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Alex Davey and Jonathan Holland were the major winners in the Waggaroos Street O event on Sunday, when participants had the choice of 45- or 30-minute score courses around the suburb of Tatton.
On the longer course Alex Davey's anti-clockwise route paid off as he picked up answers to 16 of the 17 questions and scored 185 points. John Oliver went clockwise, staying high initially and slowly dropping down to Plumpton Rd. This left a long slow climb at the very end and only sufficient time to bag 170 points.
It was equally close on the 30-minute course. Jonathan Holland pushed daughter Rachel around in the pram and scored a very good 120 points. Catherine Holland scored 115 points and won handicap honours for the day.
On Sunday 30 June Waggaroos travel south to Gerogery for round 4 of the Interclub series against Albury-Wodonga.
Thanks to John Oliver for this report.
The Stinger of the month for April is.... Matthew Parton
Matt had a great set of results over the Easter three days against some tough competition, placing 7th in the M21E class overall, his best placing 6th on the last day. A well known and successful junior orienteer he represented Australia at JWOC in 2006 with a 6th place in the Sprint. As well as a Stinger he is also an active mentor for younger orienteers helping out at the Junior Development Squad’s camp in the ACT in the Easter School Holidays.
The Stinger of the month for May is...David Meyer
Dave comes from a stable of great runners with brothers Glenn and Ian both current Stingers who with sister Shannon have all winners of Australian Championships as juniors. All the brothers are members of SHOO with father Peter past President of SHOO and current secretary of the Association.
A junior who showed enormous promise, being named on the Australian Schools Championships Honour team a record 5 times, and representing Australia twice at JWOC, Dave has matured into a impressive elite but has failed to date to show that killer instinct to perform at the highest levels internationally. All that is about to change. Dave has set his sights on representing Australia at the WOC in 2014 and it would be a fool who bet against his chances. His campaign has started well with success at the Easter Carnival, finishing only two minutes behind Christopher Naunton, winner on Day One. He followed this up with some solid performances at the WOC trials in the ACT coming 4th in both the Long and the Sprint Distance. Dave is our Stinger of the month for May.
We wish both our talented winners here the best of luck with their training and racing this year. They each win an Endura pack – nutrition for elite athletes to help them train harder, race faster and recover quicker.
The inaugural South Coast schools orienteering gala day resulted in many happy, excited students discovering the joys of our sport. Development Officer Lyn Malmgron, Kev Curby and the IKO crew impressed the teachers with the introductory coaching and then the courses set around the Croom Regional Sporting Complex at Albion Park late last month. A total of 74 students took part and this week's Illawarra Mercury report and photo gallery shows our sport in a great light. We now have 8 of the 10 NSW school sporting regions hosting schools champs or gala days. Congratulations to everyone involved as we showcase orienteering to new audiences.
A true sprint, a genuine long distance event and a great middle distance: that sums up a terrific QBIII carnival at the Southern Highlands over the long weekend. Almost 350 participants from five states enjoyed lovely weather and interesting courses. As well as being a State League triple header, they were also excellent practice for the elites off to JWOC and WOC very soon.
