Almost 500 students had a great day out as our Term 2 program of school championships wrapped up with events in the Hunter and Sydney South West regions.
Newcastle hosted 79 students from nine high schools on The Tank Paddock map at Minmi on Tuesday. This was a terrific new area first used for last year's NSW schools champs.
After an event and terrain briefing the students completed two courses through the flat gully systems then into the more open area of the paddock. A morning line course for the Age Championships was followed by an early lunch then a 45-minute score course.
While for most students this is their first experience of orienteering in the bush, they still enjoy discussing their courses post run with school mates, teachers and other competitors. Thanks to Colin Bailey for organising, Geoff Todkill for setting the course (for the 13th year in a row!) and all the NC helpers.
The champion school for the 3rd year in a row was Hunter River High from Raymond Terrace whose students benefit from orienteering being included as part of their Years 9/10 PASS elective subject. The boys champion was Thomas Whitehead from Merewether High and the girls champion was Claire Burgess from Hunter School of the Performing Arts.
On Wednesday SHOO hosted 393 primary school students at Camden Bicentennial Equestrian Park. There was a lot of mud around following recent heavy rain but the kids were not put off at all - and the sight of the coffee van selling slushies was like finding that elusive control. Their courses were mainly flat, but the 12-year-olds ventured across the creek into the grassy hill in the NW corner of the map in a loop before returning.
After a map walk with a coach and their age races, it was time for the wonderful pandemonium of the 3-person relays (see pic) with 130 students in a mass start as first runners.
A massive thank you to Lyn Malmgron, Sandra Stewart and the dozens of helpers who came from all across Sydney to make the day a success.
