A new assembly on a new UWS Parramatta map made for good numbers and interesting orienteering. The runners navigated around the buildings of the historic Female Orphan School (the main building of the Orphan School is the oldest 3 storey building in Australia) and the bright new architecture of the modern university.
Planner Lyn Malmgron set an interesting course with lots of changes in direction and a number of crossovers. There were a number of opportunities to stretch a gait, with longer legs over grassed slopes.
Michael Burton showed his power as a runner with his charge up the hill to the finish to nudge Ian Myer down one place. Lisa Grant and Barbara Hill battled it out with only 50 seconds separating them. The high point for the younger orienteers was watching the Parramatta Rivercat travelling so close to the shore that they could wave to the commuters on board.
On a serious note, organisers were concerned that there were a number of participants who ran through gardens and areas marked olive green. Runners should take warning from the 2011 World Orienteering Championships where elites doing the same thing were disqualified in large numbers. Whilst this time all that was suffered was a reprimand, runners should note that this behaviour doesn't impress the landowners or the clubs who have mapped the area.
Photo: Ross Duker
