NSW Miidle and Long Distance Champs

Georgia leaving the start

When one heads towards Newcastle one always needs to consider traffic as one traverses Sydney. For a change the traffic was light (except for an accident which caused some delays) and our arrival at the event was early to say the least.

The NSW Middle Distance Champs were held at Blue Gum, Minmi. This new map is of an old mining area complete with Chimneys and subsidence cracks. Spur gully with a reasonable vegetation cover made for fast running and the course setter, Dennis Lyons really picked the eyes out of the area to give us great courses.
Results for Uringa were very strong with 10 Uringans claiming a badge. The Jones clan ; Sophie, Georgia and Lawrence cleaned up which is especially noteworthy as the Jones household has been battling a lurgy for the past weeks. Maggie did not even make it to the start triangle but stayed with the catering tent.

Now there is a very good article in the latest edition of the Australian Orienteer about Miss Punch. Well Miss Punch lured me into her charms. Fancy heading through controls 13, start of a spectator leg, 14 the end of the streamered spectator leg and yours truly did not punch the control at the end too keen to head off to control 15! Ah Miss Punch you got me again!

Plac	Name	Class	Time	Diff	Km time
1	Georgia Jones	W-16A	34:14		11:45
1	David McKenna	M45AS	33:05		11:22
2	Lawrence Jones	M-18A	51:14	+10:47	10:08
2	Sophie Jones	W-12A	44:10	+19:51	18:33
2	Linda Sesta	W45A	41:22	+0:18	9:39
2	Dave Lotty	M55AS	38:20	+5:12	14:15
2	Danielle Kopriva	W35A	53:13	+12:36	11:34
3	Jane McKenna	W45A	59:45	+18:41	13:57
3	Brian Cleland	M75A	51:40	+16:50	19:12
3	Ian Jones	M45A	39:03	+1:15	7:43
5	Jared McKenna	M-12A	47:51	+21:26	20:06
5	Dick Ogilvie	M65A	44:31	+5:03	11:50
6	Lisa Lampe	W50A	1:09:51	+31:22	18:34
6	Gayle Shepherd	W45AS	1:06:36	+25:41	24:45
7	Maureen Ogilvie	W70A	1:00:42	+22:26	22:33
	Ron Pallas	M55AS	mispunched
	Margaret Jones	W45A	cancelled

Jared heading to the map boxes

The NSW Long Distance Champs were help near Kitchener on another new map called Astley. This was very traditional Newcastle terrain with spur gully dominating. The area has a million and one tracks brought about mostly by the ubiquitous motor bike riders. These tracks were a case of follow at your peril as in places they were a maze. Once again course setting, David Kitchener,  was  great with a nice mix of long and short legs to keep you on your toes.

Again Uringa did very well with 5 runners standing on top of the podium With 3 second placing's.


 Must mention Danielle Kopriva here. Danielle has grown up around orienteering and drifted away from the sport in her late teens as she set about travelling and making a life fore herself. Having returned to "The Shire" Danielle has re-discovered her love for the bush and has returned this year to the sport. Not content with starting on easier shorter courses Danielle has thrown herself into W35A and what a great job she is doing!

Plac	Name	Class	Time	Diff	Km time
1	Jared McKenna	M-12A	36:53		14:01
1	Linda Sesta	W45A	58:33		9:48
1	Georgia Jones	W-16A	50:26		10:47
1	Dave Lotty	M55AS	48:36		12:35
1	Ian Jones	M45A	59:59		7:42
2	Danielle Kopriva	W35A	1:20:45	+15:41	12:18
2	Sophie Jones	W-12A	1:00:51	+30:24	23:08
2	Lawrence Jones	M-18A	1:09:16	+2:16	8:54
3	Brian Cleland	M75A	56:56	+6:00	14:44
3	Jane McKenna	W45A	1:13:55	+15:22	12:22
3	Celine Samba	EOD-M	1:13:08	+14:56	18:48
3	Ron Pallas	M55AS	52:13	+3:37	13:31
3	David McKenna	M45AS	56:49	+3:49	12:09
3	Gayle Shepherd	W45AS	59:57	+9:15	15:31
4	Maureen Ogilvie	W70A	1:02:11	+12:32	16:06
9	Dick Ogilvie	M65A	1:11:22	+18:10	13:34
	Margaret Jones	W45A	cancelled

 Now it is time to turn our attention to the Australian Champs being held in Canberra over the coming two weekends.
Good luck to all Uringans may your navigation be accurate and your speed great.