MetrO League revs up for 2016
- Last Updated: Thursday, 17 March 2016 09:17
A record 30 teams will contest this year's MetrO League, which starts on Sunday at Mt Annan Botanic Gardens.
SHOO and Illawarra Kareelah have combined across Divisions 2-5, and SHOO will field a separate team in Divn 5 through which to mentor some of their younger talent into bush orienteering.
Along with some promotions and relegations from last year, this means Divisions 4 and 5 will have 7 teams each. As such, one team will contest two matches each round so that we can achieve a full round and finals over the six events.
In Division 1 we have 4 teams, so it will be two full rounds with no final. Garingal stunned Big Foot in last year's final to end the Pink People's Origin-like streak. Can the Feet bounce back?
All this year's details are on the ML web page. We wish all participants an enjoyable season and hope to see lots of Summer Series runners taking the next step up.
Please pre-enter for each event. The briefing for round 1 is here.
The abbreviated MetrO League calendar is:
Mar 20 Mt Annan
May 1 Manly Dam
May 29 Botany
Jun 26 Lapstone
Jul 31 Mulgoa
Sep 4 Galston
Thumbs up for women's training weekend
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 16 March 2016 09:07
Two dozen women from across the state have enjoyed a fantastic weekend in the Hunter Valley working on all aspects of their orienteering in time for the winter bush season.
Put together by Barbara Hill (Garingal and Bold Horizons), the two-day clinic is an annual feature on our calendar and keenly anticipated with the State League and MetrO League seasons starting this weekend, and the big Easter carnival at the end of the month in the ACT.
Barbara reports: "In all there were 26 women from seven clubs involved in the weekend. Tracy Marsh and Cath Chalmers (Big Foot) assisted with coaching and were outstanding. Dr Lisa Lampe (Uringa) made a very engaging and informative presentation on the challenges of maintaining and regaining concentration.
"Participants ranged from complete beginners through to very experienced ladies looking to brush up on skills and prepare for the approaching State Leagues as well as Easter. The attitude of the ladies was amazing. Everyone was super keen, willing to try anything, test themselves and have a go."
Here is just a sample of the feedback:
"Learnt heaps. Met lots of new people. Thanks Barbara for all your planning and organisation."
"This weekend was great fun! Working on weaknesses and strengths and having a go at new skills such as putting out a control. The activities were great to see where we could go wrong on a course or right."
"Learnt lots and met many lovely women. Accommodation was great for a group like this and comfortable. Enjoyed the 'guest' speaker in the evening. Thanks to everyone involved, organising and presenting."
We thank all the ladies involved for such a great effort.
Julia Prudhoe, Ross Barr win at MSW
- Last Updated: Monday, 14 March 2016 17:57
Central Coast duo Julia Prudhoe and Hilary Wood made it a quinella in the W60 dvision at the Melbourne Sprint Weekend, while Garingal's Ross Barr took out M70.
While most of the NOL runners left after the weekend's first four races, many others stayed around for Monday's two sprints. Runners could drop the worst of their six scores.
Ross won his first five races to seal the title, while Uringan Dave Lotty claimed third in the same age class.
Julia, the quieter half of our executive officer and former president Paul, pipped Hilary (499-495) in one of the event's closest tussles.
Bennelong's Gordon Wilson also claimed bronze, in M60, as did Margaret Peel (Newcastle) in W40.
Michele shines in Bleak City
- Last Updated: Sunday, 13 March 2016 21:59
Garingal's Michele Dawson was the standout NSW performer as the 2016 National Orienteering League kicked off at the Melbourne Sprint Weekend.
Michele placed 6th, 3rd, 4th and 3rd in the four races. Her 3rd placing at Melbourne Uni on Saturday saw her crowned Australian University Sprint Champion for 2016! A multiple junior world championship competitor, the UNSW student is now pushing hard for senior world championship selection.
Other noteworthy NSW results were Nicola Blatchford (Newcastle) and Toby Wilson (Garingal) with four top-10 finishes. Duncan Currie, (pictured, and still just 15), had a sensational 7th place in Race 2 at Melbourne Uni in the junior men's division.
Victorian veteran Natasha Key ('discovered' by Russell Blatchford) is now the 'wrong' side of 40 but proved age was no barrier by taking out both Saturday races (the first by a whopping 50 seconds!) and waa second in her only race on Sunday.
Rising ACT star Tara Melhuish dominated the junior women with two firsts, a second and a third.
The next NOL round is later this month in the ACT, who are hosting the annual Easter carnival..
