Saturday, January 1, 2011

XMAS 5 DAYS - ARMIDALE


The first day of the 5 days was a sprint at the university. Pretty fast and furious and a good way to shake off the excesses of Christmas.
Ian Jones MB 3rd
Maggie Jones WB 11th
Lawrence Jones MC 27th
Jane McKenna WC 22nd
Dave Lotty MD 6th
Dick Ogilvie MD 15th
Maureen Ogilvie WD 16th
Gayle Shepherd WD 15th
Georgia Jones WE 3rd
David Jones ME 5th
Brian Cleland MF 4th
Jared McKenna M/WN 1st
Sophie Jones M/WN 4th



The trip to Banalasta was well and truly worth it although there were some mighty long times in the complex rock. We have run a number of times on this map and still it makes life hard for all.
Ian Jones MB 4th
Maggie Jones WB 15th
Lawrence Jones MC 21st
Jane McKenna WC 14th
Dave Lotty MD 2nd
Dick Ogilvie MD 21st
Maureen Ogilvie WD 17th
Gayle Shepherd WD 18th
Georgia Jones WE 6th
David Jones ME 4th
Brian Cleland MF 7th
Jared McKenna M/WN 1st
Sophie Jones M/WN 6th

Jane sustained a nasty injury courtesy of a stick entering her leg just above the knee. Some field surgery by Dr Jane and a few stitches and she was on her feet but unfortunately out of the running for the rest of the competition.


This was a very relaxing day after the trials and tribulations on the rock of day 2. However the gullies were enough to throw a spanner in the works of many an unsuspecting orienteer.

Ian Jones MB 3rd
Maggie Jones WB 15th
Lawrence Jones MC 36th
Dave Lotty MD 6th
Dick Ogilvie MD mp
Maureen Ogilvie WD 23rd
Gayle Shepherd WD 26th
Georgia Jones WE 3rd
David Jones ME 4th
Brian Cleland MF 5th
Jared McKenna M/WN 1st
Sophie Jones M/WN 4th
If ever there was a map where it would be okay to go without your glasses this was the one for Gayle but at times the arms were not quite long enough.


Day 4 dawned quite warm and the cool conditions of the past 3 days were replaced by mid 20s.This was the first use of this map and there was certainly some spectacular rock high on the ridges.
Ian Jones MB 8th
Maggie Jones WB 18th
Lawrence Jones MC 29th
Dave Lotty MD 2nd
Dick Ogilvie MD 10th
Maureen Ogilvie WD 15th
Gayle Shepherd WD 16th
Georgia Jones WE 2nd
David Jones ME 8th
Brian Cleland MF 8th
Jared McKenna M/WN 2nd
Sophie Jones M/WN 5th

Following the event Uringa and others adjourned to the Jones's residence at the Tinsel Cow. This homestead on the banks of the Macleay River was in a superb setting. A number took advantage of the soothing waters of the river where each evening a number of those very shy creatures, the platypus could be seen.




This was our earliest start and the mist was just starting to lift off the dam when the first starters went out. This map has been used a number of times and the vagueness and smaller rock features challenge all.
Ian Jones MB mp
Maggie Jones WB 11th
Lawrence Jones MC 36th
Dave Lotty MD 10th
Dick Ogilvie MD 28th
Maureen Ogilvie WD 16th
Gayle Shepherd WD 12th
Georgia Jones WE 2nd
David Jones ME mp
Brian Cleland MF 5th
Jared McKenna M/WN 1st
Sophie Jones M/WN 6th

The final pointscores ( you were able to drop your worst performance) were as follows
Ian Jones MB 4th
Maggie Jones WB 14th
Lawrence Jones MC 32nd
Jane McKenna WC 28th
Dave Lotty MD 3rd
Dick Ogilvie MD 20th
Maureen Ogilvie WD 17th
Gayle Shepherd WD 13th
Georgia Jones WE 3rd
David Jones ME 7th
Brian Cleland MF 5th
Jared McKenna M/WN 1st
Sophie Jones M/WN 4th

A few thoughts: great to see Lawrence on Red Courses. the 5km red courses were sure a challenge but what a great way to gain experience. well done. Also Miss Sophie out on her own each day did a fine job.
Brian was amongst the most consistent of the team along with Ian who challenged strongly on the first 3 days.
Dave Lotty as always was very competitive as was Georgia Jones.

Unfortunately Mary Jane was reduced to a spectator role for the carnival as i am sure she would have enjoyed the forests.

There are some photos to be posted at a later date.
The 2011 5 days will be held in Newcastle.

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