Orienteering NSW

Welcome to our new employees

: Last Updated: Thursday, 12 June 2014 10:03

Orienteering NSW is delighted to announce two new part-time employees: John Murray (WHO, left) has taken on the Admin Officer's duties, while Dennis Sparling (GO, right) is our new Finance Officer.

John worked for the Reserve Bank in an IT role for 29 years and is president of Asics West Athletics Club. He got into orienteering through the popular Sydney Summer Series about 5 years ago. "Not sure what my navigation skills would be like in the real bush!"

Dennis spent his working life in accounting and is the Garingal auditor. "I got into orienteering 22 years ago when I saw a small notice in our local paper headed 'over hill and down dale," he recalls. "This prompted me to go to my first event at Macquarie University and I was pretty much hooked from the beginning. I have always been interested in geography, maps and the bush. I still enjoy orienteering, particularly the bush events."

Paul Prudhoe (CC. left), who stepped down as president in March after six years leading ONSW - and then temporarily filled the Admin Officer position - has been recruited in a new role as Executive Officer. Paul's position will look to ensure that the ONSW's strategic objectives are achieved, while maintaining and improving existing systems.

Our new president Greg Barbour (BF) was introduced to orienteering in 1974 by GO stalwart Ron Junghans (his teacher) at St Ives High school. "This was the best and hardest of orienteering schools with weekly battles with Sydney bush. With Paul Darvodelsky and Anthony Scott I started Big Foot in 1981. In 1984 I left Australia, returning in 2011. In that period I orienteered all around the world and represented NZ in 10 world foot O championships (and MTBO and ski-o). I have some history in rogaining with David Rowlands having won a number of world titles."

"My new role is ONSW president at a time of change. I am a strong believer in the club system and want to have closer co-operation with all the clubs and see ONSW as a vehicle to serve the interests of its members and clubs. I also have some passion for increasing participation and putting orienteering on a sustainable basis of both volunteers and paid organisers/mappers."

Huge turnout for Sydney West schools champs

: Last Updated: Friday, 06 June 2014 12:05

A record 328 students turned out for the annual Sydney West schools champs at Fred Caterson Reserve in Castle Hill on Wednesday.

It was all hands on deck as our coaches, starters and marshals coped with more than double the usual number (the previous record attendance was 158 last year) - and a huge thanks must go to WHO club captain James Macquillan for putting out all 44 controls in the chilly early morning.

"The Graveyard" map has lots of runnable bush and an intricate track network that makes for an ideal introduction to orienteering for students.

Penrith High School was declared the champion school with wins in 4 age classes and a first place in the relays. Glenwood HS was close behind after being champions for the past 2 years.First-timers Hambledon PS were clear winners in both age races and relays with Kurrajong PS giving them some stiff competition.

Over 100 entry forms for the NSW Schools Champs (at Newcastle in mid-August) were taken by runners excited about the opportunity to take place in a sprint and bush event against other regions.

Check out the results and the Blacktown Sun photo gallery.

A huge thanks to organiser Lyn Malmgron and her volunteer helpers for another successful day. Events such as these can't take place without the wonderful help from volunteers from our orienteering community and the local clubs. 22 other volunteers arrived ready to help coach, operate computers and set out courses.

One teacher later commented: "This was a fantastic experience. Can we bring two busloads next year?"

Curse of Currambene strikes & Waggaroos on top

: Last Updated: Tuesday, 03 June 2014 19:12

Mountain Devils played host to yet another wet MTBO event on the NSW South Coast as the "Curse of Currambene" struck again.

Organiser Andy Halliday reports: "An exceptionally warm and dry autumn had firmed up the trails and single tracks of Curramabene SF (south Nowra) to their fast and flowing best. Finally a dry day in the Shoalhaven ... until the “curse” returned, with some showers in the preceding week and a heavy downpour soon after the start.

Undaunted by the wet stuff, 30+ riders rocked up and headed off in all different directions after the mass start for this 3-hour score event. They soon encountered mud, deep puddles and in places a particularly adhesive form of clay that has a strong affinity for MTB wheels (see pic, right)!

Despite the conditions most riders stayed out for the full 3 hours and enjoyed this challenging encounter with the elements. Top men's pair were Anthony Grant and Patrick Gunnarsson, who cleared the course 11 minutes early for 515 points. In the mixed class, Kerrie Hammond and Wulf Wilkins (361 pts) pipped Carolyn Haupt and Tim Jackson by one point.

In the individual category, Malcolm Roberts got the lot but was 8 minutes over time for 506 points, just 1 point better than Carolyn Matthews who was under time and missed only one control.

Down near the Victorian border, Waggaroos were establishing a handy lead in round 3 of their annual interclub battle with Albury Wodonga. John Oliver filed this report...

"The event was conducted literally from the main street in Walbundrie. Although relatively small, the area contains three low lying hills littered with rock features, earthen embankments, and intricate little gullies created by erosion and excavations.

Courses looped around the hills in such a way that participants had to switch navigation strategies from deciding between route choice alternatives to fine map reading to chart a course carefully through the features. The three hills regularly challenged participants with decisions on whether to run wide and avoid climb or take the hill on.

There were no Albury participants on the Easy course and no WaggaRoos participating on the Moderate Course so the competition was fought out on the 5.3km Hard and 3.5km Hard courses. Alex Davey had a solid win on the 5.3km course, and Deb Davey and John Oliver were 3rd and 4th.

Albury hit back on the 3.6 km course when Liz Wood blitzed the field to win comfortably by over 16 minutes, but Bob Moore, Wes Campbell and Pauline Moore finished in quick succession ahead of other Albury orienteers and put the result beyond doubt.

WaggaRoos won the day 25-17 and now commands a healthy 10-point lead after 3 events. Round 4 is on Sun Jun 29 in the Murraguldrie State Forest."

It pays to know your Oats at MetrO League

: Last Updated: Tuesday, 27 May 2014 10:10

What a delightful setting Oatley Park made for round 3 of our Sydney inter-club comp - birds chirping, families picnicking, sparkling water views and plenty of shade to run in on another sensationally warm late autumn morning.

Our hosts IKO offered more climb than appeared likely and many opportunities to choose between cross country or minor track. Several competitors later remarked: "Oh, I didn't notice that track on the map; that would have helped."
A few technical rock features ensured it didn't all go the runners' way either.

Some of our top juniors were among the outstanding performers: Dan Hill ran a sensational 37.38 to be third in Divn 1, with Garingal team-mate Toby Wilson hot on his heels in fifth place. Also from the GO stable, Duncan Currie and Alex Kennedy placed 1 and 3 in Divn 2.

Big Foot's Alistair George was second in Divn 3, while Garingal's Lewis Redner bagged another fastest time in Divn 4 and looks set for the individual medal there. And Big Foot's Ewan Shingler, just into Year 7, filled in for Garingal in Division 5 and cleaned up by six and half minutes!