The relays showcase everything great about the Australian schools orienteering championships - beautiful scenery, our best young talent, the thrill of a mass start, hopefully a sprint finish, and great camaraderie between the competing states.
At Macquarie Woods on Thursday we had all of those in spades... and it was Queensland who claimed the glory as Ryan Gray outstrode NSW youngster Alvin Craig in the last 50m of climb to win the junior boys section.
Navigation was straightforward but the four courses were physically very tough - and both boys were totally spent upon crossing the line.
The old adage about a picture speaking a thousand words certainly rang true.
As our photo on the left shows, neither boy could move for several minutes after the frantic haul up and across the last hill through the finish chute as a crowd of hundreds roared them home.
In the other three divisions New Zealand were victorious and ACT second, thereby claiming the mantle of champion Australian state in senior boys and girls along with junior girls (pictured below).
WIN TV were once again on hand to record the event. You can see their report (filmed prior to the end of the relays) on their Facebook page here.
In the public mass start races that followed, these NSW orienteers gained top three places:
1st: Tony Woolford (BB) Men C, Cassandra Thompson (NC) Women E, Wendy McConaghy (GO) Women G, Jamie Woolford (BB) Men H, Alton Freeman (BF) Open Very Easy
2nd: Malcolm Roberts (NC) Men D, Seth Sweeney (WH) Men G, Oliver Freeman (BF) Men H, Carolyn Matthews (NC) Women C, Robyn Pallas (CC) Women D, Wendy McConaghy (GO) Women G, Ben McConaghy (GO) Open Very Easy
3rd: Mark Freeman (BF) Men C, Paula Shingler (BF) Women C, Tim McConaghy (GO) Open Easy
Overall results from the Bathurst 3-Days can be found here.
Friday is a well earned rest day before we go back to Hill End for the Australian Long Champs on Saturday.
