Welcome aboard, Michael Ridley-Smith
- Last Updated: Sunday, 20 September 2015 16:39
Orienteering NSW is pleased to announce Michael Ridley-Smith has joined the board as Marketing Director, focusing on marketing and promotion activities.
Michael, a member of Garingal for three years, has come to orienteering later in life and wants others to experience the same joy he has found through our sport.
"I'm about encouraging people to get out and be fit in the outdoors," he said. "For me, the competitive aspect makes it very enjoyable, but first and foremost it's the challenge of the course and the sense of community before, during and after."
Michael trained as a lawyer but spent many years rotating through roles at an oil company and most recently was a senior marketing executive for Caltex. He's currently working for himself as a consultant.
On behalf of all orienteers, the Board welcomes Michael and also thanks Ian Miller for his outstanding service as Planning Director. Ian has stepped down after four years of tireless work co-ordinating the annual events calendar and driving the strategic plan, both of which have put ONSW in a great position for further growth.
Huge turnout for Willoughby Council event
- Last Updated: Monday, 14 September 2015 11:09
More than 100 first-timers attended Garingal's annual event as part of Willoughby Council's Spring Festival on Sunday.
Organiser Ted Woodley and setter Airdrie Long have done a fantastic job in the past three years promoting this event to locals.
Some lovely tracks through Flat Rock Reserve and down to Tunks Park, a glorious spring day and the sweetener of a free family pass to the adjoining Leisure Centre ensured a bumper crowd.
All up there were 191 participants, many in family groups, easily eclipsing last year's turnout of 150.
Patrik Gunnarsson (BF) won the Long Moderate in 42:14, Peter Annetts (GO) the Short Moderate in 35:18 (also coming 4th in the Long Moderate), Stephanie Nicholls (GO) the Easy in 24:58, and Maggie Mackay (UR) the Very Easy in 13:23.
We thank Ted, Airdrie, SI guru Ross Duker and the small army of Garingal helpers for a great job presenting orienteering in the best possible light.
Aus champs tipping 1,000+ entries - reporters sought
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 08 September 2015 09:35
Australian championships organisers are expecting more than 1,000 entries for the coming carnival in Ballarat.
When entries closed last week there were 954 registered participants across the 9 days. Add in a few dozen enter-on-day folk and 50-60 kids doing string courses and the four-figure mark should be topped quite easily.
For casual visitors who fancy a run, organisers have also clarified the enter-on-day availability via their updated web page.
If you are going to Ballarat, and to keep those at home informed of progress of NSW athletes, we'd like to hear from you. All we need is 6 paragraphs about the courses, terrain, weather, good results and any oddities encountered (we're always on the lookout for wombie nominations, too). Email Ian Jessup (marketing at onsw.asn.au) if you'd like to contribute and we'll draw up a roster.
The NSW relay teams have also been announced.
Wagga retains Interclub trophy
- Last Updated: Monday, 07 September 2015 11:34
A convincing win in the final round on home turf means Waggaroos have retained the Interclub trophy contested annually against Albury-Wodonga.
After a late switch of venues to Willans Hill in town due to the wet ground at Connorton, WaggaRoos won the day 18-12 to easily take out the Challenge 115-97 overall.
Debbie Davey and John Oliver gave Wagga a great start, finishing 1-2 on the 4.9km Hard Course just 16 seconds apart. Dale Clegg and Pauline Moore repeated those results on the 3.5km Hard Course to seal the deal, and Julie Gooding won the 2.6km Moderate course for the icing on the cake.
Thanks to John Oliver for his reports throughout the year.
