Latest ONSW News
A closer interclub challenge could not have been planned; after three matches the clubs were even at 62 points each with everything to run for in the finals on 31st July. Wet conditions hampered all the runners, with steep slopes slippery with the rain, soaking vegetation and muddy conditions underfoot, making for slow running for everyone. John Oliver beat Albury's Matt Flower by 22 seconds, to take an early one point lead on the Long Red. Albury's Liz Wood evened up the match by winning the Short Red. Despite a good run on the Orange course by Pauline Moore and a handicap winning run by Angela Farrell, the Waggaroos missed points in the Orange course on competition rules which had worked in their favour in the last match; no Albury runners on Orange made this a no scoring course. The Green course became the decider, with Albury's Edmonson family's determination to finish the testing course bringing the team the one point they needed to win the series. Final result: Albury 64: Waggaroos 63
North Sydney Boys, Mosman High and Normanhurst Boys High School raced in the last of the Schools Regional Championships before the NSW Schools Champs at the end of this month. This was the first time a North Sydney championship had been staged, and although this was the smallest of the championships this year, it was well supported by the School Sports Unit with Peter Tomlin and the schools convener, Andrew Mitchell (North Sydney Boys High School) both of whom were enthusiastic about the event and how to grow the participation next year. Individual races were followed by an informal relay around the showground which brought out the competitive streak in everyone including two teams made up of the coaches.
Ridgelines dominated the courses for the club event this weekend, with runners needing strong lungs and legs to zigzag up, down and across the contours. Rob Matthews held off John Oliver to win Red, Keith Collin had a convincing win in Orange taking handicap honours as well as first place, with Kath Oliver winning the Green course.
Frostfest is the winter festival of the four annual festivals held in Orange. Organisers included the Goldseekers club event in their programme, and this, along with an interview on Radio 2GZ FM of Goldseekers President Philip Schwebel, provided one of the best turnouts to a club event of the season so far.
The Oaky Creek map is an enjoyable area to run, being native bush with controlled burn areas, making it immensely runnable. Used in a past Christmas 5 days, it is planned to use the area for a future State League race. NSW squad members from the area were out to race, with Daniel Parton winning the Short Red and beating his father by 4 minutes, closely followed by Bridget Bennett who was first for the women and third on the course. Basil Baldwin was the winner of the Long Red beating Penrith runner Jason Rutkowski into second place. Kate Kennedy, another State junior took the Orange course win, David Wright winning the Green course, and Hannah Johnson the Blue with her father.
