounts apply to entries received by May 1, and entries close August 28. Students competing in the Australian All Schools Championships must enter those 3 midweek events via their team manager.
Accommodation is expected to be tight as the last weekend of the carnival coincides with workers arriving to set up for the Bathurst car races - so book now!
Mackies, Glen Charlton selected for MTBO world champs
- Last Updated: Monday, 20 March 2017 12:34
For the second year in a row, Sydney teenagers Lucy and Fergus Mackie have been named in the Australian MTBO team for the junior world championships.
The Big Foot pair will join Newcastle's Glen Charlton (AUS senior team) at MTBO WOC and JWOC in Lithuania in August after a sterling weekend in Ballarat at the Victorian championships, which doubled as the national trials.
Lucy, 19, won the Sprint and Long champs, and took second in the Middle Distance. Fergus, 16, was second in the Long, and third in the Sprint and Middle Distance. Both were competing in the open 21A age classes.
It was a quite a weekend for the Mackies with dad Hamish in M40A winning the Middle and Long, and coming second in the opening Sprint on Saturday. A happy but tiring drive home for this fantastic family!
Glen came fourth in all three disciplines to earn his WOC debut. Former Bennelong Northsider Marina Iskhakova, now living in Canberra, has been chosen to represent Australia at the World Cup round in France in late July.
The Australian WOC team is Angus Robinson, Glen Charlton, Rocky Thackray. The JWOC team is Lucy Mackie, Fergus Mackie.
Other podium placings by ONSW riders at Ballarat were:
W16A: Rhiannon Prentice (Newcastle): 1st in Sprint, 1st in Long, 2nd in Middle
M40A: Michael Ridley-Smith (Garingal): 3rd in Middle, 3rd in Long
M50A: Andrew Power (NC) 3rd in Sprint
M60A: Robert Prentice (NC): 1st in Sprint, 1st in Middle
M70A: Tim Hackney (NC): 3rd in Sprint
Congratulations to all, and a reminder that NSW is hosting the Australian champs at Wingello in the Southern Highlands on Oct 7-8.
