Lucy back among the winners at ACT MTBO champs
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 October 2018 10:07
Junior world championship silver medallist Lucy Mackie returned from shoulder surgery to take out the women's elite Middle Distance event at the ACT MTBO titles on Saturday.
Lucy won by two minutes from visiting Kiwi Marquita Gelderman over the 7.5km course at Kowen Forest.
"I am fitter than ever (having been training a lot on the road), but definitely struggled to make fast and accurate route choices - something that normally would’ve taken me a split second to decide ended up taking me ages!," she said.
"I have decided to take a break from MTBO and focus on enduro mountain biking. This decision has not been easy, and is something I have been thinking about for a while now. That being said, I will be at the NSW MTBO champs, and other events around Australia when I can. Hope to see everyone out there soon!"
Other NSW winners were: Nat Carroll (SH, M12), Rhiannon Prentice (NC, W20) and Carolyn Matthews (NC, W50). NSW riders also achieved two seconds and two thirds in the championship classes.
Sunday saw the Long Champs at a hilly Pierce's Creek, where Malcolm Roberts (Newcastle) took out a very competitive M60 field, while Rhiannon and Carolyn backed up to win again.
Lucy's dad Hamish finished a creditable second in M21 to go with his third placing in the Middle. The only other NSW Long placegetter was Big Foot stablemate Nick Wilkinson who was third in M50.
The weekend attracted around 80 competitors from seven states plus New Zealand, and were the first races for the 2019 World Masters MTBO series.
They also concluded the 2018 MTBO National League. Congratulations to these age class season winners: Rhiannon (W20), Carolyn (W50), and Uringa's Ori Gudes (M40). Victoria pipped NSW for the OA MTBO Plaque.
A reminder that the NSW MTBO champs are this weekend at Appin - entries have been extended to midnight Tuesday night.
Jenny Enderby wins OA Silva Medal
- Last Updated: Monday, 15 October 2018 11:23
Congratulations to Newcastle's Jenny Enderby who has won the prestigious OA Silva Medal for the second time.
Jenny (W50A, pictured) tied with Marina Iskhakova (ACT, ex-Bennelong Northside, W40A) and Jenny Bourne (Victoria, W60A) but won on a countback based on average winning margins.
The competition for 2018 was based on points in the Australian Championships (Sprint, Middle and Long), the Australian 3-Days Championships (each day considered as a separate event) and the South Australian Middle Distance Championship (Elite and A classes in M/W16 and above). Each athlete counted their best 6 results.
Points were as follows: 1st – 4; 2nd – 3; 3rd – 2 and 1 for finishing, 1 point if there are less than 4 starters.
The two Jennys and Marina won 6 of the 7 events for a maximum of 24 points, with the resultant winning margins being: Enderby 8.81%, Iskhakova 8.23%, Bourne 7.40%.
OA has also released the non-elite rankings for 2018 and NSW had 11 orienteers top their age class nationally.
Congratulations to these No.1-ranked athletes: Alvin Craig (NC, M16), Scott Simson (NC, M45), Shane Doyle (Uringa, M50), Rob Vincent (NC, M60), Steve Flick (BN, M70), Iida Lehtonen (Garingal, W14), Samantha Howe (NC, W35), Jenny Enderby (NC, W50), Paula Shingler (Big Foot, W55), Jenny Hawkins (Northern Tablelands, W70) and Maureen Ogilvie (UR, W85).
ONSW also had seven orienteers ranked second and a further six ranked third.
The full list of rankings can be found here.
Summer series starting up across NSW
- Last Updated: Thursday, 11 October 2018 14:51
Daylight saving is here, the formal bush season has finished, which means... it's time for our annual summer series around the state.
That's when we turn our attention to navigating our way through some of the most scenic parks, reserves and foreshores that our clubs have mapped. Many newcomers are amazed at the views on offer and the areas they discover through our summer series.
(The Sydney Summer Series hosted Australian hockey player Rosie Malone (pictured) at Mosman on Wednesday.)
Most clubs offer a time-limit format (score or scatter courses - you choose the order in which you visit the controls).
As an example, a map from a previous event is here. The maps usually cover an area of 2km x 1km. The fastest runners will often cover 9-10km in 45 minutes, while the more social may do 2-4km.
It's up to you how competitive or social you are - Newcastle even offer a pram-walking category (see pic left).
Click here for an overview of what our clubs have to offer.
Beginners will get coaching at the events. We hope to see you there.
Alvin, Nea, Iida named in all-Australian schools team
- Last Updated: Monday, 08 October 2018 14:55
Newcastle's Alvin Craig, Garingal's Iida Lehtonen and Big Foot's Nea Shingler have capped a tremendous week by being named in the all-Australian schools orienteering team for 2018.
Alvin, still only in Year 8, had a second and two fourth placings across the three days of competition to gain selection for the third year in a row.
Nea and Iida (pictured) earned their first green-and-gold selections with consistent displays against high-quality New Zealand opponents in particular; each registering a podium finish in the Long.
ACT retained the shield for champion state, while New Zealand retained the trophy for trans-Tasman supremacy against the Australian states.
ACT and South Australia each had five students gaining all-Australian honours out of 16 places. Congratulations to these orienteers selected:
Senior Boys: Patrick Miller (ACT), Dante Afnan (SA), Noah Poland (ACT), Aston Key (VIC)
Senior Girls: Joanna George (SA), Abigail George (SA), Ella Cuthbert (ACT), Emily Sorensen (SA)
Junior Boys: Alvin Craig (NSW), David Stocks (ACT), Torren Arthur (VIC), Toby Cazzolato (SA)
Junior Girls: Nea Shingler (NSW), Iida Lehtonen (NSW), Justine Hobson (ACT), Mikaela Gray (QLD)
