2022 NSW Schools Team nominations open
- Last Updated: Friday, 25 March 2022 09:13
Orienteering NSW is calling for nominations for the 2022 NSW Schools Team.
Up to 20 high school students - junior boys and girls (15 and under), and senior boys and girls - are selected to compete in the Australian All Schools Championships in individual and relay races.
In 2022, the squad (known as the Carbines) will travel with a manager and coach to Victoria for a week of competition during the September/October school holidays.
Nominations close on April 9. The squad will be announced by mid-June on the ONSW website and on Facebook.
Compulsory selection events are the Armidale State Leagues on April 9-10 and the QB III carnival in Wagga on June 11-13.
Nominees are strongly encouraged to compete at all State Leagues. Please submit your nomination via Eventor. You can view the selection criteria in Eventor. Written notification to the Chair of Selectors (Rob Bennett) is required if illness, injury or exceptional circumstances prevent attendance at any race.
NSW won the Australian schools trophy in 2019 for the time in 17 years! The 2020 and 2021 championships did not happen due to Covid.
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.
