Latest ONSW News

ONSW has two important positions available to be filled in the next fortnight: 

(1) the Marketing and Communications Officer role for seven weeks (May 24-July 16). This role is while the current officer is on long service leave. The main tasks are producing e-bulletins for members, casuals and club execs; writing stories for the ONSW website and social media; promoting events etc.

See the position description here. Applications close Wed May 19. This role could be split between several people.

(2) The Sydney Summer Series is the major entry point to orienteering for many Sydney people and attracts more than 5,500 participations per season.

With series founder and co-ordinator Ross Barr stepping down after 30 years of fantastic service, we are seeking someone to continue to drive this great activity.

See the position description here. Applications close Mon May 24.

It is so good to be conducting our regional schools championships again after covid wiped them off the 2020 calendar.

On Wednesday in Wagga, more than 80 students (from Wagga, Leeton, Walla Walla, Cootamundra, Stockinbingal and Ladysmith) gathered at Willans Hill in the middle of town for the annual Riverina champs.

Now that we've had time to recover after a massive April, we thought we'd provide some terrific feedback on the junior camp held at Orange during the Easter holidays.

It coincided with the national Easter carnival and the 2020 NSW Champs the following weekend, both in the state's central west.

Each afternoon we had a different presenter talking on different aspects of orienteering from training plans, running, debrief techniques, sprint orienteering, attack points, big rocks and the transferability of skills to mountain bike orienteering.

In addition to the competitions on the weekends and mid-week we had a night relay run by Oscar Woolford which was extremely fun, went ten pin bowling in Orange, did some running 'tackling terrains' and did a walk on a contour only map.

First-timers Ruby Dowdell and mum Tara are with the Goldseekers club based in Orange and came from the Blue Mountains.

"The junior camp was really fun. It helped my orienteering skills. And it was just awesome. My favourite part of the camp was hanging out with friends," said Ruby, pictured left after the opening Easter Sprint at CSU Orange.

"I also learnt how to accurately aim off, and that it’s good to keep a training diary, and that night relays are hard – and I need a brighter headlamp.

"Orange was good, with lots of attractions. We had a great camp set-up at Lake Canobolas Scout Camp. And we loved swimming in the lake too.

"I’m super keen to go to future orienteering events and junior camps. Go Goldseekers!

Tara added: "The Easter events and junior camp made for a terrific family holiday. We all made new friends and learnt loads. All events were so well organised. After taking us to numerous events, Ruby and I might have finally got Graham (Ruby’s Dad) over the line. Bonus! He’ll be the next orienteer in our family."

ONSW says a big thank you to camp organisers Helen O'Callaghan (Bush n Beach) and Toni Brown (OACT), along with all the coaches/presenters who helped.

Setter Ian McKenzie got his course lengths and winning times exactly right for round 2 of the MetrO League at Boggabilla Reserve in Lansdowne on Sunday.

Four of the top five divisions had winners within a minute of the stipulated times on another beautiful autumn day where we had just under 200 entries.

Special mention goes to WHO sub-junior Shay Sweeney, just 9 years old, who made his debut in Division 6 and scored 7 points in his team's win over SHOO (for whom 10yo Rory Shedden registered his second 10-point score in as many outings).

The closest result was a Division 5 tie between Big Foot and Bennelong where each team was one runner short. 

Those two clubs maintained their perfect records in Division 1, while WHO bounced back from their winless opening round to notch three victories on the day.

Most courses offered a choice of around by track/road/path or shortcut via overgrown paddocks and some greenish forest where fine nav was crucial.

Thanks Ian and hosts Uringa. All the results are on our ML web page.

Round 3 is at Manly Dam on May 23.