Latest ONSW News
Waggaroos promised "We will rock you" - and setter Briohny Seaman delivered as the Australian 3-Days made a brilliant start at Connorton on Saturday.
There were many fast times despite the tricky terrain; the NSW highlight being Uringan Georgia Jones (pictured smiling left) placing third in W20E. The other excellent NOL result among the NSW Stingers was Alastair George (Big Foot) coming fourth in M20E.
Almost 540 participants were on course in superb weather, and our close neighbours from the ACT won 17 of the age classes.
The parking area offered sweeping views over the surrounding farmland, and the start took people through some open area before delving into the rock. For those unfamiliar with granite terrain, it was like someone took the lid off the salt and pepper shakers and turned them upside down on the map.
It was all tremendous fun and a couple of startled Bennelongers even saw some wild goats on course - along with the obligatory kangaroos and wallabies. The uphill sprint to the finish had lungs burning once more.
Thanks Waggaroos and the other helper clubs.
Click on the blue links for photos by Ian and Clare Jessup on Facebook, results, Winsplits and Routegadget.
The 43rd annual Great NOSH Footrace was conducted in beautiful, crisp, sunny conditions on Sunday.
Twelve months on from the massive storm that forced the postponement of the 2016 race, the contrast could not have been starker: finishers remarking on how hot they felt as they emerged from the Bantry Bay bushland onto a dry Seaforth Oval after 16.5km of trail running and some serious climbs.
Richard Mountstephens, from our Big Foot club, was first across the line in 75 minutes and 4 seconds. Danielle Donahue (left, with Richard) was the first female in 86:38, taking 22nd place overall.
Alastair George, another Big Foot member, took out fastest junior in 81:59 (13th overall), with Olivia Piazza (99m33s) the quickest female junior.
There were 304 entries, including 26 in the walking category. Spealing of which, Alex Green scooted around in 104m34s - a phemonenal result for walking.
Results are here, and Tony Hill has compiled an album from all the volunteer photographers here.
A big thank you to Bennelong Northside, Bold Horizons, Online Timing, Seaforth Soccer Club, Northern Beaches Council, National Parks, and all the volunteer helpers from orienteering clubs.
Emulating a Cecil B de Mille production, on Sunday we hosted 350 cubs, about 60 leaders and dozens of parents at Gough Whitlam Park in Earlwood for their annual Metro South Cub Day Out.
The logistics were huge: 30 groups of 10-12 cubs plus a leader or two, five stations of OK-GO activities, four star relays, a loops course and finally an 18-control score course in pairs using SI.
It was non-stop from 8.30am to 3pm and thankfully the weather was lovely, as was the feedback from young and old.
Many leaders inquired about incorporating further orienteering into their programs and badge schemes, and we can see the potential to map more campsites to mutual benefit.
A big thank you to organisers Ian Jessup and Jim Mackay; coaches Lyn Malmgron, Neville Fathers, Georgia Jones, Maggie Jones and Robert Newman; helpers Ian Jones and Dave Lotty; and SI guru Ron Pallas.
And thank you to Jan from Metro South for the invitation to host this much anticipated annual outing for the cubs.
FYI, the fastest pair did the score course in 16:44 - very mpressive given they were all aged 8-11.
City and country; bush and big end of town. You'd be hard pressed to find two more contrasting locations for World Orienteering Day than sleepy Dorrigo and beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
An initiative of the International Orienteering federation, WOD aims to promote our sport worldwide. So, with 2,000+ events in 53 countries on all 7 continents (yes - even Antarctica!), and more than 77,000 participants - that goal appears to have been well and truly reached on Wednesday.
In NSW the first event was at Mt John's Primary School (lower pic) at tiny Dorrigo, 30km west of Coffs Habrour, with 49 students doing Space Racing. In the afternoon a further 12 entrants were at the local showground, the first public orienteering event held in Dorrigo, on a new map prepared by Maurice Anker from the Northern Tablelands club to offer Very Easy, Easy and Scatter courses. A big thank you to Jenny Hawkins (NTOC) for putting this on.
The official population of the Dorrigo Plateau is only 2311, so 61 orienteers represented almost 3% of the town!
Back in the big smoke by Milsons Point station, we doubt WOD had a better location than Bradfield Park.
Ninety participants, including 20-odd scouts, took in the Sydney Harbour foreshore, Luna Park, the PM's residence and other North Sydney landmarks under torchlight. The top photo was taken at 4.30pm as organisers were setting up. WOW!
We had guests from Israel, Ireland, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Hungary among others. Course setting thanks to Ross Duker and seamless organisation by Garingal. A great way to cap off a 23C day.
