NSW Schools team members Toby Wilson, Alastair and Rebecca George and Tom Kennedy were among the 10-pointers as the last round of MetrO League ventured onto a new ML map at Beacon Hill.
Sydney Summer Series regulars accustomed to simple street and park running have found the dozens of MTB tracks around the 'Clay Pan' at Red Hill totally confusing the past two seasons, and Sunday resulted in many long times - even among bush veterans.
The thick bush made it impossible to see between the tracks which made it a true navigational challenge.
But it wasn't all fleet-afoot for Gen Y - the GO Legless team (Divn 5 champions last year) went down in Division 4 and thus missed the chance to go back to back.
There was plenty of drama too - Graeme Hill (father of Stinger Andy) filled in for WHO in Division 1. His 2 points, coupled with Big Foot being one runner short, meant a 27-27 tie - giving WHO a spot in the final against the Feet at the expense of the fast-finishing Garingal Goannas who thrashed UR-CC 36-19. It was the first point Big Foot have dropped in many years.
In Division 2 Big Foot downed the GO Dragons 30-25 to ensure a rematch in the final and knock SHOO out of contention.
In Division 3 IKO had a comfortable 32-23 win over the GO Molochs to book their place in the decider against the previously unbeaten WHO, who fielded only two runners against Big Foot. IKO filled their last spot in the team with Yelina Filippova, mother of lead runner Natalya. Yelina took almost two hours to finish her course. Russian - yes, rushin' - nyet! Welcome to Australia, Yelina.
Bennelong will go into the Division 4 and 5 finals as strong favourites after completing the rounds with 5 straight wins each. They'll take on the GO Monitors in Divn 4 and SHOO in Divn 5.
The finals, at Cecil Hills on Sun Aug 31, are:
Divn 1: Big Foot v WHO
Divn 2: GO Dragons v Big Foot
Divn 3: IKO v WHO
Divn 4: Bennelong v GO Monitors
Divn 5: Bennelong v SHOO
In the race for the individual medals, Andy Hill (WHO) has Divn 1 in the bag after his fifth straight 10-pointer. In Divn 2 only Doug Jay (33) can deny SHOO team-mate Angus Shedden (38) the medal. In Divn 3 the only threat to Alex Karavaev (IKO, 46) is WHO's Daniel Smith (42). Garingal duo Tania Kennedy and Lewis Redner are tied on 44 points in Divn 4; both would need to mp in the final for Belinda Kinneally (WHO) to make it a 3-way 'Brownlow'. In Divn 5 Samuel Tsang (BN, 37) has several rivals close behind.
Results are on Eventor and the MetrO League web page.
