Latest ONSW News
What is it they say about mad dogs and Englishmen? Well, throw that in reverse - and it seems only orienteers relish running around in sub-zero temperatures in winter near Orange.
Saturday's Middle Distance at Kahli's Rocks, one of our best granite maps, drew some fast times - and well they needed to be as the 'feels like' temp hovered just below zero.
We noted former junior squad manager Sally Devenish (Western Plains) roaring to a win in W45AS in a rare appearance this year, and WHO's Robert Bradley cleaning up M45AS by seven minutes as his rivals made big mistakes.
Newcastle prodigy Alvin Craig raced around the 3.5km M16A Hard course in just 18 minutes and 50 seconds!
Garingal and Newcastle each took out ten age classes, while our ACT visitors also did very well in conditions they are much more used to.
At Ophir in mining terrain On Sunday it was colder still - verging on Antarctic - with actual temps of 0-2C and 'feels like' temps of -5 all day as 30-knot winds buffeted the hardy 160-odd participants.
And what racing there was! In M21A, run over 10.2km and with almost 500m of climb, Toby Wilson (Garingal) pipped ACT's Martin Dent by just one second. Big Foot's Alastair George was less then a minute away in third place.
We must say a very big thank you to the NSW Stingers and Goldseekers for their efforts in very tough conditions. Perhaps even a rendition of "Freeze a jolly good fellow"?
Please fill out the very brief Course Setter surveys. Our State League page has been updated with links to results and splits.
Our final SL weekend is September 22-23 in Newcastle. Entries will open shortly.
Galston HS, with a big contingent, and Mowbray PS with just five students took out the Sydney North schools champs at sunny St Ives Showground on Monday.
More than 200 students enjoyed blue skies and great courses set by Jim Merchant that took in much of the runnable bush on the map.
Galston High have been wonderful supporters of this day since its inception in 2012 and bring a busload of eager students.
This year we noticed a lot more primary students - many progressing from the Sporting Schools programs that we conduct throughout the state.
A big thank you to organisers Peter Annetts and Barbara Hill, and the dozens of helpers.
Our NSW schools champs are on the weekend of Sep 1-2 in the Hills District of Sydney. Entries close Friday August 24 - click here for details.
How on earth can someone from Western Australia win a ski orienteering event?
When they're Finnish and have winter sports in their blood!
Virpi Komulainen from the LOST club took out the 7km Long course at the annual Ski O day at Perisher on Sunday.
And it appears Finns made it a trifecta, with Heli Laajoki (a teenage cross-country talent from Canberra O club Abominable O Men) finishing second and Pauli Viljakainen (Bushflyers, ACT) third.
Big Foot's Hamish Mackie, now slightly the wrong side of 50, can surely lay claim to being Australia's greatest male orienteer - with a fourth placing in the Long. This follows his victory at the Australian MTBO titles in Open Men, and his solid form in foot O.
There were 47 starters all up from 10 clubs across four states (we noted a couple of Garbellinis from Queensland in the results). The day was sunny and there were perfectly groomed snow tracks to compete in Long, Middle, Short or Snogaine courses designed by Fedor Iskhakov.
A big thank you to Marina, Fedor, Red Roos, Big Foot, ACT and NSW Orienteering and to the beautiful and warm Nordic Shelter.
Results are here and Facebook photos are here. Next year's event is set down for Sunday August 11.
We will be putting on a Level 0 coaching course on Friday August 17 at ONSW headquarters in Sydney Olympic Park.
The course will run from 10am-2pm sharp. Parking is available at Sports House.
This is aimed at people coaching beginners (adults and children) and includes the OK-GO kit used in primary schools and course setting using Purple Pen.
Please email
