Hot times at NSW Sprint Champs
- Last Updated: Sunday, 29 July 2018 20:47
Temperatures hit 24C as Garingal turned on a gorgeous morning for the third and last of our NSW championships for 2018 - the Sprints at UNSW.
The flat Kensington campus really let the quicker folk go out hard and fast, and there were some scorching times: Rob Bennett (Newcastle, M21A) went just under 4 minutes per km, while Duncan Currie (GO) was just above that rate in winning M16A on the same 4km Hard 1 course.
We noted these particularly meritorious wins: Tshinta Hopper (Bennelong Northside, W20A), Samantha Howe (NC, W35A), Melanie Christie (Uringa, W45A), Serje Robidoux (UR, M35AS) and Glenn Burgess (NC, M55A).
A big thanks to setter Jamie Kennedy, controller Carol Jacobson and organiser Graham Field who had to contend with last-minute out-of-bounds areas popping up on an ever-changing campus - they were up past midnight Saturday with the red texta.
Thanks to Garingal for a great morning - updated OY scores will be on the State League page later this week. All participants are asked to fill out the very brief Course Setter survey.
And a reminder that our next SL weekend is near Orange on August 18-19. Entries close on August 10.
Crestwood regain Sydney West primary trophy
- Last Updated: Thursday, 26 July 2018 10:44
Crestwood brought a huge contingent and took home the trophy for champion primary school at the annual Sydney West titles at Fred Caterson Reserve on Wednesday.
This was the rescheduled second day of a two-day event, having been washed out in June. Samuel Gilbert PS took out the first day in June, but Crestwood had a higher points total and thus regained the trophy they won in 2016.
Glorious temps in the low 20s meant a perfect day for the 301 excited students who enjoyed a map walk, age race and three-person relay.
Many thanks to ONSW organiser Barbara Hill, her team of helpers, teacher organiser Johl Storey, Hills Council and the photographer from the local paper who came along to cover the event (pictured).
A reminder that entry is open to the NSW schools champs, also to be held in the Hills District this year, on September 1-2. Schools have no role in this event, so students (ie parents) are responsible for entering.
Our last regional schools champs are Sydney North, at St Ives Showground on Monday August 13.
Big Foot claim Divn 1 title, eye another quinella
- Last Updated: Monday, 23 July 2018 20:07
Big Foot have wrapped up another Division 1 MetrO League title with a round to spare, after hosting a brilliant day out at Lapstone.
The Darks Common map is one of the best in our Sydney club competition, offering a tough enough challenge for experienced orienteers while throwing in plenty of tracks, catching features and attackpoints to assist newcomers.
Division 3 held the most intrigue. Knox had two matches to play; winning just one might have meant a finals berth. Alas, undermanned, they lost both, to leave SHOO-IKO to face Bennelong in the decider at Boggabilla on August 26.
Knox are the only club out of 9 not to feature in the finals.
Uringa-Central Coast face the undefeated Big Foot in Division 2 and WHO in Division 5, while the two Garingal teams face off in Division 4 after recording comfortable wins.
Big Foot had Division 1, which runs on a first-past-the-post basis, in the bag after SHOO-IKO upset a depleted Garingal team missing its three World Uni Champs reps.
All the match scores and individual points tables have been updated on our ML web page.
A big thanks to Big Foot for a super morning. Andy Simpson notes: "Thanks to the competitor who found an old control out there - it has a flat battery, but once we have replaced that we might be able to figure out which event it was from, if it still works."
The heat is on at World Uni champs
- Last Updated: Thursday, 19 July 2018 12:36
A heatwave has made competition very tough at the World Uni champs in Finland.
Temperatures in the range of 33-35C - plus humidity - took their toll in the Middle Distance on Wednesday.
Garingal's Toby Wilson finished 62nd, more than 23 minutes off the pace, as the Scandinavians fared best in familiar but vague terrain. It was very rough going underfoot.
Organisers were giving brief cold showers as runners finished (see pic).
The champs opened on Tuesday with a Sprint Relay. The Australian team came a creditable 14th, with GO siblings Aidan and Michele Dawson anchoring the four-person team.
The individual Sprint is later today (Thu) and a cool change is expected for Friday's Long Distance event and Saturday's Relays.
You can follow all the action via the event website.
