Latest ONSW News
Newcastle's BOSS series has finished another record-breaking season, with more than 500 participants competing across the six events.
A cool, clear morning at Stanford Merthyr meant generally fast, flat riding where the major decision was whether to visit the handful of controls at the top of the map in two unconnected longer trails.
Two formats are offered, both of 75 minutes duration: a score course with around 30 controls; or a line course of 7-8 controls then the remaining ones as a score course.
The LineScore winners for 2019-2020 are Carolyn Matthews and Tim Doman, while the AllScore winners are Salme Fuller and Wayne Hawken.
Prizes were also handed out for the e-bike class, family award, rookie of the year, and an encouragement award.
Final points tallies can be found here.
A massive thank you to series organiser Greg Bacon and the Newcastle club. We look forward to returning to the Hunter region for the NSW and Australian MTBO champs in mid-September.
The 2020 Easter carnival, mid-week events and NSW championships have been postponed until 2021.
This decision has been made by organisers based on medical advice, and in co-ordination with OA and ONSW, to help prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus.
In essence, the eight days of events will now be held from April 2-11 in 2021 at the same venues, subject to landowner approval.
The Easter carnivals scheduled for Queensland and the ACT in 2021 and 2022 respectively will now take place in 2022 and 2023.
Entries
If you have already entered, your entry will be transferred to the same events in 2021; you will be able to change your entry class later on.
Or you can ask for a refund, minus 10% to cover costs clubs and individuals have already incurred. Please email Ron Pallas (
If you have also entered the NSW Middle and Long distance championships (set down for Eugowra on April 18-19), you will be receiving another email from the organiser of that event discussing refunds.
The Carnival organisers will be talking to the tourism body in Orange to ensure accommodation providers are aware of the postponement and to ask for forbearance in regard to deposits.
We are sorry for the inconvenience and expense this may be causing however we must keep foremost in mind the health of our members and the wider community.
Separate communications will be made by states and OA on coronavirus developments and our policies.
ONSW will be conducting a Level 1 coaching workshop at Orange on Tuesday April 14.
This is the day after the Easter carnival finishes, and will be free to club members.
The workshop will run from 10am-2pm, followed by a session showing how to use OCAD to create training maps.
Details will be on Eventor soon. Please email Jim Mackay (development @ onsw.asn.au) if you wish to attend.
Our busy Newcastle club are hosting the 2020 Australian mountain bike orienteering championships and have just released Bulletin 1.
It's the biggest ever national MTBO carnival with four championship events, a prologue using the MapRun app, and a family teams ride on the Saturday lunchtime.
NSW won back the OA MTBO Plaque in Victoria last year and will be keen to retain it on home turf.
The event centre is based at Kurri in the Hunter Valley. The carnival dates are September 17-20.
Meanwhile, the last event in Newcastle's summer BOSS series is on Sunday March 15 at Stanford Merthyr. Start window is 8-9.15am. A promo video is here.
