Fantastic locations led to excellent attendances over the weekend as orienteers enjoyed cooler weather for a change.
Big Foot's sprint event at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday drew a series-record 125 runners, keen for another taste of the venue that hosted the 2009 World Masters Games Sprint final. Garingal junior Aidan Dawson was fastest in 14:41, a good half a minute clear of Newcastle's world championship rep Josh Blatchford. Lots of controls in the tricky Heritage Precinct, and many out-of-bounds garden beds, made for intricate navigation in what is otherwise a flat, fast area. Great setting!
SHOO's Summer Sats series has steadily attracted new families from the Macarthur region to our sport with its mix of 30-minute score courses and short line courses for younger kids. Their evening Camden Riverside run saw a record 40 entries, with some coming from the eastern suburbs, northern beaches and city. Lachlan Brooks (SH) and Maggie Mackay (UR) took out the easy course while local couple Angus and Ruth Shedden won the score course categories. The maps are on the SHOO Facebook page.
On Sunday morning, Central Coast hosted at the much-loved newish map of Pretty Beach, this time with an extension to the west taking in some elevated bush tracks. A season-high 33 runners enjoyed the waterfront run, sans surf club and beach for the first time, going past the new abode of newlywed Garingal couple Tom Joss and Claire Winnick. Newcastle pair Justin Stafford and Ruth Gilbert won the day.
CC's last Sunday morning summer series event is this weekend at Lake Haven.
