Doman doin' it tough at MTBO world champs
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 31 July 2019 11:18
Tim Doman has had a rough introduction to elite mountain bike orienteering with mispunches in his opening two events at the world championships in Denmark.
Our Newcastle rookie - who only took up MTBO last summer - was faring creditably on his international debut in Sunday's Sprint but made a massive noodle en route to #19, ended up at #21 and was then bamboozled. He backtracked to #20, returned to #21 but forgot to go to #19.
The race was in a very complex map of the old city of Viborg. They closed the whole city for this event which offered up cobblestones, alleys, stairs, archways, stone walls and more.
Kiwi and training partner Tim Robertson cost himself a likely medal with a mispunch early in his race to add to the woes of the Oceania touring party.
In Tuesday's intricate Middle race (31 controls), Doman went to nearby #4 a second time instead of #26. We've all been there at some stage!
To his credit, Tim has shown in Denmark that for such a newbie he's by no means outclassed against vastly more experienced rivals.
WA veteran Ricky Thackray loved the Middle: "It was one of the most navigationally challenging Middle distance races I've done.
"There was an extremely dense network of single track throughout the course with the southern part of the map being a mountain bike park before we crossed a paddock into the northern section, also laced with twisty single track although not sanctioned so not as clear as the earlier section.
"Riders on the M21 course were thrown straight into the deep end with a long leg to the first control with several route choice options."
You can follow the action on the event website here and via the Australian team Facebook page here. Wednesday evening AEST is the Long Distance race.
KNOX boys tearing up MetrO League
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 30 July 2019 22:35
The boys from Knox Grammar School are looking firm favourites to take out two Sydney Metro League titles after another dominant day at Galston on Sunday.
KNOX remain unbeaten in Divisions 3 and 5, and with a double header in the last round at Wianamatta seem assured of making the finals at least.
The more open venues for the first three rounds allowed the fast KNOX lads to really record some very quick times, and there were naturally questions as to how they would handle the technical challenges coming into the pointy end of the competition.
Galston answered that emphatically: in Division 3 Heath Wallace was eight minutes faster than his nearest rival (team-mate Jake Evans) and in Division 5 the first three placings went to KNOX runners - with Henry Shortis six minutes ahead of the field.
The terrain was mix of rock and bush of varying thickness and steepness, allowing for a good range of courses.
Big Foot have reclaimed the ascendancy in Division after an uncharacteristically sluggish start, while the Garingal Frill Necks are unbeaten in Divison 2, and Big Foot look way too strong in Division 4.
Bennelong Northside and SHOO-IKO have three teams still in the mix and WHO one.
All the results and tables are updated are on the ML web page.
Thanks to setter John Brayan, controller Carol Jacobson, organiser Ross Duker and the Garingal club.
Our next round is on Sunday August 18 at Wianamatta, with the NSW junior squad running the show.
Sydney CBD lunchtime series in August
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 23 July 2019 19:19
ONSW is putting on free lunchtime orienteering events in the Sydney CBD on Tuesdays in August.
We'll have two runs at Pyrmont, one at Barangaroo (limited to 40 participants) and one at The Rocks. See the flyer for details.
These events are aimed at beginners and people already engaged in regular exercise, ahead of what promises to be another bumper Sydney Summer Series.
They will be 30-minute score courses with 20 controls, and a start window of 12.30-1.30pm.
Pre-entry is preferred (members via Eventor, non-members via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
ONSW thanks the City of Sydney, the Barangaroo Development Authority, Property NSW and Sport Australia for their assistance with this pilot program.
2019 NSW schools champs entries open
- Last Updated: Monday, 22 July 2019 12:34
Entries are now open for the 2019 NSW Schools Championships, to be held in the Southern Highlands on September 7-8.
These events are open to all school students - no pre-qualifying is necessary. See the information sheet for details.
Students must enter via Trybooking - schools are not responsible for entering students. You can enter Saturday, or Sunday, or both days.
Parents - we offer a free map walk and free Easy course so you can see what skills your child will be mastering at these events. You can select to do these in Trybooking.
We still have two regional champs to come - Sydney North on Aug 12 and Hunter on Aug 13. See the champs web page for more details.