So many controls, so many huge erosion gullies and earthbanks, and so many people absolutely certain they are in the right place.
Only to find the number on the control is not theirs. Welcome to complex gold mining terrain.
The Australian Middle Distance champs unveiled the first of three new maps at Hill End in the state's central west on Sunday to great acclaim as 899 participants tried to work their way through what appeared to be quite short courses.
Setter Graeme Dawson faced a difficult task to set fast but technical courses; and lured many into his spider web with some generous initial controls - followed by increasingly intricate ones in very confusing terrain.
The pick of the wins by NSW orienteers was in M14A where Bennelong Northside's Clyde McGhee had a breakout victory at national level, while JWOC rep Toby Wilson (Garingal) bounced back to form with a third placing in the junior men's elite.
However, it was our NSW women who carried the can with 11 victories on the day.
Kiwi Bill Edwards cleaned up M50A by an astonishing eight minutes. At the other end of the scale, spare a thought for ONSW president Greg Barbour - the commentators announced him as the winner of M55A by just two seconds... only to learn later he had in fact lost by one second to Victorian arch rival Warren Key.
We thank newly elected Bathurst Mayor Graeme Hanger for making the trip out to present the medallions, and the cameraman from WIN TV (see pic, left) for filming the event and conducting interviews. Look for these on Monday or Tuesday nights.
NSW winners (there were 18, from nine clubs) were:
W10A Aoife Rothery (BF), W12A Erika Enderby (NC), W20 Clare Jessup (GO), W21A Nikolett Halmai (GO), W35A Phoebe Dent (CC), W45A Jenny Enderby (NC), W45AS Maria Orr (NC), W55AS Carolyn Davies (GO), W65AS Carolyn Rigby (NC), W70A Jenny Hawkins (NT), W JuniorB Serena Doyle (UR).
M14A Clyde McGhee (BN), M21A Charles Keir (GS), M35AS Peter Fozo (GO), M40A Doug Jay (SH), M55AS Peter May (NT), MOpenB Willam Thompson (NC), Open Easy William Nolan (UR).
Tuesday is the Australian Schools Champs at Roseberg State Forest.
Click on the blue links for Middle results, Facebook photos, Routegadget and WinSplits.
