50 years since inaugural ONSW meeting
- Last Updated: Thursday, 24 March 2022 20:53
Today is 50 years since the first meeting of what became the Orienteering Association of NSW.
The inaugural committee, elected at Frenchs Forest on March 24, 1972 was:
President: Peter Nicholls
Secretary: Kathy Williamson
Treasurer: Kathy Williamson
Vice-Presidents: Toy Martin, Dave Lotty
PR Officer: Rod Dominish
Committee Members: Dick Mountstephens, Ian Hassall, Brian Wright
Curiously, the meeting also resolved that the Norwegian Ambassador be Patron of the Association, 'subject to formal approval'.
You can read the minutes here.
The first committee meeting was just five days later on March 29, 1972.
Steep courses at Honeyeater Hideout
- Last Updated: Thursday, 24 March 2022 15:22
State League 2 proved to be a tough introduction to bush orienteering for 2022 with Stephen Craig's courses at Richmond Vale steep and technical.
This is a new map on multiple private properties, the main one owned by Newcastle orienteer Lynda Hewson. Significant climb on most courses - and the shock of being immersed in the forest after hardly any bush o for nine months - meant longer than expected winning times.
(The map was named “Honeyeater Hideout” due to last year's release of 50 of these critically endangered birds into the area by BirdLife Australia. You can read more about this release here. All takings from on-site camping and the “Honeyeater op-shop” have been donated to BirdLife Australia to assist with these types of programs.)
W20A produced some close racing, with just 1m23s between the winner Mikayla Cooper (Tasmania) and third-placed Nea Shingler. There were similar margins in M16A where Nick Stanley (Garingal) continued his rapid improvement.
Among the competitors we noted the Dun family from Hastings Orienteers doing EOD today to help prepare for their SL debut in July.
All participants are asked to fill out the very brief Course Setter of the Year survey for each day. These provide valuable feedback to the setter and controller, and decide who wins one of our major annual awards.
A big thank you to Stephen, controller Scott Simson, organiser Geoff Peel, Lynda and the landowners, and all the Newcastle helpers.
Results, splits and Livelox links (please upload your routes) are on our State League page. OY point scores can be found here. Our next State League weekend is in Armidale on April 9-10. Entries close Sunday April 3.
Welcome back Ourimbah!
- Last Updated: Saturday, 19 March 2022 23:10
Our 2022 State League began under leaden skies on Saturday afternoon with the NSW Sprint Champs at Ourimbah, our first visit there for a decade.
This satellite campus of Newcastle uni offers a fairly straightforward northern half but a southern section with an intricate path network and lots of garden beds that are out of bounds.
Several competitors lost time in this part where the key was to navigate by the buildings rather than try to pick the optimal path.
The event also heralded our first look at the new multi-level running symbol - used for two creek crossings mid-map.
Wins that stood out were by Justine de Remy (W12A), Nick Stanley (M16A), Marguerite O'Rourke (W45A), and Barbara Hill (W55A) who won by just two seconds over Paula Shingler.
Meanwhile, Matt Bell (Hastings) earned our newest club's first NSW champs placing with a third in M40A.
Well done too to two rookies from our hosts Central Coast - Linda Salway (2nd in W65AS) and Deborah Dickson (3rd in W60A)
BOSS winners decided
- Last Updated: Thursday, 17 March 2022 11:45
Newcastle's Bike Orienteering Summer Series (BOSS) wrapped up a rain-affected season at Killingworth on Sunday.
Congratulations to Steve Todkill and Carolyn Matthews for taking out the LineScore category, and Wayne Hawken and Margaret Peel on winning the AllScore class.
Final place-getters were (all Newcastle except where stated):
Male Line Score 1 Steve Todkill, 2 Hamish Mackie (Big Foot), 3 Andrew Haigh
Female Line Score 1 Carolyn Matthews, 2 Nicole Haigh, 3 Sally-Anne Todkill
Male All Score 1 Wayne Hawken, 2 Martin Cousins (Garingal), 3 Ori Gudes (Uringa, pictured)
Female All Score 1 Margaret Peel, 2 Dale Graham, 3 Carol Pearce / Amanda Mackie (BF)
E Bike Male 1 Graham Fowler, 2 Tim Hackney, 3 Bruce Graham
E Bike Female 1 Andrea Hackney
You can view the final points tallies here.
A big thanks to all the setters, controllers, helpers and participants.
