NSW MTBO Super Series 2012 draws to a close
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 September 2012 17:46
A band of enthusiastic mountain bike orienteers descended on Clarencetown, in the Hunter Valley, for last two rounds of the NSW MTBO Super Series. The weekend was hosted by Newcastle Orienteering Club and consisted of a Middle Distance event in Uffington State Forest on Saturday and a Long Distance event in Wallaroo State Forest on Sunday morning.
Perhaps a little ambitiously, these events were the first where Newcastle used its newly purchased SI equipment. Thus behind the scenes there was much discussion of logistics and processes. Unfortunately, teething issues on Saturday meant that splits were lost for publishing and the organisers offer apologies to the competitors for this.
Out in the forests and the riding was good since the areas had dried up considerably over the last
month although on Sunday there was still some water on the tracks (which was mapped!) that had to be taken into consideration. Steven Todkill and Hilary Ellis took out the Mens and Womens Course 1 respectively, on both days. Full results can be found here for SS7 Uffington and SS8 Wallaroo. David Ellis took out the “Epic Fail” award by injuring himself Saturday morning while surfing and then melting his wheel on the journey up to the events by having his bike too close the exhaust pipe! He did however assist the organisers throughout both events. Well done Dave!
The course setters,Malcolm Roberts and Andrew Power would like to thank all of those members from the Newcastle club who helped make the events a success, in particular Denis Lyons on Saturday and Caroline Taurinay on Sunday.
Thanks to Malcolm Roberts for this report
NSW sharpens skills ahead of Australian Champs
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 September 2012 07:11
Nick Dent, Head coach NSW, led a training session in Belanglo this weekend for NSW orienteers, and particularly those heading off to the Australian Championships in Tasmania. Using an updated version of the new 'Beyond Rocklea' map, exercises were set focussing on compass work in vague terrain and the use of precise attack points in more detailed areas.
State Juniors were out in force to take advantage of this last training opportunity before the Australian Schools Championships, with JWOC representative and Senior Girl Michele Dawson, Senior boys Aidan Dawson, Lawrence Jones, Junior Boys Toby Wilson and Alex Kennedy and Junior Girls Melissa Annetts and Georgia Jones in the forest working hard.
Gold at the Blacktown City Games
- Last Updated: Sunday, 16 September 2012 18:46
Western & Hills have introduced Orienteering as a Blacktown City Games Sport. The Second Games event for 2012 and the sixth in the “Cunning Running” Series was held at Glenwood on Saturday 15 September.
There were two divisions: Score and Line. Blacktown City Council supported the event with the provision of awards. Lisa Grant (GO) and Lee Coady (WH) achieved Gold in their divisions closely followed by Ethan Farrelly and Daniel Smith (WH) with Silver and Mark Mueller and Dean Heke with Bronze.
The final of the 2012 “Cunning Running” Series will be held at Werrington Lake Park on 20 October. An event not to be missed.
Thanks to Barry Hanlon for this report
Chevalier College Sprint map stretches brain cells as well as legs
- Last Updated: Sunday, 16 September 2012 18:45
The sprint map at Chevalier College once again stretched the brain cells as well as the legs. Corridors, corners and courtyards all over the map had to be tackled with quick decision making.
A good representation from Illawarra Kareelah and a challenge from the Central Coast made the competition sharp on the Long Course, with less than a minute between Nick Dent and Ken Mills. Ian Froude came in third, with tarmac souvenirs on hands, knees and elbows after a bumpsadaisy encounter with a speed bump.
Sue Froude and Helen Mills from IKO took first and second place followed by Sandy Stewart from SH in The Short Course.
The Brooks family found some rather impressive pine cones which did look like echidnas and will look good with some googly eyes. Hannah Davey was accompanied by a platoon of strollers and toddlers and is becoming better and better at map reading. Well done kids!
A late lunch at Gilberts in Mittagong was the perfect way to finish off the day.
Thank you to the Stewarts and John Russell who brought in controls and to Lyn Malmgron for this report
