River and Bay Orienteering Series

Last Updated: Sunday, 03 December 2023 08:44

The 7th and final round of the 2023 River Bay Series is on today - Sunday - December 3rd at Sir Joseph Banks Park, Mascot.

 

One of the interesting things about this park is that it was home to Australia’s first zoo. The site’s owner at the time, a timber merchant named William Beaumont, improved the hotel and created the ‘Pleasure Gardens’, which is a more scandalous and giggle-inducing name today than it would have been back then. The gardens included the private zoo.

As well as many animal statues there is a great playground as well as a traffic set up for littlies on their bikes or scooters plus a bbq or two.

The Botany Bay Gift was first held at Sir Joseph Banks Park in 1894, two years before the modern day Olympics, but was cancelled in the 1930s due to corruption before being revived by local business owners in the 1980s. Some of the world’s best runners including British athlete Lynford Christie took part in the race in the nineties, as did Olympic gold medallists Cathy Freeman and Nova Peris.

Details of the event can be found here:

https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/19146

2023 Junior Participation Diary Awards Delivered

Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 November 2023 14:03

Bennelong North, Goldseekers, Newcastle, Southern Highlands, Uringa, Wagga & Riverina, Western & Hills have, or will be, presenting their enthusiastic juniors with awards achieved through the 2023 Junior Diary Participation Awards program.

The 2023 total of awards was slightly down: 46 in 2023 (compared with 49 in 2022): 16 Wattle, 2 Banksia, 28 Waratah.

The Junior Diary program was initiated many years ago by Sue Davis, continued by Lyn Malmgron, then Kristie Carroll, with Wendy McConaghy the current coordinator.

Participating juniors record points for each eligible event or training activity.

Once a paper diary, the participation diary is now made available each year in a spreadsheet format.

Participations can be logged on a computer, or the sheets of the diary printed out for more traditional record-keeping.

For more information see webpage.

Thanks to the 2023 ONSW Junior Participation Diary Awards Team: Wendy McConaghy, Mary Jane Mahony and Peter McConaghy. Administration Officer John Murray ensured distribution of awards to clubs.

Orienteers of the Year 2023

Last Updated: Thursday, 16 November 2023 07:40

The NSW State League finished in September, and the 2023 OY badges (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd) are now being distributed to club.

Names of the 2023 Orienteers of the Year (first place in each A class) are published at https://onsw.asn.au/current-nsw-champions.

Full Eventor NSW State League Series results - 2023 NSW State League Pointscore  

The Orienteer of Year competition was established in the 1970s, announced by then newsletter editor Toy Martin: 

The OA of New South Wales has decided to begin the point score [for Orienteer of the Year] with the Heathcote event. This point system will be a good indicator of ability and consistency and will be a valuable reference for both team selectors and referees in ‘who’s better’ arguments. The leader in the point score at the conclusion of the association year – March 31^st – will be declared ‘Orienteer of the Year’. Points will be allocated for all events sanctioned by the association.

The rules and timing have evolved a bit over the last 50 years!

How did your club fare this year? It’s something to celebrate!

*⃰Callum Waland runs in the NSW State League under the Knox Grammar banner; he earned his 2^nd place OY badge as a member of Big Foot. [Knox Grammar is an ‘associate group’.]

Orienteering Learning Centre

Last Updated: Thursday, 16 November 2023 07:39

Orienteering Learning Centre goes live!      

Orienteering Australia is pleased to announce that the Orienteering Learning Centre (OLC) will go live on Tuesday 24 October 2023!
Hosted on the Australian Sport Learning Centre, the OLC will feature both orienteering specific and sector wide courses.

This will include the recently updated orienteering coaching courses, the ASC's Community Coaching - Essential Skills Course and some Play by the Rules courses, with more Sport Integrity Australia courses to follow.
As of 24 October 2023, both Orienteering Instructor (Teacher) and Orienteering Instructor (Community) will be available to complete online.

This will be followed by Learn and Play Orienteering Coach, Competition Orienteering Coach and Performance Orienteering Coach in 2024.

All components of each course will be completed on the platform, including e-learning and face to face activities, creating one central location for learning!
In the future, controller accreditation courses will be added, as well as courses for event organisers, volunteers and participants.

Orienteering Australia is excited to use this platform to enhance the experience of all individuals who are involved with our sport!
On 24 October 2023, learners can sign up to the Orienteering Learning Centre here.

Learners who already have an account on the Australian Sport Learning Centre will receive an email asking them if they wish to transition their account across to the OLC.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Brodie Nankervis, Manager of Coaching Development, OA 
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