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Space Racing at Bicentennial Park this week attracted a set of hardy souls not put off by a little cold weather and a touch of drizzle. A group of over 40 children from Maroubra kept the ONSW busy as they helped the youngsters tackle the score course around the park. Bicentennial Park is a perfect place for Space Racing with it’s beautiful parkland, path networks, lakes and streams and even the odd statue to navigate around. Quickest around the course was Aidan Dawson, Junior Squad member, in a zippy 18 minutes. With juice still in his legs he joined the efforts of the fellow Junior Squad members, Lawrence and Georgia Jones, and Daniel Hill as they went out again to shadow and coach some of the younger racers in groups.
Michele Dawson, newly promoted to the Australian team for the 2012 JWOC in Slovakia was honoured at Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney, Croydon, where she is in Year 12. At a special full school assembly Michele was presented with the school blazer in Australian colours, which she will be entitled to wear to all major school functions. Michele leaves for Slovakia at the end of June and we wish her and the team the best of luck.
One other girl at PLC was also honoured this year; Josie Nichol is representing Australia in Athletics in the Triple Jump. Both girls are pictured here (Michele on the right) with Headmaster Dr Paul Burgis. Thanks to PLC for this photo
A crowd turned up at the first in the Sydney West Series on Sunday 8th January to enjoy a cool morning run around the scenic suburb of Crestwood. Chris Crane's carefully planned 45 minute score event gave both experienced and newer runners a chance to gain some big points, and although no-one managed to get all 600 points on offer, there were many who scored over 400. This was a thinking man's event with even clear decisions about route choices made at the start, being re-evaluated as the 45 minutes ticked away.
The next event in the Sydney West Series is on the 22nd January at Breakfast Creek, Marayong.
Ian Jones was first past the post at the Camden Equestrian Centre in the Southern Highlands Occasional Orienteers opening event of their six series summer schedule, but it was not all about the racing on Saturday. SHOO's summer events are designed to provide family friendly social events, with a short score of 30 minutes for experienced orienteers teamed with a technically easy course for beginners. This first event was particularly good as the the event had sole use of the Equestrian Centre, which is well fenced and provides great runnable fields, making it an enormous playground for the children after their competitive runs.
Read more: Family friendly SHOO Saturdays get off to racing start
