Orienteering returns to the North Coast

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 November 2012 09:53

Not since the late 80’s has there been an orienteering event on the North Coast, but last weekend saw Orienteering NSW stage three promotion events in the Lismore area. As a result of ONSW continuing to receive a steady stream of enquiries from the region about the sport, and having received funding from the Australian Sports Commission, ONSW were able to provide locals with an up-to-date experience and show them what orienteering is like 25 years on from the last event held in the area.

With so much having changed since the last time events were held in the region would the competitors like the latest version of the sport? It didn’t take long to find out – at the first race on Friday afternoon, a Space Race for kids starting from Heritage Park, the Smith boys were that taken with orienteering that they went out a second time with the sole intention of getting all 20 controls within the 45 minute time limit – which they did! The Space Race was designed with 8 to 12 year olds in mind, and the Heritage Park and Riverbank area was the perfect place to conduct the first event.
Saturday’s event, a 45 minute score course with 30 controls, started at Kadina Park in Goonellabah. Some of the controls for this event were placed in the nearby Birdwing Butterfly Gully, a picturesque  area which it appears some locals were not aware of until taking part in the orienteering event, despite living close by. The second event saw a number of Friday’s competitors coming back for another chance to exercise their legs and their brain at the same time, and all appeared pleased with their efforts when they returned to the finish. Sunday’s  third event took place in nearby Alstonville, where competitors were able to enjoy both the course and the remnants of the previous night’s storm.

Next weekend sees ONSW stage another three promotion events, this time in the Ballina and Lennox Head areas. Friday afternoon’s event will start from Pop Dension Park, off Compton Drive in Ballina, Saturday’s event starts opposite Lennox Head SLSC, and Sunday’s Space Race will be held at Lake Ainsworth Sport & Rec.
For more information see http://onsw.asn.au/462-onsw-expands-to-lismore-and-ballina