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Alex Davey continued his good form winning the WaggaRoos summer series event at CSU last Thursday evening.
The event used a line course format as a change from the usual score course and with a 1:4000 map and plenty of buildings this race felt very much like an exciting sprint event. Runners could choose from a 2.3km or a 1.2km course. Alex Davey was a clear winner on the longer course with a margin of almost 3 minutes. Julie Gooding who lost a little time at the sixth and seventh controls, came second but finished full of running and had the fastest time in the 100m dash downhill from the last control to the finish and won the handicap honours for the evening.
The Sydney West Series at Parramatta on Sunday began with runners doing a lot of careful study of the map, as planner Lyn Malmgron's course offered plenty of options. Runners were enticed to controls all over the area from the Cathedral to James Ruse Drive to the southernmost edge of the map. Even locals discovered parts of the town they didn’t know about.
The humidity was a challenge, too. A lovely sunny day after all the rain brought a tropical atmosphere. Only James McQuillan and Glenn Horrocks visited every control, but neither could manage it in under 45 minutes. Newcomer Dean Williamson surprised his fellow SHOO members by coming 7th overall; one to watch?
Thanks to Neville Fathers for this report
Space Racing rocketed to success in Dubbo when the first of a new series of Space Races blasted off last Saturday attracting over forty participants. Based on the Space Racing model developed by Bendigo Orienteers, which has also been used with great success in Sydney, fourteen teams of children were given a mission to find all of the space stations hidden around Victoria Park within thirty minutes and then return to base.
Team Pleione (Samantha Wallace and Haylee Burton ) and Team Sirius (Amber Burton and Natalie Roth) were home first, quickly followed by Team Canopus (Sharni Archer and Debbie Archer). All children received a certificate commending their efforts.
With great weather and a new area to ride 61 competitor’s had a great day’s riding around Bluegum Hills Regional Park near Newcastle. Sydney competitors were out in force despite the early start.
With wide tracks, single tracks, hills and gullies to climb and the odd bit of mud the course allowed for some aggressive riding especially on the downhills. The novice riders had the option of taking the suggested route around the course in the less demanding areas to ride and navigate. It was great to see the number of junior and first time riders at the event.
The regional park will be used for the DuO event in November. The results and a full report are on the Newcastle Orienteering website here.
Thanks to Greg Bacon for this report
