With our summer series in full swing around the state, we thought it timely to outline how they all work - in case you are out and about during the holiday season and fancy a run 'away'.
Some series take a break over the Xmas-New Year-school holiday period so check the event calendar.
While most offer the basic framework of a 45-minute score course, there is enough diversity across clubs and series to keep the brain ticking over wherever you may find yourself participating.
SYDNEY... for all three series (South - Sat/Sun, West - Mon and North - Wed) the format is the same: 30 controls (10 each worth 10, 20 and 30 points) and you have 45 minutes to get as many of them as you can, with a 10-point penalty for each part of a minute late. Setters are encouraged to set a maximum length of 10.5km to 'get the lot' on a flat course and 9km on a very hilly one. The idea is that our elites should be encouraged to think they might just be able to get all 30 controls in the time, or be slightly late. Sportident is used, and starts are from 4.30pm-6.45pm. Perhaps the standout feature of the Sydney events is that you have unlimited planning time - so it's common to see people with rulers and pieces of string calculating their routes meticulously. A couple of years ago one club sprung a 'no-look' event... and there was almost a mutiny! The SSS maps are full colour (see sample) and are either 1:7,500 or 1:10,000. Contour intervals can be 2m, 4m or 5m depending on the map. Setters also try to maximise the amount of parks, reserves and bush tracks visited. The West & South series are in their third seasons while the North has been going for 23 years. It runs throughout daylight saving.
NEWCASTLE (Wednesdays)... controls are worth 1, 2 or 3 points and are Q&A-based (multiple choice). This saves having to put out and collect controls. Setters are given latitude as to how many controls of each point value they deploy (25-40 controls, 45-70 points available, 11-16 km to clear the course). All maps are 1:10,000 and have 10m contours. They are street orienteering maps with a few colours. It is very much a street series and as such they have introduced a 'pram' category (pictured) which is proving very popular this season. You get just two minutes to plan your route. Waves of 4-6 runners set off every two minutes from 5-6.30pm. You get your map when the preceding wave starts. Newcastle have been running their series for 24 years. There are about 60 map areas in the club inventory, ranging from Caves Beach & Bonnells Bay in the south to Medowie in the north and west as far as Maitland. It runs throughout daylight saving until mid-February.
CENTRAL COAST (Sundays)... The same format as Sydney, with map scales and contours also variable, but - like Newcastle - you get just two minutes to plan (on an honesty basis). Being held on Sunday mornings (starts from 9-11am), they get regular visitors from Newcastle and Sydney. CC like to base most summer events near a beach or Lake Macquarie so there's hopefully always a cooling breeze present and a refreshing dip afterwards.
WAGGA (Thursdays)... Controls are worth 50, 100 or 200 points, with the big bikkies scarcer. Controls are Q&A, with start and finish using SI. Planning time is optional as the series aims to introduce newcomers to the sport. Choose from 30 minutes or 45 minutes on course. On hotter days, the event is cut to 30 minutes. Starts are from 6-6.45pm. They have updated their maps to colour. They run from mid-November to early March, and take a 6-week break over the January school holidays.
DUBBO (Fridays in November)... Western Plains conduct a brief summer series in November, offering a 30-minute score course with SI controls. Starts are from 6-6.45pm.
ORANGE (Fridays)... Goldseekers conduct a brief summer series in February. The score format is perhaps the friendliest of all (9 controls worth 50 points, 9 worth 60 points, 8 worth 70 points, with a 50-point penalty per minute late). The controls are set out to more or less justify the increasing values. You have to work harder for the 70-point ones. Sportident is used. They also run a short line course as an alternative.
ARMIDALE (Thursdays in November, Wednesdays in February)...
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS (Saturdays)... SHOO do it short and sweet: throughout January and early February in the Campbelltown area they offer a 30-minute score course (10 controls worth 10, 10 controls worth 20) or a 2km line course with families in mind.
GRAFTON (second Friday of the month)... Between the green shoots of our newest clubs in Lismore and Coffs, a new gang has popped up to spread the word in Jacaranda city. They just have the one town map at this stage but hope to get more soon. Their first two events attracted more than 100 people each time, and the area is very keen on orienteering, with family groups and strollers a big hit. Similar to Newcastle, they send runners off in waves, with a 1-minute look at the map. Controls are worth 1-2-3 points, Q&A based, with 45 minutes the limit and late penalties.
