It was great to finally be able to hold the Hunter Schools Championships after a few years off last Tuesday, 9th August. We were lucky with the weather, with forecast rain staying away and the competitors, parents and helpers able to enjoy a pleasant day in the forest, even if most people went home with quite muddy shoes.

Competition was fierce between the established orienteers, who ran quick times on the line course and backed up to return well before the time limit on the score course. Congratulations to individual champions Erika Enderby and Alvin Craig, and champion school Merewether High.

The performance of several less experienced orienteers was also quite pleasing, showing their development is progressing well. Another positive from the day was the participation of the novices from a number of schools. Although some struggled with the navigation on the line course, all were eager to go back out and try again on the score course and enjoyed their introduction to orienteering so much they vowed to return next year!

Thank you to our club volunteers who made the day possible.

Organiser: Warren Quilty, Course Planner: Geoff Todkill, Vetter: Graham Fowler; Day Helpers: Geoff Peel, Denis Lyons, Andrew Power, Jeff Guy, Colin Bailey; Control Collection: Geoff Todkill, Nicole Haigh, Denis Lyons, Colin Bailey, Geoff and Baxter Peel. Newcastle Orienteering Club