Rookie Western Hills teenager Niamh Cassar has produced a stunning win in W16A in complex rock at the NSW Middle Champs just outside Armidale.
Niamh, a talented runner, only started doing hard courses this year and Saturday was just her sixth such outing. She just pipped Mikaela Gray (Queensland) and Ellen Currie (Garingal) to claim her first major title.
Other noteworthy wins by juniors went to Tim McConaghy (Garingal) in M12A, Oscar Woolford (Bush n Beach) in M16A and Duncan Currie (Garingal) in M20 where he beat 2018 JWOC selections Alastair George and Patrick Miller.
The new Pinetree map was covered in boulders and setter Don Barker (Northern Tablelands) made sure we went around or past most of them.
A lovely final loop back past the assembly area - where several controls were obvious to the spectators but not the competitors approaching from above (see pic) - added a little more pressure at the pointy end of the run.
Stephen Craig (Newcastle, M45A) and Chippy le Carpentier (Southern Highlands, M75A) suffered rare defeats and will be out to bounce back in Sunday's Long Champs at the same location.
John Harding's OA Facebook photos are here, the results are here, and our ONSW Facebook photos are here.
Thanks NTOC for a fantastic afternoon.
