Juniors dominate at O'Shea
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 23 February 2016 10:11
Crikey - our winners are getting younger and younger!
Ewan Shingler (Big Foot, 13) and Alvin Craig (11, Newcastle) took out the Short Pairs section of the O'Shea 2-Days on the Central Coast at the weekend, winning by 20 minutes over Bennelong father-and-son David and Clyde McGhee. Newcastle couple Margaret and Geoff Peel were third, a further 5 minutes adrift.
The weekend consisted of 3 events in 18 hours: a Saturday afternoon relay at Kincumber Mountain, a night line course at East Gosford, and a team score course at Davistown on Sunday morning.
Garingal siblings and JWOC reps Aidan and Michele Dawson won the Long Pairs by just two minutes over Stephen and Martina Craig (Alvin's parents). Stephen is a former Garingal and Big Foot member back in Australia after many years living in Sweden, where Martina is from. Bennelong clubmates Mel Cox and Gordon Wilson were third, half an hour behind the Craigs. Aidan backed up that effort by taking out the Sydney Sprint at St Ives on Sunday evening. Ice bath, please!
Thank you to course setters Paul and Julia Prudhoe and to organiser David Bowerman from CCO, and to the participants for supporting this long-standing event which was first run in the early 80's. Also a big thank you to Julia Prudhoe for tracking down spearmint leaves for the traditional cake prizes, and to Julia and daughter Alice for making the cakes. Results are here.
Entries open for State League 1
- Last Updated: Friday, 19 February 2016 21:16
Entries are now open for State League 1 at Hill Top in the Southern Highlands.
Bennelong's season opener will again be a Middle Distance event on the Wattle Ridge map, with a 1:7,500 scale for all classes to make the complex areas more readable.
The terrain is complex sandstone spur/gully terrain, with many significant rock features. Due to ‘favourable’ weather conditions there is much more bush growth. Courses have been set to make best use of the most runnable areas.
For the little kids, there will be a free string course. Our full State League season (12 events) can be viewed here.
Nominations open for 2016 NSW Schools Team
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 16 February 2016 12:17
Orienteering NSW is calling for nominations for the 2016 NSW Schools Team.
Up to 20 high school students - junior boys and girls (15 and under), and senior boys and girls - are selected to compete in the Australian All Schools Championships in individual and relay races.
In 2016, the squad (known as the Carbines) will travel with a manager and coach to Queensland for a week of competition during the September/October school holidays.
Nominations close on March 17. The squad will be announced by June 30, after the Queen's Birthday weekend State Leagues.
Competing in ALL selection events is expected. These are Easter (the Australian 3-days) and all State Leagues. Please submit your nomination to NSW selector Hilary Wood (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by March 17. You can view the selection criteria here. Written notification to the Chair of Selectors (Andy Hill) is required if illness, injury or exceptional circumstances prevent attendance at any race.
The coach for 2016 is Jock Davis (Big Foot) and the manager is Sally Devenish (Western Plains). Andy Hill, Hilary Wood and Jock Davis will continue as selectors for the NSW Schools team in 2016. We thank them for their dedication to this important task.
Newcastle, SHOO crown summer series winners
- Last Updated: Monday, 15 February 2016 11:25
In a category that surely ranks among the greatest - and most inclusive - in any sport, Emily Wheatley and the mini Wheats have taken out the pram walking section of Newcastle's summer series.
What a great way to encourage parents of little ones to get out there and take in some exercise!
At the pointy end, Alex Massey and Nicole Haigh were crowned men's and women's champions.
In the walkers category, Caroline Jenkins had enough points up her sleeve to beat Peter Newton despite not competing the last two events. It was great to see Russell Rigby, on the mend, taking third place. The best 10 of 17 possible scores counted.
Overall handicap honours went to Thomas Whitehead over Geoff Todkill. The series attracted more than 250 different participants. Thank you to all the setters, organisers and vetters.
Newcastle now move into Park series mode, with a long and a short line course on offer over the next three Wednesdays. Their summer program concludes on Wed Mar 9 with their annual night championships.
SHOO also wrapped up their Summer Sats with a BBQ and a swim at new map venue Mowbray Park. Series winners in the easy line course categories were Ethan Brooks and Allie Carroll. Score course champs were Ruth Shedden (pictured, left) and husband Angus.
SHOO enjoyed record turnouts with many new families taking up orienteering in lovely locations, including two new bush-farmland maps.
They are now gearing up for their winter Highlands Forest Series.
