Kippax Lake Uringa at their best

I am quite amazed at how quickly time moves. One day one is up their arm pits with organisation and then the next day the event is over, done and dusted. As it was with the Xmas 5 Days and Uringa’s mammoth ultra-sprint.

 The 5 days had large ( read huge) fields. The 422 runners at Cockatoo Island is perhaps the largest non-Easter event seen in NSW. Mind you the adventure of the catching a ferry to and from the island was an attraction as was the certain uniqueness of the venue.



Each competitor completed 3 legs

The ultra-sprint began with setting up the maze the night before. With Theodolites, tape measures, hammers, star picket drivers and some bunting the crew belted banged paced measured to establish the skeleton of the maze after 3 hours work. The crew of were rightly pleased with their efforts.


The following morning it was like it was raining Uringans, 26 plus and counting, which at 5.45am was quite some achievement. A lot of alarm clocks all over Sydney!


The maze was quickly clothed by a willing team of workers. The starts were quickly established- remember we needed three of these. The huge job of putting out 92 controls was undertaken (Thanks to Catherine and Ondrej, Matt and Dave for getting this done and done correctly.) Meanwhile the download area was turned from paddock into technology central.



How many orienteers can you spot

Controls out – tick

Starts manned and ready- tick
Finish, manned and ready – tick

 Right on cue at 8am we were ready and off they went. – Some 277 competitors running 3 times each,  punching a total of 16771 controls, downloading 3 times and starting 3 times all within 2 hours was crazy, chaotic and brilliant.

The hard working Down Loaders

Mind you we had some issues – almost all revolved around

1.       Competitors taking the wrong map

2.       Competitors not clearing between runs

3.       Competitors downloading at the wrong computer

After all the signposting, questioning and clarification I am not sure how we can avoid carbon based errors.

This was the challenge lots of trees- lots of controls but which is the right one

Anyway the event finished. The mighty Uringan  crew packed up at breakneck speed. I was home just after 11.30 and results on Eventor  ten minutes later.

What can I say

Uringa what a club, what a workforce and what comradery  throughout the event.

 Matt Peters you are a genius. The course setting required great vision and huge amount of time. The event’s success was yours.

Very relaxed Leg 2 start team considering they handled 250 plus in 2 hours

Now just when you thought that it was safe to kick back we have a few more events to run

18^th January- Sprint event @ Carrs Park

28^th January- Summer series event @ Mort Bay

7^th March- State League 1 @ Sir Joseph Banks Park, Botany

22^nd March – Sprint event @ Callan Park

Then rest!