Latest ONSW News

Sydney's Maprun series organised by Nick Barlow - Board Member and Garingal member last one this week!

Western & Hills Orienteers (WHO) have dominated the 2024 Sydney MetrO League after taking out three of the six divisions on physically demanding courses in the final at Northmead on Sunday.

WHO-UR already had Division 1 in the bag and comfortably beat a depleted Bennelong in the last round to finish the year unbeaten and claim their first top level trophy since 2008.

The host club added to that with wins in the Division 3 (30-24 over SHOO-IKO) and Division 4 (33-22 over Bennelong) finals at Excelsior Reserve. It was a great reward for their investment in youth as their teams were loaded with promising juniors.

State member for Castle Hill Mark Hodges, who helped gain WHO a grant to continue their excellent development work, was on hand to present the perpetual trophies and medals to the winning teams. We thank Mark for taking the time out of his busy schedule to attend.

Bennelong Northside again took out Divisions 5 and 6 with easy wins over the previously unbeaten WHO and the Garingal Geckos respectively, while SHOO-IKO won the Division 2 final against the Garingal Frill Necks.

Courses mainly followed the steep tracks in the reserve, with only two viable crossing points of Excelsior Creek. The loose leaf litter, rockfaces and gravelly tracks made for cautious progress for many orienteers, while the younger and more nimble were able to run with greater freedom.  

Winners of the individual medals are:

Div 1 - Seth Sweeney (WH) and Ryan Armstrong (BN) 

Div 2 - Curtis Pepper (BN)

Div 3 - Kieran Joseph (GO)

Div 4 - Euan Shedden (SH)

Div 5 - Louise Waland (BF)

Div 6 - Dennis Sparling (GO) and Ning Li Marc Heng (GO)  

A big thank you to all the setters, controllers, organisers, mappers, helpers and club captains for their volunteer efforts in a record year with 33 teams.

The 2024 Victorian Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO) Championships took place over the weekend of 31st August and 1st September at Whroo, near Rushworth. Part of the National MTBO Series – Round 2, the event featured both Sprint and Long-Distance competitions. Organised by Bayside Kangaroos Orienteers, this year’s championships.

Both events were held on the Whroo Goldfields map, known for its varied and demanding terrain. The area is predominantly open native forest, offering riders a mix of well-used vehicle tracks, less distinct paths, and sections shaped by historical mining activity. The Sprint event, in particular, featured a more complex part of the map, with erosion from old mining operations adding to the difficulty. The terrain was mostly flat, though short hills around former mining areas and scattered small dams added challenges, requiring precise navigation and quick decision-making. The Long Distance event, on the other hand, tested riders' endurance over a wider area. The terrain was fast in many parts, with flatter stretches interspersed with short climbs. Riders had to maintain speed while navigating through dense areas and making sure not to miss the occasional less obvious track junctions.

NSW Competitors in Action: Sprint Event:

NSW riders made a big impact in the Sprint race. Robert Prentice (Newcastle orienteering) won the sprint race in M70, Alon Gudes from Uringa Orienteers took 1st place in the M14 category, while his father, Ori Gudes, claimed 2nd place. Andrew Power from Newcastle Orienteering Club narrowly missed a podium finish in M60, coming in just 39 seconds behind third place. Unfortunately, Carolyn Matthews from Newcastle Orienteering Club misspunched, but her determination shone through as she prepared for the next day’s event.

NSW Competitors in Action: Long event Event:

The Long-Distance event on Sunday was another triumph for the NSW team. Carolyn Matthews from Newcastle Orienteering Club dominated the W60 category. And Robert Prentice (Newcastle orienteering) secured his podium in 3rd place M70. Meanwhile, Alon Gudes continued his winning streak, securing 1st place in the M14, Ori Gudes did not race in the Long-Distance event.

Well done to all the NSW MTBO riders who made the long but rewarding trip to Victoria to compete! Now, we can look forward to our own state championships at Mt Annan and Appin. We have special promotions and prizes for the under-20 riders. So, if any of you are thinking about moving to the "fast side," (detail in eventor) this could be your chance to win some nice prizes as well!

TAKE AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE OF THE AUSTRALIAN MTBO CARNIVAL 2024!    

We are thrilled to share with you an exclusive look inside of the 2024 Australian MTBO Carnival courses and terrain. 4 experienced OACT MTBO Course setters - Cathy Hogg (Mass), Michael Reed (Middle), Cath Chalmers (Sprint) and Fedor Iskhakov (Long) worked very hard to design and prepare the best courses for the AUS MTBO Carnival participants. Already 23 NSW MTBOers and foot Orienteers have registered to the Carnival and NSW is going very well on a way to become the highest participating state in the largest MTBO Carnival in the Southern Hemisphere!

MASS Champs, 18^th October, West Stromlo / Cathy Hogg

Competitors in the MASS START will have to have their wits about them, with a multitude of phi and butterfly loops meaning following will never be a safe option. Along with the abundance of wildlife, with kangaroos, wallabies and magpies aplenty, there is a great array of single track, fire trails and some rideable forest and grasslands for those who are feeling adventurous. 

MIDDLE Champs, 19^th October, Stringybark Hill / Michael Reed 

With native bush, wild-flowers, lots of loose rock and climbs, the MIDDLE is sure to test both your fitness and your route selection as you meander around the technical trails of Stringybark Hill.

SPRINT Champs, 19^th October, Sutton Road Driving Center / Cath Chalmers For the Sprint, time to get in the groove with the sounds of Upside down by Diana Ross: Boy, you turn me inside out

And, 'round and 'round / Upside down / Boy, you turn me inside out / And, 'round and 'round

LONG Champs, 20t^h October, West Kowen / Fedor Iskhakov

The new look at the classic pine forest plantations around Kowen homestead, the LONG courses will be an ultimate test of your physical and mental toughness. With a healthy mix of delicate single tracks and fast fire trails, The Championship courses will offer challenging route choice which will require strategic management of your energy.  The Carnival courses will take the riders through a variety of spectacular terrains and riding conditions, and will serve a perfect introduction to navigational adventures. Everyone reaching the finish line will feel as a real Hero!

Late Entries close 13th OCTOBER, enter event here: https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/19101

All Foot-Orienteers and MTBO Beginners are warmly welcome to their first AUS MTBO Carnival:)!