Women's training weekend in Belanglo Forest was no teddy bear's picnic, with nearly thirty female orienteers from around the State coming to learn from NSW Head Coach Nick Dent. The weather was unkind for most of the time, making running conditions wet and slippery and soaking the participants as they tackled the challenging exercises.
Theory sessions followed by practical sessions delivered a tight training package, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. 'You don't often get the opportunity to spend real time working on techniques, like really reading contour,' said Jane McKenna from Uringa Orienteers. 
The experience level of the group ranged from urban orienteering savvy orienteers who had little or no bush experience - one described herself as 'consciously incompetent', to those who had been orienteering for some years picking up skills along the way and often coached by husbands, to a couple who have represented Australia. There was something to learn for everyone, and the final relay race, where teams were mixed up by ability produced some fierce racing. Read the full report here.
