Waggaroos combine training and racing to good effect at Willans Hill
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:56
Starting from the Music Bowl at the Botanic Gardens the emphasis of the day on Sunday 26 August was on skills development and a feature was a 3.1km self-help training course. Participants were provided with written instructions on how to do particular legs including extending the control, aiming off and running –on-the-compass, all navigational techniques that assist in simplifying complex legs.
In addition to the training loop there was a 4.5km course for the more confident orienteers and a 2km course for beginners. The courses primarily zigzagged along the hillside up to Captain Cook Drive utilising various point and linear features.
Catherine Holland, who was the top performer of the day, initially completed the 2km Green course ripping around in slightly over 13 minutes. Wanting a bit more exercise she then chose to tackle a few of the controls on the self-help course. However, she enjoyed it so much she just kept going and not only completed the entire course but also recorded the fastest time.
Julie Gooding spent a bit more time reading and recorded second fastest time. The James and Wetherspoon families combined as a group to enjoy a pleasant Sunday morning’s exercise.
Handicap honours for the day went to Edward Stow on the 4.7km course, which comprised two figure-of-eight loops;despite a couple of small errors he recorded a very good 48 minutes.
Thanks to John Oliver for this report
Mawarra Public School and North Sydney Boys High School win at 2012 NSW Schools Championships
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 August 2012 10:28
The NSW Schools Championships continues to draw in more junior orienteers for the annual competition. Amongst the schools represented Knox Grammar School and North Sydney Boys High School were out in force in the senior grades, with Mawarra Public School and Thirlmere Public School fielding teams to contest the junior races.
Cool running conditions made for cold spectating for parents but with the NSW Junior Squad catering team on hand there was plenty of coffee, tea and pumpkin soup to keep them warm whilst the competitors chased down titles in the forest. The Piggeries map used for the races this year can pose interesting challenges for even the most experienced orienteer with its distinctive rock features, track network and runnable pine forest plantation, but the juniors tackled it with confidence and turned in some great times.
Mawarra PS was triumphant in the Primary School competition for the second year in a row and a number of the faces winning their classes were familiar to coaches who have worked with Southern Highlands Orienteers on the South West Regional Championships. A strong contingent from North Sydney Boys High School, who have an in-school orienteering club, Falcon O and are frequent competitors in the Sydney Junior League, took the senior title.
The new competition for this year, the Regional Champions Cup was won by the Combined Independent Schools who included amongst their number Trinity Grammar School, Ascham School, Sydney Grammar School, PLC, and of course the mighty Knox Grammar School.
Full results can be found here, as well as Split times and Routegadget.
To Rocklea and beyond...
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 August 2012 09:30
Uringa Orienteers hosted State League #10 at Belanglo State Forest, on a re-working of the Bunnygalore map renamed 'Beyond Rocklea'. Dave Lotty had again made a clear job of the intricate rock features and course setter Dick Ogilvie had made the most of it, limiting climb and maximising complexity. Winning times were slightly longer than predicted and on review by the setting team it was discovered that there was a slight inaccuracy in the map scaling. This was not apparent to all but the most dedicated of pace counters until results were compared at the finish - Josh Blatchford running around only 10min/km - that couldn't be right!
The event drew orienteers from across the State and from the ACT including Western Plains, Goldseekers, Waggaroos, Red Roos, Weston Emus and Bushflyers which meant more competition, particularly in the junior ranks. Tristan Miller M12A and brother Patrick Miller M14A showed some ACT Bushflyer class taking the wins on their courses. Full results can be found here.
2012 NSW Schools Team announced
- Last Updated: Monday, 27 August 2012 09:01
The 2012 NSW Schools team was announced after the NSW Schools Championships yesterday. These youngsters will travel to Tasmania at the end of September to contest the Australian Schools Championships in Tasmania for NSW. The team was chosen from the results of key selection races including the May State League events in Newcastle (SL 3, 4 and 5), Queens Birthday Carnival State League events in Armidale (SL 6 and 7), and Western Sydney State League events in July (SL 8 and 9). 
Junior girls: Melissa Annetts, Rebecca George, Georgia Jones, Samantha Wallace Travelling reserve: Kate Kennedy
Junior Boys: Scott Charlton, Callum Davis, Daniel Hill, Toby Wilson Travelling reserve: Alex Kennedy
Senior Girls: Felicity Barker-Smith, Nicola Blatchford, Michele Dawson
Senior Boys: Aidan Dawson, Matthew Hill, Lawrence Jones, Daniel Parton
The selectors congratulate the team on their selection and wish them the best of luck in the coming competition.
