Latest ONSW News
2025 NSW Schools Orienteering Champs
23rd & 24th August - Southern Highlands
This is a 2 day event. You may enter one day or both.
Adults and Parents enter in Eventor
Scouts event at Frenchs Forest
The Bennelong organised Scouts event on Saturday was the most-attended orienteering event in the whole country last week! Quite a gathering and quite an achievement. There were 114 results, mostly newcomers, with another 20-30 Scout leaders and parents at the assembly area.
Thank you to our volunteers: Melissa & Ryan on control placement; Terry on Results, Ryan A on Rego, Rachael & Nick on Coaching.
The event was a success with 100+ juniors and parents introduced to the sport, with many smiling faces passing through the results area. While the event was a success, there were many learnings that would improve subsequent Scouts events, mainly organisational, which I’ve written down and shared with ONSW and interested parties.
The key challenge was not knowing how many people would turn up. The Registration Desk was chaotic, with 56 entries on the day, and over 100 hire sticks to be allocated. We ran out of hire sticks and waterproof maps. We didn’t have enough volunteers to deal with the numbers efficiently or effectively (5 total, 2 on Rego, 2 on Coaching, 1 on Results). I sent the map to the printer on Tuesday, Eventor had 32 entries, I asked for 100 maps which seemed excessive at the time, but I didn’t want to restrict participation. I printed a further 20 at home on the morning of the event with 74 Eventor entries.
Alice Martin, Paul Marsh and Nick Barlow are collaborating on a strategic plan to engage Scouts and will have more to share in the coming months.
Richard Pattison - Bennelong Northside Orienteers Member
Bluebottles July Camp - by Jessica D
This year’s July Bluebottles training camp was a great experience. I was able to have fun with friends while developing my orienteering skills further. We did some really useful training with the coaches at Mt Sugarloaf and Redgum Ridges as we practiced many skills through corridor training, relocation exercises, contour practice, and relays.
I particularly enjoyed the relocation exercise. Without seeing the map, we were led into the bush by a coach. At an unknown location we were stopped, handed the maps, and had to relocate and race to find the control. I found it was a fun and helpful way to practice relocation and quick navigation, although it was very steep and tiring.
It was great to see lots of new orienteers at the camp practicing their new skills and improving their navigation. The meals were delicious throughout and the state leagues afterwards were very interesting and enjoyable. Thanks to all the coaches and volunteers who made this camp happen!
Bluebottles July Camp - by Baxter P
Prior to the NSW State leagues in Newcastle, 37 Bluebottles Juniors joined together for a fun, 3 day training camp centered at Glenrock Scout Camp (Glenrock National Park, Merewether) in the second week of the school holidays. The camp members were looked after by a large portion of parents and adult coaches. Coach Helen led the camp, Naomi Scouller worked as the caterer, and the training activities were set by Oskar Mella, Helen O'Callaghan and Lee Coady.
The juniors met for their first training session at the top of Mount Sugarloaf beneath the iconic communication towers. On the mountain, the training activities included a compass exercise, and for the older juniors a corridor challenge. After lunch break, the exercises continued further along the ridge line, where 2 groups broke off, younger juniors doing a separate activity to the older ones, who participated in a relocation exercise. On arrival at the accommodation, the scout hall, located in a bushland gully near the sea, juniors and adult helpers were welcomed into the camp by Coach Helen, followed by delicious dinner served by Naomi.
The second morning posed a big day for the juniors, with many activities ranging through day and night. For the first session, they found themselves located at Red Gum Ridges, a hilly but detailed map. Training included, putting away your compass, and trying to run using only contours and features not including tracks. Followed by this, school team members were tasked to run a fun relay interval session.
Returning back to the camp, juniors rested and regained energy, excited and ready for the amazing night relay, centered at King Edward Park, a very hilly map that overlooked the coast. Torches at the ready, juniors set off in a 2 person relay, with 3 different legs for each member to complete. Many really enjoyed the challenge, and the rush of excitement running through the night. Exhausted after the massive day, they returned for some delicious desert and the final sleep of the camp.
Day 3, the final day, started with some control symbol bingo! A fun game Coach Helen cooked up for us. After packing our bags, we were brought back to the Sugarloaf area, but on the north side this time. The map, extremely steep and vegetated, tested the strength of the juniors, especially on the eastern side, where the contour exercise brought exhaustion to the next level. This concluded the training camp for some, but many stayed for a social activity reward, ice skating! The juniors enjoyed a relaxing treat out on the ice after a grueling 3 days of tough training courses. Those juniors who were participating in the Newcastle State League, were ready and excited to put their training into practice at the challenging weekend event.
I think the camp was really fun and well organised - Presley
I loved going out on course with friends and enjoying it even though it was thick - Shay
I loved the night relay - Justine
Whilst a lot of focus for Aussies in Europe is on Oringen, there are a number of smaller events also taking place.
One is the Bavarian Forest 5 Days and a small group of 10 Australians are competing, 4 from NSW.
Overall placings - Deb Davey 5th W65, Robyn Pallas 16th W70, Alex Davey 23rd M65 and Colin Price 26th M70
Days 1 and 2 were actually held just across the Czech border at the ski centre of Kubova Hut. The forest here was a bit knarly, with lots of fallen timber and uneven ground, making running slow in places. Waggaroos Deb Davey (W65A) was the best NSW performer with 4th on the long course on Day 1, then 5th on day 2 middle. Victorian Ted van Geldermalsen was the best Aussie with a 2nd and 5th in M70A.
On day 3, we moved back to Bavaria to another ski resort at Almberg. The forest here is much nicer, soft underfoot with less fallen timber, but also a lot wetter, so wet shoes! Deb again led the way with 3rd place to move up to 4th overall. Alex Davey improved on his first 2 days to place 25th in a big M65A class. Central Coasts Colin Price was 28th in M70A and Robyn Pallas 16th in W70A.
Day 4 was in the same area as day 3 for a middle-distance race. Deb Davey again was best of the NSW contingent in 5th place.
The final day Sprint was held on the town of Grafenua and Deb Davey capped a great event by winning W65A. Deb was 5th overall.
Final results can be found here: https://live.jsh.de/bf5d/
