South Coast champs 'the best ever'
- Last Updated: Friday, 22 May 2015 13:28
"This was the best ever," was the cry from excited students at the annual South Coast primary schools championships at Albion Park on Wednesday.
55 students from Mt Keira, Sussex Inlet and Scarborough public schools turned up at Croom Sporting Complex.
ONSW coaches took them for a map walk across open parkland into thick bush crisscrossed with dozens of tracks, then back out along a creek to the assembly. They were introduced to all sorts of orienteering features and became more excited and harder to hold back as they rushed ahead to find the next ‘trick’.
Then came the age races. Finding out that orienteering is an individual sport came as a bit of a shock as they lined up at the map boxes. But one by one, they discussed their course with their coaches and disappeared around the bend in the path - out onto an individual adventure. The coaches stationed around the courses (with the mosquitoes) were a comfort to some runners but most runners were champing at the bit to get a fast time.
Ron Pallas was wonderfully calm as usual as very excited runners got to the finish and wanted to know how they went. Next came the bit when they had to hang their slat up and they fought their way through all the crowd at the boards. All hoping that no one would hang a slat on top of theirs.
Thanks to Keith Jay for setting the courses, IKO for a lovely day, Kev Curby for his organisation and Lyn Malmgron for this report. It was good to see a parents and teacher team in the relay: they came 4th.
NOSH all set for 41st edition - May 31
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2015 14:45
The annual Great NOSH Footrace, hosted by Bennelong Northside, is on Sunday May 31.
2015 is the 41st year for this iconic 16km trail run through the national parks of Middle Harbour from Lindfield to Seaforth Oval, and offers some spectacular scenery (course pics here).
There is a big discount for online entry. Hot food and shower facilities are available at the finish. A baggage drop is provided. Enter in the next couple of days and you can order a T-shirt. Enter on the day is available but at a premium.
Orienteering clubs traditionally help by providing volunteers at various points along the route. Proceeds from the event help ONSW and Bennelong Northside.
Rock stars galore at State League 5/6
- Last Updated: Monday, 18 May 2015 17:50
Crisp autumn days and awesome granite terrain made for a delightful State League weekend near Orange, culminating in the NSW Long championships at Gumble on Sunday.
ACT WOC runner Lachlan Dow took out M21A ahead of NSW Junior Squad coach Jock Davis (BF) and Eric Morris (BN). It was a Canberra double with Jo Allison winning the women's section, ahead of Tracy Marsh (BF) and Michele Dawson (GO).
Daniel Hill (GO) returned to the winner's podium in M20A by knocking over clubmates Aidan Dawson and Toby Wilson. Daniel's dad Tony then produced possibly the run of his life to claim the M50A crown in a strong field.
The event drew competitors from the ACT, Victoria and even two from Queensland.
In W14A, just 62 seconds separated the three placegetters, with Ellen Currie (GO) a narrow winner. In M14, rookie Angus Leung (pictured here by Tony Hill) impressed with a third placing. Angus was at the recent junior squad camp and is making big strides in our sport.
On Saturday, Anthony Nolan produced the upset of SL5 in M40A by beating Big Foot star Michael Burton.
Thanks to Goldseekers and Bennelong Northside for putting such a great weekend.
Click the blue links for results from Saturday, Sunday, Tony Hill's photo album, and the course setter of the year surveys.
Our next State League outing is the annual QB III carnival over the June long weekend, near Lithgow. Entries close on Monday May 25.
Life's a beach at Simmos
- Last Updated: Monday, 11 May 2015 18:58
SHOO finally unveiled their lovely new bush map of Simmos Beach in ideal autumn conditions for orienteering on Sunday.
More than six months of preparation by mapper/setter Stephan Wagner came to fruition (after an 11th hour hiccup in March), and so MetrO League round 1 was enjoyed two weeks after round 2.
Just half an hour from the Sydney CBD, Simmos Beach boasts a myriad of tracks, rock faces and quarries - this made concentration crucial and allowed for many route choices.
While the local endangered snail was not spotted on course, neither were any human snails as our 160+ competitors took advantage of the firm footing to record excellent times.
Garingal junior Toby Wilson took out division 1 for the second round in a row, almost four minutes faster than WHO's James Macquillan. Likewise, Angus Shedden was again quickest in Division 2.
In contrast to the many nailbiters in the series opener at Western Sydney Parklands, many of the matches here were lopsided and only one match was decided by seven points or less: the GO Frill Necks suffering another narrow defeat.
Click on the blue links for Eventor results and the map.
A huge thank you to Stephan for his efforts, SHOO for their seamless organisation (including chocolates for the mums) and Campbelltown Council for permission to orienteer there.
