Latest ONSW News
A strong field was pushed to their limits at the NSW MTBO championships in Taree last weekend.
Heavy rain in the days before the double header turned the usually fast single tracks into muddy and slippery paths that made for longer times than usual.
It was all good physical and mental practice for this weekend's Australian champs in Gympie, Queensland. A group of 25 Kiwis entered both events and will be out to claim more of the spoils north of the border.
Kay Haarsma has more here.
The big news from the Northern Tablelands event at Banalasta last weekend was that Alinta & Felicity placed first and second on the Long Hard course. To my knowledge, this club has not previously had a female orienteer capable of beating the men on the long course (at least not in the 20 years that I have been a member), and now we have two!
The weather tried to steal the limelight, but fortunately the forecast of a fine Sunday was accurate. However Saturday’s rain resulted in the last flags not being hung until Sunday morning, and a last minute change to the access track. The mud in the gateway at the yards looked bad, but amazingly no-one got stuck!
Although numbers attending were not huge, it was good to meet Victoria and Libby from Tamworth, and we hope to see them at future events. It was also great to meet the students from Armidale – Tadeusz, Shani & Gwen. They win the “Perseverance Cup”, showing a dogged determination to finish whatever they started.
Orienteering NSW has received a $10,000 grant from the NSW government to map and/or upgrade maps at six Sport & Recreation centres.
The centres are: Narrabeen (Sydney Academy of Sport), Broken Bay, Milson Island, Myuna Bay, Lake Ainsworth and Point Wolstencroft.
The grant was the maximum possible and in return ONSW will be working with Sport & Rec to develop maps, courses and programs so centre staff can deliver orienteering to the many thousands of children and adults who visit them each year.
Many people recall their childhood experience of orienteering as an enjoyable one, and this grant will allow us to present our sport in the best possible light to new audiences.
Sports Minister The Hon. Graham Annesley, who attended our Sydney Summer Series finale and presentations in March, confirmed the grant recently.
ONSW thanks the minister, and promotions director Barbara Hill for her work in preparing and submitting the grant proposal.
Why is IKO president Kev Curby smiling in this photo? Because his club hosted an event in dry, sunny weather for a change ! Our hapless southern colleagues have been beset by torrential rain in recent memory but Saturday's sprints around Double Bay showcased the harbourside in all its glory.
The central location and brilliant 20-degree temperature drew a large (for IKO) crowd of more than 30 participants, forcing organiser Margaret Duguid to do her own sprint - home to print more maps!
Garingal's Tania Kennedy took out the short sprint (1.8km) by almost five minutes from IKO's Vicki Wilmott, Big Foot's Eoin Rothery won the medium (3.6km) ahead of wife Cath Chalmers, while Kiwi visitor Kieran Woods pipped Uringan Ian Jones in the long sprint over 4.9km. The long sprint was a challenge for two reasons: it was considerably longer than stated, and the courses took runners over the highest parts of Double Bay.
Thanks to Maggie Jones and Kev for this report.
