Latest ONSW News
It is with great delight that we announce the birth of our newest family member - the Northern Rivers Orienteering Club. Based in the Lismore/Ballina region, 'NROC' is the culmination of almost two years work behind the scenes by our board and locals keen for an O outlet on the far north coast.
A website www.nroc.asn.au is under construction and their first event is set down for August 25 at Geoff Watt Oval. A huge thanks to Mandy Askew-Smith (president), Henning Hansen (secretary) and Justine Barratt (treasurer) for taking on the initial executive roles.
Our six free taster events last year generated favourable press coverage and enough interest to suggest a new club would be viable and welcome.
In conjunction with the announcement of NROC, our coaching director Carolyn Rigby was in Lismore this week conducting a gala day for 70 students from six schools who do orienteering as part of the AASC program.
The gala day was featured on NBN TV news, adding to our drive to reintroduce the sport into the area. We hope that with the NROC club up and running we will able to add North Coast to our growing list of regional schools orienteering championships.
The Sydney South West primary schools champs (set down for Wed Jun 26) have been called off due to the heavy rain over the past few days. We are hoping to conduct them now on Wed Jul 17.
Likewise, yesterday's Hunter schools champs also had to be cancelled due to the big wet. Organisers are now looking at Tue Jul 30 as an alternate.
We will confirm the new dates ASAP. Thank you to all those who offered their services as marshals, coaches etc.
On Sunday the Sydney metropolitan clubs will gather at Allambie Heights Oval for round 4 of the MetrO League to explore the northern and eastern sections of Manly Dam.
This is where the very first ML event was held in 1994, and so it is fitting that we should thank the MetrO League founder and retiring co-ordinator Frank Assenza for devising the concept and seeing it through to the stage where we now have 29 teams competing in five divisions.
Frank's enthusiasm for the club teams competition - he signs off emails 'FrancO di MetrO' - almost rivals his love (and knowledge) of classical music and opera - and the trusty old-fashioned whiteboards that show the head-to-head results each round.
Once the first runners are back it's soon standing room only around the whiteboards as we gather to see who came where, who beat who... and puzzle over the occasional 'mp'.
So on behalf of all ONSW members, we say "Thanks Frank".
NSW Stinger Felicity Brown is in excellent nick ahead of next month's world championships after dominating the first half of Tallinn O-week. The Central Coast orienteer won the 6km city race through the Estonian capital, after starting the week with a close fourth placing in the sprint. She then returned to Sweden to train with partner Julian Dent, who is on his way back from injury. Results from Tallinn are here. WOC is in Vuokatti, Finland, from July 6-14. Pictured here with Felicity is Victorian Bryan Keely, who produced an outstanding 3 days with 9th in the sprint, a win in the long distance in the forest and a second in the city race. This photo is after the city race as they celebrated a terrific double for Australia.
