Second Port Macquarie foray a raging success
- Last Updated: Monday, 11 June 2018 21:19
Wow - we are elated (and tired) after a wildly successful second promotional weekend in Port Macquarie.
Monday's third and final event was in the seaside holiday town of Lake Cathie - and we had to print more maps as locals turned up in droves from 9.30am. We had 57 entries and 154 participants - taking the long weekend total above 300!
Some people did all 3 days, and it was great to see so many families out, along with the League of Kilted Gentlemen (pictured) once more. This course was 7.5km for the lot, longer than Saturday and Sunday, but flatter.
A big thank you to these locals: Matt Bell and Peter Langran for map/course checking prior to our visit, Jenny Friend for helping on all three days, Hastings Valley Netball for use of their clubhouse, Port Macquarie Hastings Council for their co-operation, Margret and Denis from the Koala Festival for their cross-promotions.
We enjoyed two great new beachside maps by Dave Lotty and Rebecca George, and last but not least, hats off for a mountain of work beforehand by ONSW staffers Jim Mackay and Ian Jessup, and in Port by Colin Burnett, Diane Bergen and Ian.
We'll be in touch with the Port people soon about the next steps - there is lots of interest and impetus to form a club. You are welcome at any O event anywhere. Sleep well!
Results and maps from all 3 days are here.
Round 2 at Port Macquarie and northern Sydney
- Last Updated: Monday, 04 June 2018 13:17
ONSW is returning to Port Macquarie this weekend as part of a federal government grant to take orienteering to new areas.
The locals loved our initial foray last November and wanted more, so we're putting on another three FREE events this Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Dave Lotty and Rebecca George have produced two new beachside maps, and we'll reuse the Town Beach map on Sunday to coincide with Port's annual Koala Festival.
Colin Burnett, Dianne Bergen and Ian Jessup will be on deck to spread the word.
After Port Macquarie we're back to northern Sydney for another round of FREE taster events on Jun 30, Jul 8 and Jul 21.
We still need a SportIdent person for Jul 8. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can assist.
If you have friends in these areas, please let them know about the events. They all have the standard Sydney Summer Series format, with course lengths around 7.5km for all 30 controls. Navigation is Easy standard.
Click here for full details of the 2018 program.
Big Foot juniors win at NOSH
- Last Updated: Monday, 04 June 2018 10:31
Alastair George and Ewan Shingler impressed with top ten finishes at the annual Great NOSH Footrace in Sydney on Sunday.
The Big Foot juniors were the first two finishers in the Male under-18 age class, coming in eighth and tenth respectively in roughly an hour and 13 minutes for the 16.5km.
Bennelong Northside junior Tshinta Hopper was the first female under-18, in just under two hours.
Almost 250 starters fronted at Lindfield Oval for the long but scenic trail run to Seaforth Oval, and it was Jake Stollery who emerged triumphant in 1h9m6s.
Second was Canberra's Grant Bluett from the famous orienteering family, with previous winner Matt Abel third.
The fastest woman was Robyn Bruins, 29th overall in 1h23m55s. Newcastle orienteer Claire Williams was second female across the line and Lindsay Norton third.
Thanks to Bennelong Northside, Bold Horizons and all the helpers. Results are here and the Facebook photo album is here.
Rookies learn the Ropes at Metro
- Last Updated: Sunday, 27 May 2018 23:39
A flat, fast, fairly open new map at Whalan allowed newcomers to ease into MetrO League with confidence on Sunday.
We noted Louise Brooks making her debut for SHOO in Division 5, with Peter Meyer shadowing. At the other end of the age and results scale, kudos to Knox youngster Toshan Tan who ran the fastest time.
Round 3 was a total contrast to the previous round at Mitchell Park, where the rock and forest can pose a stern test.
Most courses had the first couple of controls among some bike jumps and tracks by Ropes Creek, then some longer legs around the playing fields, before a final spurt along the creek and through some long grass.
Times were generally fast, as expected, but as the throng gathered around the scoreboards (see pic) it was apparent that some mispunches cost teams badly.
Keelan Birch (Garingal) had the dreaded 'mp' as arch rivals Big Foot won 27-25 in Division 1, while the Meyer brothers earned SHOO-IKO a 28-27 win over hosts WHO.
Big Foot and Uringa-Central Coast remain unbeaten in Division 2, while in Division 3 there were 3 mps in the Knox-GO Legless match.
Both Garingal teams won in Division 4 to set the pace, while in Division 5 WHO and Uringa-Central Coast maintained their perfect records.
All the scores have been updated on the ML web page. Thanks to WHO for a lovely autumn day.
Our next round is on June 24 on a new map at William Howe Reserve in the suburb of Mt Annan (not the botanic gardens), with SHOO hosting.
