Latest ONSW News

Runners in the State League races at Belanglo this weekend will be relieved that the hot weather of the last few days has broken, and whilst there are still some high winds today, by the weekend the forecast is for cool running temperatures of around 20'. 

Saturday's State League #10 Middle Distance Race is hosted by Uringa and will use a fully re-worked Bunnygalore map now renamed 'Beyond Rocklea'; Sunday's race, State League #11 combines a Long Distance race with the NSW Schools Championships.  State Juniors already selected for the squad travelling to the Australian Championships, will be out in force vying for the racing spots on the team.

Competitors can find their start lists and final information on-line now here

The NSW competitors in this year's Queensland MTBO Championships arrived at Woodford north west of Brisbane by train, plane and automobile. Most only made the trip for the weekend with a few taking the leisurely driving option.  It was a long way to travel for two one hour races in the Middle and Long Distance Championships but for NSW it was all worth it with Newcastle carrying off combined wins over the two days in four classes:

Womens Open: Jenny Enderby Newcastle

Mens 50: Andrew Power, Newcastle

Mens 60: Greg Bacon, Newcastle

Mens 70: Graham Fowler Newcastle

Read Greg Bacon's report from the Queenland MTBO Championships here.

Garingal Orienteers hosted Junior League race #8 along with its Come and Try It event at Westleigh.  It was an unprepossessing map on first sight, with urban streets teamed with a steep gully system which limited bush control options, but organiser Melissa Joseph and her team skilfully crafted the courses to bring out the best and produce a set of runs which were challenging and enjoyable.

Sophie Jones (UR) and Ewan Shingler (BF) led off the Easy courses and maintained what is proving to be formidable form across these races. Joanna Hill (GO) won her Easy course 2 minutes ahead of rival Rachel Osbourne (BF), and is clearly benefiting from her recent attempts at Orange at MetroLeague running for her club Garingal.  Terence Chiang (UR) won the boys Easy course, the latest great result in a 2012 series which has seen him improve enormously since event #1.

State Junior Squad athlete Georgia Jones (UR)won convincingly in Short Moderate, taking a few of the more experienced adult scalps on the way, and Lewis Redner (GO) brought home the Short Moderate for the boys.

In the Hard courses the competition in the Junior League boys division is close.  Whilst Matthew Hill (who did not run on Sunday) is dominating the leader board, there are plenty fighting for the other podium places.  Younger brother Daniel Hill (GO), always reliably swift, this time lost to Adam Halmy (BN) whose skills as a State competition level cross country runner were on show to win three minutes ahead of Daniel.

And amongst the non-Junior Leaguers?  Salme Fuller (IKN) had a great race in Short Moderate to come second in 42:33.  Glen Horrocks (GO) and Andy Hill (WH) held off the junior challengers to take 1st and 2nd places respectively in the Long Moderate. 

The penultimate Junior League of the season, race #9, will take place on September 23 at Chatswood West.

It is now only 2 days to the close of normal entries on August 20th. After that time late entry fees apply so don't pay more than you have to - get your entries in now! 

Visit the entry page on the Carnival website. 

Detailed event information for each of the races during the Championships week is coming on-line.  All the information for the Australian Long Distance Championships is already posted, and class and distance information for the remainder of the St Helens and Bicheno events is also available on the Program page of the website.

As we get to the Championships you can keep to date with all the latest 'Champ News'.  Follow the action on facebook, keep up to date on Twitter (@2012AustOChamps) and of course check out the News page of the Championship website.