Latest ONSW News
Entries are now open for the NSW and ACT MTBO champs on consecutive weekends in October.
Mountain bike orienteering is a load of fun, excellent cross training, and a great way to do some navigation without all the hard running of Foot O. It's also a lot harder to get lost!
The ACT Champs (Oct 13-14) feature a return to the fantastic Kowen Forest, used a lot in the early 2000s but not much since, and Pierce's Creek. It's a huge area with tremendous route choice possibilities.
The NSW Champs (Oct 20-21) are at Appin, with a brand new map awaiting competitors north of Wedderburn aerodrome. Ori Gudes (Middle) and Mr Versatile Hamish Mackie (Long) are course setting.
For beginners, there is a Recreational category - and even one for e-bikes!
Entries are via Eventor and close a week prior to each.
Waggaroos have comfortably retained the annual Interclub Trophy after dusting off Albury-Wodonga in the eighth and final round on Sunday.
Each contest offers two hard, a moderate and an easy course. Points are awarded for each starter, and bonus points based on your position in your course.
While Waggaroos scraped home 46-42 on the day, they had led throughout the year and finished 370-313 in front.
Nail Can Hill offered shortish, steep courses. The forest had splashes of colour throughout, with the early season wildflowers starting to bloom. The numerous bike tracks were a mixed blessing; simultaneously assisting negotiating the hillsides and confusing the navigation.
Wagga juniors were at the forefront. Jack Janetski and Cameron Mc Dougall finished second and third respectively on the 3.4km Hard course, Joannah McDougall finished second on the 2.4km Moderate Course and Rob McDougall won the 1.6km Easy course.
We thank John Oliver for his reports throughout the year. We'll be in the Wagga area for next year's Oceania carnival.
Sparse forest and plenty of road/track options made for fast times at our MetrO League finals at Lansdowne on Sunday.
The five divisions were won by five different clubs, as rain threatened to dampen the champions' parade.
Much to everyone's disappointment there were only a few drops and we hope for decent falls across the land.
This was our third outing on the revised Boggabilla map, and setter Jim Mackay got his course lengths spot on - with the quicker runners thankful for times a bit under 35 minutes for a change.
Big Foot (pictured) already had Division 1 in the bag before beating Garingal, but couldn't repeat their 2017 quinella as Uringa-Central Coast took out Division 2.
Bennelong knocked over SHOO-IKO in Division 3, the Molochs won the all-Garingal Division 4 final, and WHO's all-female team triumphed in Division 5.
Our champions for 2018 are:
Division 1: Big Foot. Individual: Alastair George (BF).
Division 2: Uringa-Central Coast. Individual: Shane Doyle (UR).
Division 3: Bennelong. Individual: John Bulman (GO).
Division 4: Garingal Molochs. Individual: Robert Herkes (GO).
Division 5: WHO. Individual: Melanie Christie (UR).
Our MetrO League web page has been updated with all today's results.
Thank you to all the clubs, participants, setters, controllers, organisers and results gurus for another great year.
Our annual NSW schools champs are just around the corner - they are on September 1-2 in the Hills District of Sydney.
Students - click here for the Trybooking link and here for the information sheet. The entry deadline has been extended to midnight on Saturday August 25.
Everyone else - you can run the same courses as the students. You must enter via Eventor as usual. The entry deadline is midnight on Sunday August 26.
Saturday consists of two Sprints - at Hills Grammar and Cherrybrook Technology HS, while Sunday is a bush event at Wianamatta Regional Park.
We would also greatly appreciate any volunteers to help with the non-O school students to ensure they have a lovely day out. Please go to the rego tent to make yourself available.
