2016-17 Summer Series start this week
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 04 October 2016 22:25
Daylight saving is here, the formal bush season has finished, which means... it's time for the annual summer series to start.
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.
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.
On Wednesday, Newcastle have their traditional warm-up event, at Kahibah. See their series flyer for full details. You only get two minutes of planning time, so make full use of it. Newcastle even offer a pram-walking category (see bottom pic)!
At the same time at McMahons Point, Sydneysiders will number around 200 for the first event in the Sydney Summer Series. You get unlimited planning time (see picture, left, for a family hard at work). This serves a wonderful social purpose as much as maximising your score. This summer, as a promotional tool, we are offering a free, short, off-road course for children at each event.
On Sunday morning the Western SSS in the Hills District gets underway at Crestwood, while the Southern SSS kicks off that afternoon at Sandringham.
Beginners will get coaching at the events. We hope to see you there.
Two NSW quinellas at AUS Middle Champs
- Last Updated: Monday, 03 October 2016 16:27
Two NSW quinellas were the highlight among some very tough competition at the Middle Distance event to finish off the Australian championships at Stanthorpe on Sunday.
Stephen Craig and Scott Simson (both Newcastle) smashed the M45A class. with Stephen an astonishing 15 minutes clear of third place.
In W40A, Tracy Marsh (Big Foot, pictured) and Anna Fitzgerald (Goldseekers) also finished first and second.
Other NSW winners were Christa Schafer (GO) W75A, Maureen Ogilvie (Uringa) W80A, Hugh Gingell (Garingal) M20A, Ross Barr (Garingal) M70A and Jakob Doyle (Uringa) M Junior B.
A big thank you to the OQ organisers for a wonderful carnival in a wide variety of terrains and weathers.
NSW wins 12 races at Aus Long Champs
- Last Updated: Saturday, 01 October 2016 19:03
NSW orienteers won 12 titles at the Australian Long Champs among the big rocks at Stanthorpe on Saturday.
Some of the boulders are so big - and the bare rock so expansive - that many rocks less than 2m in height are not mapped!
Our female winners were Anna Fitzgerald (GS, W40A), Jennifer Enderby (NC, W45A), Maureen Ogilvie (UR, W80A) and Tania Kennedy (GO, W45AS),
NSW men to win were Alvin Craig (NC, M14A), Hugh Gingell (GO, M20A), Stephen Craig in a family double (NC, M45A), Rob Vincent (NC, M55A - by just three seconds over Warren Key!), Eoin Rothery (BF, M60A), Barry Hanlon (WH, M80A), Jakob Doyle (Uringa, M Junior B) and Peter May (NT, M55AS),
NSW orienteers also filled places 2nd-8th in M50A, and places 2nd-7th in M70A. And a special mention to Toby Wilson (GO) who was fourth in the junior elites and third Australian - a fantastic effort. The maps are on Routegadget.
The carnival concludes on Sunday with the Australian Middle Champs at the same location.
All-Australian selection caps great week for Alvin
- Last Updated: Friday, 30 September 2016 19:19
Alvin Craig has emerged as one of the best young prospects in the country after a stunning debut at the Australian championships in Queensland this past week.
Alvin, 12 and still in primary school, capped off a tremendous week by leading the NSW junior boys to the Australian schools relay title on Thursday - and then learning he had been chosen in the all-Australian junior boys team for 2016.
The Newcastle rookie (top pic, middle) recently moved back to Australia after six years in Sweden, where orienteering is one of the most popular and best-known sports.
In five races over six days, Alvin's results were: 1st in M14A at Australian sprint champs, 5th in M14A in the relay champs (with the fastest time for his leg), 2nd in the Australian junior boys schools sprint champs, 8th (but 6th Australian) in the Australian junior boys schools sprint champs, and 1st in the Australian junior boys schools relay champs (fastest time for his leg).
On the Cotswold Bluff map on Thursday, team-mates Lachlan Billett (Waggaroos) and Ewan Shingler (Big Foot) ran excellent legs to leave Alvin in a position to bring home the gold.
Melissa Annetts (Garingal) and Georgia Jones (Uringa) farewelled the schools scene with a third placing in the senior girls relay thanks to Newcastle's Claire Burgess who ran up a division.
Alastair George (BF) had the fastest leg in the senior boys relay but the other states were too consistent for NSW.
A massive thank you to coach Jock Davis, manager Sally Devenish and all the parents for helping our Carbines achieve such great results.
