2015 NSW Schools Team announced
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 June 2015 11:23
Finn Mackay, Sophie Jones and Ellen Currie are the new faces in the NSW Schools Team (the Carbines) for the Australian All Schools Championships in Ballarat in the September holidays.
The Junior Boys are defending their relay title won in WA last year.
Congratulations to the following students for their selection:
Senior Girls: Melissa Annetts (GO), Rebecca George (BF), Georgia Jones (UR).
Senior Boys: Daniel Hill (GO), Alex Kennedy (GO), Toby Wilson (GO), Callum Davis (BF), Hugh Gingell (GO).
Junior Girls: Claire Burgess (NC), Joanna Hill (GO), Rebecca Kennedy (WP), Sophie Jones (UR), Ellen Currie (GO, pictured left).
Junior Boys: Duncan Currie (GO), Alastair George (BF), Tom Kennedy (GO), Ewan Shingler (BF), Finn Mackay (UR, pictured right).
All selected will travel with the team to Victoria and run in the three schools championship events from September 28-30 (Sprint, Individual and Relay), while also competing in the other major events on both weekends of the carnival around Ballarat.
Manager Sally Devenish will be in contact with team members to co-ordinate travelling arrangements.
ONSW thanks selectors Jock Davis, Hilary Wood and Andrew Hill for their time and energy spent in this important role.
Burton burns up Centennial Park in ML3
- Last Updated: Monday, 15 June 2015 17:58
Big Foot veteran Michael Burton had eyes popping and tongues wagging after a blistering run in Metro League Round 3 at Centennial Park on Sunday.
Under sunny skies, the relatively easy navigational challenge of Sydney's great urban park meant this would be a battle of the speedsters, with the young guns tipped to prevail.
Not so, as 53-year-old Burton cleaned up the 7.4km Division 1 course (about 8.5km actual) in just 36m51s. That's a km rate of about 4m20s. Wow.
WHO club captain James McQuillan (39m37s) blew the chance at glory when he came unstuck on leg 14 up into the sandstone ridge and dropped three minutes.
Big Foot maintained their lead in Division 1, with Garingal nipping at their heels.
In Division 2 the GO Dragons maintained their perfect run with a narrow 28-27 win over SHOO, for whom Angus Shedden again had the fastest time (37m54s) over the 6.9km. Big Foot and Bennelong also had wins to keep it close among the first four teams.
In Division 3, IKO rookie Simon Louis smashed the field by 5 minutes as the southerners called on two Garingal fill-ins to beat Uringa-Central Coast.
Youth prevailed in Division 4 as Tom Kennedy, just 14, had the fastest time of 26m43s for the 4.4km. However, his Garingal team went down to a strong KNOX outfit that looks set to contest the silverware in August. Eleven runners in this division went under 35 minutes.
Likewise in Division 5, where 18 runners went sub-35. Margaret Jones (UR-CC) was quickest in 26m15s, and we should give a mention to Garingal's Clare Jessup, 15, who on her ML debut picked up 7 points and beat her dad!
The trial of entering via Eventor was a success and it appears will become the norm for MetrO League. Thanks to SI guru Ron Pallas for his efforts there. Thanks also to the Jones family for organising.
Results are up on our MetrO League webpage - with links to head-to-head scores, splits and match results.
There's little rest as next Sunday we are back in action at Cataract Scout Park for Round 4. It's off Appin Road - which runs from the Princes Highway to the Hume Highway. Alas, park management have decided to end our contra arrangement and charge us $4.50 per person - so fees for this event will be $13 per adult and $9 per junior.
Glenwood HS takes out champion school at Syd West champs
- Last Updated: Thursday, 28 May 2015 19:36
More than 400 students enjoyed a glorious late autumn day and the beautiful bush tracks of Fred Caterson Reserve as the Sydney West schools orienteering championships hit a record attendance.
We had a massive 404 starters from 14 schools, and when all the results were tallied it was Glenwood High School who were crowned regional champions (see pic below right).
With around 20 coaches, marshals and computer gurus on hand, the day went smoothly for organisers Ted Mulherin and Lyn Malmgron.
Students went in groups for a short map walk to familiarise themselves with the basic skills involved. This means they are not all at sea when they go out on their individual age races.
There were age race champions from Blackheath PS, Oatlands PS, Kellyville Ridge PS, Glenwood HS and St Marys HS.
After a break for lunch it was time for the hectic 3-person relays (see pic above), with kids going in all directions at the start.
Results are on Eventor, and a photo album is on our Facebook page.
Primary schools who enjoyed the day are encouraged to register for the federal government's Sporting Schools program. Orienteering is one of the sports on offer: see our SS web page for more details.
Thank you to everyone who made the day fantastic: teachers, students, parents, bus drivers, ONSW helpers and organisers from the WHO club.
All students are invited to enter the NSW schools orienteering championships which this year will be held in western Sydney on August 15-16. You may enter one day, or both days. Entries open early next month.
Great Park Adventure makes successful debut
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 26 May 2015 17:04
We are delighted to report a terrific attendance of close to 400 people for Sunday's Great Park Adventure, an event for which we teamed with Cancer Council NSW and Centennial Park.
Lots of families with small children enjoyed a fun day filled with puzzles, activities, food and explorations. The main event was an exciting hunt and discovery through the Centennial Parklands – our own amazing race – with children’s activities, a BBQ, picnic space, prizes and much more available at our base camp at Belvedere Amphitheatre.
A notable success was the number of these families who also knew and had come to Spooks in the Park, our Halloween-themed mini orienteering day.
"Just a quick note to say thanks for a wonderful event today. My 4yo loved the 'treasure hunting' and it was great to be part of a well organised event in a beautiful park!" was the feedback from one mum.
Upon arrival, you received a map that led to various hidden locations. At these locations you were asked to answer questions or perform a fun activity. The correct response won bonus points.
We thank Margaret Jones (of Uringa Orienteers and Centennial Park) for her huge effort in setting the course, and the many club members who assisted - at the start, at the finish, at rego, and at the puzzle stations. We also thank Phoebe and Jet from the Cancer Council who approached us looking to stage something different to the usual Relay for Life.
We learnt a lot about combining with a charity for a public event.
