Perfect day for Sydney SW champs
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 23 July 2013 11:57
A brilliant 22-degree day, blue sky and plenty of puddles and mud - almost 300 students had a great day out at the Sydney South West schools champs at Camden Bicentennial Park.
It felt more like summer than winter as the young charges enjoyed a day off school to explore the horse paddocks, tracks and creek system.
After an introductory coaching session and map walk, there were age races with staggered starts and finally a fun 3-person relay around the Equestrian Centre.
This event is Sydney's longest-running and best-attended schools championship, thanks to the tireless efforts of the SHOO club and the ever present large numbers of ONSW volunteers.
Champion school was Narellan Vale, followed by Mawarra and Thirlmere.
Results are here.
New faces in 2013 NSW junior squad
- Last Updated: Monday, 15 July 2013 21:14
We are delighted to announce the NSW Carbines for 2013. The team will compete in the Australian All Schools Orienteering Championships in October and is as follows:
Junior Girls
Melissa Annetts (GO), Georgia Jones (UR), Rebecca Kennedy (WP)
Senior Girls (16+)
Nicola Blatchford (NC), Kate Kennedy (WP), Amylee Robertson (NC), Samantha Wallace (WP)
Junior Boys
Duncan Currie (GO), Callum Davis (BF), Alistair George (BF), Hugh Gingell (GO), Alex Kennedy (GO)
Senior Boys (16+)
Scott Charlton (NC), Aidan Dawson (GO), Daniel Hill (GO), Lawrence Jones (UR), Toby Wilson (GO)
Duncan, Rebecca, Amylee, Alistair and Hugh are new faces in the squad.
Selection chairperson Andrew Hill added: "Congratulations to all those named. The selectors will finalise the composition of the Junior and Senior Boys after the NSW Champs on September 21-22. All squad members are required to attend the remaining State Leagues up until the Australian Champs."
In 2013 the Australian All Schools Championships will be conducted on October 1 (individual racing) and October 2 (relays) in the Canberra region. The NSW squad will stay together in Canberra for the entire Australian Championships Carnival from 28 September to 6 October 2013.
Karen Blatchford is the manager for the NSW Carbines and NSW Head Coach Nick Dent is the team coach. Karen and Nick will be in touch with squad members soon.
Holiday training on 'some of the best maps in Australia'
- Last Updated: Monday, 15 July 2013 21:08
Jock Davis of Big Foot led the sessions for 4 days of intensive bush training near Orange over the school holidays. Ian Meyer and Andrew Brown filled out the coaching team, setting the controls and providing additional one on one support to the trainees.
Read more: Holiday training on 'some of the best maps in Australia'
Josh Blatchford makes WOC debut
- Last Updated: Sunday, 14 July 2013 14:58
Newcastle young gun Josh Blatchford made his WOC debut in Finland overnight as the second runner in the men's relay team. Josh, who represented Australia several times at JWOC, was a late call-up after Lachlan Dow was injured.
Josh finished in 20th position, as did the Australian men after the third leg. The Australian women did better, finishing 13th in their relay.
Josh's unexpected inclusion capped off a tremendous fortnight for the Blatchford family, after his younger sister Nicola made her JWOC debut in the Czech Republic the previous week.
Read more on the OA website, which includes a link to the team blog.
And the event website shows all the WOC maps.
