Tracking on the big screen
Day 1 Map- Northern Spur
Day 2 - Rowdy Flat
Sophie &Jared finding a sympathetic umbrella
Team work at its bestThe Oceania Carnival had three distinct parts. this, the first posting covers the first two events down Wangarratta way. So it was a rather mad dash out of Sydney Friday afternoon to hit the Hume for the drag down to Victoria. Fortunately for us I was on Holidays and Gayle was granted an early mark so we didn't need to do battle with Sydney's infamous Friday arvo traffic!
Day 1 - Oceania Long Distance Championships saw us all on "Northern Ranges" in Warby Range National park. The map contained three basic colours white green and black with a delightful mix of open forest, green and granite rock features. Now when i said open well it was but there was a certain amount of deadfall timber which made going straight at times very difficult. Sorry should have added brown as there were a lot of contour lines. Whilst the green drove you crazy there were some delightful areas and the leg 3 to 4 I chose to drop down the follow the creek south to a point just west of the control. This route was so beautiful with a fast running stream gurgling over numerous small waterfalls. Just this one leg made up for all my frustrations at trying to find control 3. But enough about me.
Team Uringa did very well, with a number of podium placings.
M10 Jared Mckenna 5th
W10 Sophie Jones 9th
W14A Georgia Jones 4th
M16A Lawrence Jones 15th
M45A Ian Jones 6th
M60A Ian Mckenzie 3rd
M65A Dick Ogilvie 2nd
M65A Dave Lotty 14th
W21AS Jane McKenna 2nd
W40A Linda Sesta 3rd
W40A Maggie Jones 10th
W50A Lisa Lampe 13th
W65A Angela Murray 15th
W75A Maureen Ogilvie 5th
W35AS Gayle Shepherd mp
M45AS Ron Pallas 5th
Perhaps the worst part of the event was that it rained constantly throughout the day and the temperature was far from welcoming. Many were unprepared for the weather and froze whilst me - forgot me hat which made visibility difficult when one is wearing glasses.... Made sure it was in the car for the next day!
Day 2 dawned bright and fresh with brilliant sunshine and a certain warmness in the air.
We were off to a new map near Yackandandah for the Oceania Middle Distance Championships. This map was heralded as the " best goldmining terrain" ever.
It didn't disappoint and "Rowdy Flat" really was very difficult. Kilometre rates were way down and even the best of the best had some fun.
The many small tracks at times confused the picture. The myriad gullies, high points all shrouded in a variety of vegetation made the whole day a real challenge. However that said it was brilliant fun.
Once again Uringans did well.
M10 Jared Mckenna 6th
W10 Sophie Jones 4th
W14A Georgia Jones 2nd
M16A Lawrence Jones 16th
M45A Ian Jones 16th
M60A Ian McKenzie 16th
M65A Dick Ogilvie 17th
M65A Dave Lotty 22nd
W21AS Maggie Jones 5th
W21AS Jane McKenna mp
W40A Linda Sesta 4th
W50A Lisa Lampe 12th
W65A Angela Murray 6th
W75A Maureen Ogilvie 1st
W35AS Gayle Shepherd 6th
M45AS Ron Pallas 14th
M45+B Aldo Sesta 1st
M45+B Aldo Sesta 1st
Now I did say it was a beautiful day but right on cue as the presentation was just beginning down came the rain and it weren't no sprinkle. People bunkered down under any shelter to await the cessation of H2O but alas it wasn't to be and so many girded their loins and made the mad dash to the car park. Some were smarter and the NSW Junior Squad picked up their tent and walked back to their bus holding the tent like a giant umbrella.
The highlight was the first time use of live tracking of elite compettitors on a big screen. I had seen this a number of times at WOC races O/S but this was the first for all australians presnt. It was fascinating watchng where poeople went. This was couple with a few cameras which brough vidoe feeds and interviews to add to the day. Well done Darren Meeking who was the driving force behind the whole adventure.
Unfortunately for some it was back up the Hume Highway to work for the week. For others a days rest before heading to Wagga for Part 2 of the Oceania Odyssey.
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