Latest ONSW News

Garingal junior Duncan Currie showed his credentials with two third placings on the opening day of the National Orienteering League and Melbourne Sprint Weekend.

A fifth placing in Race 4, after an unfortunate mispunch in the Sunday morning relay, showed Duncan, 17, belongs in junior elite company despite giving away several years of experience to most of his rivals.

Visiting English scholars Peter Hodkinson and Will Gardiner dominated the men's elite M21E, where Aidan Dawson (GO) finished a creditable fifth in very tough company.

Aidan's older sister Michele was also fifth overall, in W21E, in another excellent start to the year.

In the age class competitions, Uringa's Shane Doyle earned a rare victory over Victorian legend Warren Key in M50 and led the division after the weekend, when he had to return to Sydney.

In W60, Central Coast pair Julia Prudhoe and Hilary Wood zigged and zagged for the entire six races before Julia edged out Hilary to claim the title by a solitary point (492-491; with the best five scores counting.)

And Ross Barr (GO) surrendered his M70 crown to local Tony Radford, settling for second. Final standings can be seen here.

Thanks to OV for a terrific weekend of quality venues, maps and organising.

Istvan Kertesz and partner Nikolette Halmai took out the 2018 O'Shea 2-days on the Central Coast in a closely-fought tussle over 3 runs at the weekend.

Only four minutes separated the first three teams in the Long Pairs division.

They were third after the opening relay at Rumbalara, then took the lead at the night event from local brothers Mark and Ken Schaefer (150m10s) and held on throughout Sunday morning's team score event to finish in 147m50s.

Istvan's sister Aniko and husband Peter Fozo led after the relay but lost five minutes at night as the new Mt Penang map was unveiled and ended up third. The Garingalites hail from Hungary and are loving life in Australia.

Newcastle orienteers dominated the Short Pairs, won by Stephen Craig and daughter Rebecca in 91m40s.

Malcolm Roberts and Carolyn Matthews were eight minutes adrift in second place, while Geoff Peel and Rudi Landsiedel were well back in third. 

Overall results can be viewed here. Thanks to Central Coast for another great weekend.

Steven Todkill and Nicole Haigh have taken out Newcastle's mountain bike orienteering series for 2017-18.

The BOSS was run over six monthly events. Elites did a line course then a score course, all within 75 minutes, while the 'regulars' did a score course only.

Elite placings were:
Men: 1 Steven Todkill (NC), 2 Hamish Mackie (BF), 3 Andrew Power (NC, pictured)
Women: 1 Nicole Haigh (NC), 2 Carolyn Matthews (NC), 3 Sally-Anne Henderson (NC)

Regular placings were:
Men: 1 Wayne Hawken (NC), 2 Isaac Mordue (NC), 3 Tim Tew (NC)
Women: 1 Kim van Netten (NC, pictured), 2 Shannon Dein (NC), 3 Linda Hewson (NC) 

Final season tallies can be viewed here.

We thank Tim Hackney for co-ordinating the series, Newcastle for staging the events, and the 120 unique participants (for 296 entries) across the series.

Don't forget to check the ONSW web page for MTBO updates.

Entries for the Vic MTBO champs close on Tuesday March 13 and nominations for the Australian MTBO team on Friday March 16.

A big thanks to Bold Horizons for another wonderful Women's Nav Skills Weekend in the Southern Highlands.

This annual fixture is for females of all ages and abilities; it introduces rookies to the bush while refreshing experienced orienteers as we head into our winter season. 

The highlights were the beautiful forests, the map corridor challenge, contouring along the rock and pine, the dinner in the heritage room at Bundanoon Hotel (with map games from Konsta) and, of course, the excellent company. 

Forty women were entertained and educated by coaches Hilary Wood, Gill Fowler, Tracy Marsh, Paula Shingler, Martina Craig and Konsta Vanhanen over the two days.

First-timer Michele Michel said: "I just wanted to thank you for putting together such a fantastic weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and are so keen to take my new (but limited) skills and try some more.

"All the instructors, including you, had a perfect way of explaining everything to us newbies... informative and knowledgeable!"

ONSW thanks Barbara Hill and her team of coaches for another great weekend.