Two engaging DUO events gave orienteers reason to smile over a hot long weekend in Sydney.
At this time of year, hundreds of our members would usually be interstate at the annual Australian championships (set down for Tasmania in 2020).
When they were cancelled, Victoria had hoped to offer two events in Beechworth on maps used at last year's Oceania champs - only to fall victim to the second wave of covid.
That gave us a chance to move the postponed DUO events at Appin and Frenchs Forest into the long weekend - and the response was around 180 entries all up, with some competitors coming from ACT and Newcastle.
Temps on both days nudged 30C at midday as the last participants were finishing on the bike section, making for thirsty work.
Saturday was a true team effort - with Ian Jessup (Garingal/ONSW) setting, Rob Prentice (Newcastle) controlling and Uringa organising on SHOO's Appin map updated by IKO!
Immediate ONSW past president Greg Barbour (Big Foot) was the only person to clear both courses within the 60-minute limit.
He backed up again on Monday at Frenchs Forest, again set by Ian but organised by Garingal, where shorter courses gave everyone a reprieve from the heat.
This resulted in 32 people clearing the Foot course and 23 people clearing the MTBO course which featured some intriguing twisting single track and some suburban street riding.
Results and splits are on Eventor. Click on the blue links for the courses: Appin Foot, Appin MTBO, Frenchs Forest Foot, Frenchs Forest MTBO.
A huge thank you to Ian for setting both events and ensuring some MTBO action in Sydney, plus all the helpers on each day, and the scouts (Appin) and girl guides (Frenchs Forest) for use of their halls. We saw lots of newcomers having a go.
Newcastle are hosting the next 3 MTBO outings - a free come-and-try-it on October 18, then BOSS events on November 15 and December 13.
We are already planning DUO events for 2021 - stay tuned!
