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The boys from Knox Grammar School are looking firm favourites to take out two Sydney Metro League titles after another dominant day at Galston on Sunday.
KNOX remain unbeaten in Divisions 3 and 5, and with a double header in the last round at Wianamatta seem assured of making the finals at least.
The more open venues for the first three rounds allowed the fast KNOX lads to really record some very quick times, and there were naturally questions as to how they would handle the technical challenges coming into the pointy end of the competition.
Galston answered that emphatically: in Division 3 Heath Wallace was eight minutes faster than his nearest rival (team-mate Jake Evans) and in Division 5 the first three placings went to KNOX runners - with Henry Shortis six minutes ahead of the field.
The terrain was mix of rock and bush of varying thickness and steepness, allowing for a good range of courses.
Big Foot have reclaimed the ascendancy in Division after an uncharacteristically sluggish start, while the Garingal Frill Necks are unbeaten in Divison 2, and Big Foot look way too strong in Division 4.
Bennelong Northside and SHOO-IKO have three teams still in the mix and WHO one.
All the results and tables are updated are on the ML web page.
Thanks to setter John Brayan, controller Carol Jacobson, organiser Ross Duker and the Garingal club.
Our next round is on Sunday August 18 at Wianamatta, with the NSW junior squad running the show.
ONSW is putting on free lunchtime orienteering events in the Sydney CBD on Tuesdays in August.
We'll have two runs at Pyrmont, one at Barangaroo (limited to 40 participants) and one at The Rocks. See the flyer for details.
These events are aimed at beginners and people already engaged in regular exercise, ahead of what promises to be another bumper Sydney Summer Series.
They will be 30-minute score courses with 20 controls, and a start window of 12.30-1.30pm.
Pre-entry is preferred (members via Eventor, non-members via email to
ONSW thanks the City of Sydney, the Barangaroo Development Authority, Property NSW and Sport Australia for their assistance with this pilot program.
Entries are now open for the 2019 NSW Schools Championships, to be held in the Southern Highlands on September 7-8.
These events are open to all school students - no pre-qualifying is necessary. See the information sheet for details.
Students must enter via Trybooking - schools are not responsible for entering students. You can enter Saturday, or Sunday, or both days.
Parents - we offer a free map walk and free Easy course so you can see what skills your child will be mastering at these events. You can select to do these in Trybooking.
We still have two regional champs to come - Sydney North on Aug 12 and Hunter on Aug 13. See the champs web page for more details.
Our new Port Macquarie club has had a stunning first event, attracting 103 entries and around 200 participants all up.
The HOGs (Hastings Orienteering Group) committee were flat out from the first start at 11am to the last finisher about 2pm as dozens of families enjoyed a gorgeous winter's day at Kooloonbung Creek.
The club formed following promotional weekends in November 2017 and June 2018 that drew promising attendances.
Sunday's assembly area was in the lovely arboretum on Gordon Street. This has a historical cemetery, picnic shelters and a huge stone lizard sculpture that the kids found irresistible as a climbing frame.
The first event was a 45-minute score course with 30 controls, the same format as the Sydney Summer Series. We won't mention the very experienced orienteer who managed to go to a control a second time - despite the punch card clearly showing he'd already been there!
Many great Test cricket careers were launched with a century on debut, and this incredible start by the HOGs shows there is huge potential on the mid north coast.
A free BBQ further added to the strong sense of community. We spotted former independent federal MP Rob Oakeshott and his family among the happy orienteers. "Can we do this every week?," he and his kids asked HOGs president Matt Bell.
Better let them catch their breath first!
ONSW says a huge thank you to: Dan McLachlan for course setting, the Peels from Newcastle for assisting on the day, the Woolfords from Bush N Beach for making the trip from Coffs Harbour, and the HOGs for a wonderful start.
Facebook users can follow the HOGs here. You can see the local paper's article and photos here, and Clifford Hoefft's FB album here.
And the ultimate in good karma - after everything was packed up, we went back out on course for a stroll and saw a koala high up a ghost gum near control 27.
