Latest ONSW News
Our junior squad had a camp at Orange last weekend. The weather was frigid but the atmosphere was warm and convivial as always.
Here, squad first-timer Tshinta Hopper (BN, 12) recounts her stay.
"The four-day Junior Squad Camp at Orange was a fun and educational experience. As a newcomer, I didn't know what to expect, however, it turned out to be better than I had imagined. For most of the time it was very cold, and rainy, and it even snowed (much to our excitement!) but that didn't stop Jock, our expert instructor, from setting challenging courses and talking about route choices, planning and relay orienteering."
"On the third night, a sports psychologist came in to talk to us about the mental aspects of orienteering. This gave everyone a useful insight into another way to enhance our skills."
"During the camp, I refined my compass work, map reading and attention to detail, as well as improving my overall orienteering skills. The kids who went were great to be with and very welcoming. I really enjoyed getting to know everyone. A big thanks to Sally (Team Manager) and Jock (Team Coach) for all their hard work in organising this fantastic camp."
One of the more intriguing events on our calendar - the annual Sydney Turkey Trot - is all set for its 10th running on Sunday.
As detailed in the latest Australian Orienteer magazine, the Turkey Trot is a multi-map long distance event run by the Western and Hills Club (WHO).
Course lengths are 20km, 12km and 8km - with anywhere from 3 to 5 maps used. It's a mass start designed (hopefully) so that the winners on each course finish at the same time. In 2011 barely 5 seconds separated the 3 men's winners.
Entries have closed but anyone wishing to do Enter-on-Day should rock up to Don Moore Reserve at North Rocks (next to Muirfield Golf Club) between 10-11am.
This map was first used for a Western Sydney Summer Series last December and showcases some lovely bush around Darling Mills Creek.
Elsewhere this weekend IKO have a run at Wanda on Saturday, Newcastle have a minor event at Ryhope and Goldseekers are at Bloomfield.
We also have a large number of orienteers overseas at the moment for the European summer, the highlight of which is the annual world championships starting on Saturday in Italy.
You can follow the Australian team on their blog, and via the championship website.
As our season enters a minor slowdown for midwinter we thought it was time to highlight some of the fantastic development work that helps spread the word about orienteering.
Much of this is behind-the-scenes stuff but contributes greatly to our public profile and participation stats.
In Newcastle, ONSW coaching director and development officer Carolyn Rigby co-ordinates the AASC program in the Hunter and is heavily involved in other school programs. Carolyn led our AASC expansion into Orange, which culminated in a wonderful gala day run by Goldseekers. GS are maintaining the students' interest with 2 events in the July school hols.
Fellow DO Barbara Hill has been busy co-ordinating the mapping or remapping of six NSW Sport & Rec centres thanks to a state government grant. Barbara is also designing programs for the centres to make full use of the maps.
Barbara and ONSW marketing officer Ian Jessup are putting the finishing touches on a resource kit and companion booklet for the AASC program. While this program will change next year, the kit and booklet can be used by any school or site wishing to introduce students to orienteering. Carolyn and Salme Fuller, our IKO AASC coach, have contributed to this.
Ian has also been busy on the north shore, running an 8-week program for 210 Mosman HS Year 7 students, as well as lessons for Mackellar Girls HS Year 9 and 10 PASS classes.
Other groups we have hosted lately are Roseville College (64 dads and daughters at Manly Dam), and a church youth group at Sydney Olympic Park (63 teenagers plus mentors). Thanks to the Hill and Burnett families for running these.
Term 2 is also regional school championship time. Numbers have grown dramatically in the past few years thanks to the volunteers who help the events run smoothly and create a great impression with teachers, parents, students and the DET organisers.
Development officer Lyn Malmgron is the guru of all this, and her success has been so great that we have had to split Sydney South West into separate primary and high school days.
The only region not to have started an annual schools champs or gala day is North Coast - but with the recent addition of Northern Rivers and Bush n Beach clubs it's only a matter of time.
In Armidale, the Northern Tablelands club is installing a permanent course at Dumaresq Dam - it opens on June 28. And in Sydney, Centennial Park have sold out of kits for the permanent course established there two years ago by ONSW and Uringa. More kits are being ordered.
All this activity has generated a lot of press coverage. Well done to everyone.
Northern Tablelands Orienteering Club announces the installation of a permanent orienteering course at Dumaresq Dam, near Armidale.
The course has been constructed as a community service by the club and will be officially opened on the first day of the school holidays, Saturday June 28. Members of the club will be on hand between 10 am and 3 pm to give tips on map reading and navigation.
Maps will be available at the picnic shelter on the day, and from the Visitors Information Centre at other times. Apart from that, all you need is a pencil to tick off the control points as you find them.
The course does a leisurely circuit around the dam with relatively easy navigation. It is about 2.8 km in length and should take no more than 1 hour to complete at walking pace. A compass may be used if you have one but is not essential.
