Latest ONSW News
How cunning was Peter's course setting at the second of the SHOO Summer Saturday events at Belgenny Reserve?
A beautiful new map of parkland, flat terrain, control placements clear and finally a cool breeze. Only Steve Cooper, James Wilkinson and Patrick Gunnarsson managed to stay within the 30 minutes. All the rest of us just tried for that - 'one more control'. It looked so easy. You could almost see it round the next corner. Then you looked at your watch and knew that no matter how hard you ran, you were going to be over time.
The PIT was another trap. Reading the control descriptions really helps when you find yourself heading for a riverbeach along a bush track only to find that what you are actually looking for is a pit which you have just run past.
Lachlan Brooks showed his developing strength and speed as a junior orienteer when he again came first in the line course. It was pleasing to see him do the first 4 controls on his own before meeting up with Mum. It was good to see Hannah Davey speeding into second place.
SHOO's next event is this Saturday 19 January on another new map 'Lake Annan' at the Birrawa Clubhouse, Fitzpatrick Road, Mt Annan. Registration is from 5pm with starts between 5:50-6:30pm. After the event there is always somewhere to picnic, or just join the organisers at the local pub!
Due to severe weather expected over the next few days BOSS event No3 (Mountain Bike Orienteering Summer Series - Newcastle) scheduled for Sunday 13th at Hawkemount (Newcastle) will be cancelled.
We are currently looking into options for rescheduling this event
Regards
Andrew Haigh, BOSS Coordinator
The Sydney Sprint Orienteering Series commences next Monday 14th January with an event at UWS Parramatta.
There are 9 events in the series this year including Big Foot's "University of Sydney" which promises to be a highlight of the Sydney summer season. It is a brand new map of a fantastic campus sprint area.
If you haven't tried the Sprint format before come and experience a new orienteering challenge. Each event has 1 course of 3 – 3.5km with winning times for the best orienteers about 15 minutes. The scale used for sprint maps will be 1:4000 or 1:5000.
Sportident timing used for at all events and if you don't own a sportident stick you will be able to hire one at the event. If you wish to purchase a stick email
Details of the full series can be found on the Sprint Series page and each event is listed in the event calendar.
Strong performances across the age classes saw Australia even up the scores in the Australia/New Zealand Challenge on Tuesday by winning the Sprint Race match.
Inspired perhaps by the international elite field whose World Cup races preceded the Oceania competition, NSW competitors delivered a stunning series of podium placings to give Australia the edge it needed to come back on terms with New Zealand after their fine win in the Middle Distance at the weekend.
Fedor Ishakov Bennelong Northside was the first Australian back in M21, Eric Morris also Bennelong Northside 1st place in M40, Karen Blatchford Newcastle 3rd W45, Michael Burton Big Foot 2nd M50, Debbie Davey Waggaroos 3rd W55, Nick Dent Central Coast 2nd M60, Bryony Cox Garingal 1st W65, Ross Barr Garingal (and Mr Sydney Summer Series himself) 3rd M65, Jean Baldwin Goldseekers 3rd W70, Basil Baldwin Goldseekers 3rd M70, and Maureen Ogilvie Uringa 1st W80. Full results listings here
The Australia/NZ Challenge moves on to the Long Distance race on Thursday near Masterton, with a very different set of terrain challenges for the runners.
