An awesome new map for the NSW Long Champs closed the curtain on a wonderful 9-day Easter carnival hosted by ONSW.
Barbara Hill made great use of the flatter areas in the Gardens of Stone National Park on Saturday to lead more than 440 competitors on an initial roller coaster ride that finished with a middle distance flourish through rock and a quarry that resembled an amphitheatre with its spectator/radio control.
The best performance on the day was Nicola Blatchford (Newcastle) winning the women's junior elite race in a strong field despite rolling an ankle en route to the first control.
Nicola and Michele Dawson are NSW's two representatives at the Junior World Champs in Bulgaria in July; Michele took out the overall junior women's elite title at Easter with four great runs. We wish them all the best in Borovets.
Some kind soul found an abandoned joey on course and returned it for Joanna Hill to mind (pic, right) until WIRES arrived.
On Anzac Day Dick Ogilvie presented a new start and finish location for the NSW Sprint champs at Lithgow HS/TAFE - in the middle of the school oval. This afforded everyone extensive views of participants as they entered and emerged from the buildings - and glimpses of the bush section to the south of the school.
A massive thank you to the organising committee for the Australian 3-Days at Rylstone and Clandulla SF, and to Sydney clubs Uringa and Garingal for last weekend's State League double header. Everyone who contributed - setters, vettors, controllers, organisers, helpers, participants - deserves a week off!
The weather was beautiful and the countryside verdant after much autumn rain - showing off the best aspects of our sport.
Other highlights of the carnival were:
* Ross Barr won the David Hogg Medal for Event Management for his 23 years in charge of the popular Sydney Summer series.
* Our NSW Stingers remain atop the junior women's NOL standings, with Michele first in the individual tally and Nicola third.
* Big Foot (pictured, right) won the Easter Club competition
* New ONSW president Greg Barbour shadowed his daughters around their first ever O course.
* Relative newcomers having their first crack at moderate courses on the Saturday.
Click the links below for photos from the events:
Easter Anzac Weekend: NSW Sprint Champs | NSW Long Champs
Long Champs organisers Garingal would like to offer a heartfelt "thank you" to NSW National Parks and Wildlife, Office of the Environment and Heritage for access to Gardens of Stone Park for this event within the Greater Blue Mountain World Heritage Area.
Garingal would also like to extend a huge thank you to John Holland Rail as the Managing Agent for the Country Regional Network, for access to the rail corridor for parking as well as the provision of a Protection Officer during the event.
Thanks also go to Endura for supplying post-race nutrition, and to the private land holders.
