Latest ONSW News
It was like Tough Mudder at Western Sydney Parklands for the delayed start of our annual MetrO League on Sunday.
The gorgeous 270-degree views from the assembly area and beyond the start hid the trudge that awaited.
All the week's rain plus Saturday's storm made for elephant tracks everywhere and very boggy going underfoot. Add in thigh-high grass, fences that were often hard to spot, and lots of climb and you had a course that tested physically as well as mentally.
Most times were 10-20 minutes slower than usual and it was testimony to the determination of everyone that there was only one mp among the 150-odd competitors. The Garingal Monitors team had four runners within 68 seconds.
It was great to see a team from KNOX back in the comp after an absence of some years. If not for an mp they would have earned a tie. Thanks to WHO and setter Janet Morris for accessing this newish area - the ribbons of rough open area are part of the eventing course used for the Sydney Olympics. The conditions definitely suited the lightweights as well as the mudlarks (Van der Hum v Gold and Black, anyone?).
Results were close too, with three 28-27 matches, a 27-25 and two 29-26s. In the new scoring system in Division 1, Big Foot were clearly first, then Garingal.
Click the blue links for Eventor results, match results and the Division 4 map.
A big thanks to WHO. Our next round will be the rescheduled Round 1 at Simmos Beach, Macquarie Fields on May 10. Make mum brekky in bed, then sneak out for a run!
ONSW is pleased to announce the appointment of Adrienne Kirby and Lisa Lampe as Member Protection Information Officers (MPIOs).
A Member Protection Information Officer is responsible for providing confidential information about a person's rights, responsibilities and options to an individual making a complaint or raising a concern.
They are the first point of contact in a sporting organisation in such cases. MPIOs are generally impartial but do not mediate or investigate complaints. Read the full statement here.
We thank Adrienne (pictured left) and Lisa (right) for donating their services.
The NSW Junior Squad held a school holiday camp last week in readiness for State League events 3 and 4 near Newcastle.
Uringa's Serena Doyle (pictured) provides this report:
“This was my first time at the NSW junior squad camp, being fairly new to the sport and this year running in W14A and tackling moderate courses for the first time especially in the bush," she said
"Unfortunately I missed the first day due to dancing rehearsals so arrived Thursday night at Kurri Kurri TAFE TAFE where the team was staying.
"On Friday morning, we had a practice course at “The Chimney” where I had an adult shadow and help me as I ran my moderate course through some tricky erosions gully areas and I learnt a lot about how to read my map and gullies.
"In the afternoon the junior squad and adults played laser tag at Old Maitland jail where the adults and kids were split into two teams and played a number of different games. It was great fun with the green team (junior girls, senior boys) winning 4-1 over the red team.
"On Saturday and Sunday, I was able to put some of these new skills into action. I was very happy to finish my runs both days."
We note Serena had the fastest split on one leg on Saturday across all comers on the moderate course - well done !
"I made a lot of new friends and had a great time at the camp and can’t wait until the next one in Orange next school holidays. Thanks to Jock, Barbara and all adults that organised and helped out during the camp.”
Georgia Jones announced her arrival in the adult ranks with a surprise win in State League 4 at Newcastle on Sunday.
16-year-old Georgia (Uringa) is in her first year running for NSW in the National League junior division and recorded an impressive ninth placing at the big Easter carnival in South Australia. She followed up that impressive performance by knocking off Newcastle's three-time JWOC rep Nicola Blatchford (albeit by just 14 seconds) in the W20A class at Balickera.
In W45AS, Barbara Dawson (GO) made it a double, winning Sunday's long distance event by one second from Sharon Burgess (NC).
We also note new Bennelong recruit Alitia Dougall taking out W21AS on each day. Alitia is originally from Queensland and is just getting back into the sport after a 10-year break.
And how wonderful it was to see local Carolyn Chalmers winning W70A just a fortnight after a serious car accident en route from Easter to Adelaide airport. Rumour has it Carolyn is off overseas this week!
In the men's classes, ACT's Andrew Barnett won a close tussle with Josh Blatchford in M21A over 12km.
SHOO's Angus Shedden, the individual medal winner in MetrO League division 2 last year, took out M35A on both days. And Bjorn Mella (NC) inflicted a rare defeat on Eoin Rothery (BF) in M55A.
Thank you to Newcastle for another great weekend.
We ask all participants to fill out the very brief course setter surveys, and remind everyone that entries close on Sun May 3 for the next SL weekend near Orange on May 16-17.
