Latest ONSW News
Waggaroos are the latest of our ONSW clubs to launch into summer series mode, with their first event for 2013-14 this Thursday.
They offer 30-minute score courses as well as the standard 45 minutes, and kick off at Kaloona Drive, Bourkelands on the southern fringe of NSW's biggest inland city. Views over Jubilee Park to the west and along Willans Hill make this a lovely spot for the series opener. The start window is 6-6.45pm.
At the recent Albury-Wodonga championships, Waggaroos showed plenty of girl power with Briohny Seaman winning the women's 3.5km title (and Debbie Davey 3rd), and Kath Oliver taking out the women's 2.5km short course.
Elsewhere, Northern Tablelands (Armidale, Thu) and Western Plains (Dubbo, Fri) have their summer series well underway.
And a reminder to Sydney juniors that our Saturday morning schools series finale is this weekend at Centennial Park. Meet at the Education Centre. It's 9am rego for a 9.30am start. Rumour has it the event will be a fun relay with parents invited to join in - and possibly even a surprise on course.
Long-time ONSW admin officer and Uringa committee member Dave Lotty has been nominated for a Distinguished Long Service award at the annual NSW Sports Federation presentation night later this month.
Dave, who retired in November 2010 after a phenomenal 37 years running the daily operations of Orienteering NSW, is one of 20 nominees in that category.
A life member of ONSW, Dave was a gun track athlete prior to taking up our sport in November 1971 - that's even before Gough Whitlam became Prime Minister!
These days he co-ordinates the expansion Southern Sydney Summer Series and does loads of mapping for schools, parks and bush.
He has produced all 14 versions of the Centennial Park map that now hosts a permanent course.
Grafton’s first Street-O event was held late last month in conjunction with the local Jacaranda Festival - and it was a huge success.
More than 100 people from across the Clarence Valley, ranging from families with young children to experienced veterans like Ian and Merran Warlters of the Southern Highlands club, took part.
Locals were excited to be able to participate in a family-friendly sport that was affordable, challenging, social, and got them out and about in this beautiful part of the world. The feedback was unanimous – they loved it, and will definitely be back for more!
Event organisers Julie Irvine (who has been heavily involved in orienteering for 30 years now), Gavin Rayward (a former Street-O Newcastle participant, occasional rogainer and avid adventure racer) and Naomi Rayward (Gavin’s wife who orienteered once... a long time ago!), were blown away by the turnout. A promotional poster generated interest and regular updates on their own Facebook page keep the locals informed.
David Stitt, Garingal's long-serving secretary, heads the list of our major award winners for 2013.
David took out the President's Award at our presentation night at the Town Hall Hotel in Balmain on Saturday.
Besides David's decades of service to Garingal, he initiated and continues to run the popular monthly winter after-dark midweek score series Moonlight Madness. This series enables first-time setters to have a go and offers orienteers a pleasant evening run in a largely social environment.
Our other major winners for 2013 are:
Club of the Year: Goldseekers (Orange).
President's Junior Award: Samantha Wallace and Kate Kennedy (Western Plains).
Rookie of the Year: Jai di Tommaso (Garingal).
Cox's Cup Encouragement Award: Bruce Meder (Northern Tablelands).
Course Setter of the Year: Robert Bradley (Western & Hills).
A full list of winners can be accessed here.
And we must also offer a huge thank you to Uringa's Anthony Nolan for putting on an architecturally themed walk/run around Balmain as part of the Sydney Architecture Festival.
