Monday, September 12, 2016

Last of the 2016 State League Events!

The final State League Double Header was held on the Southern Highlands on a weekend of contrasts.
Saturday was cold and bleak with occasional rain  and Sunday absolutely glorious with clear skies and not a cloud in the sky. That is where the differences finished. The similarity was simple- thick bush.
Interestingly I went looking for some quotable quote about thick bush but all I could find were the words of a rather famous American family!

State League 11
“Boxvale Tramway” is an interesting area with the south western cliff line providing real navigational challenge. Unfortunately much of the map is vague and a case of “Bingo I found" it as you pushed through  stuff.  (see leg 1-2 - I found the rock se of the control)



Mind you the walk along the tramway is beautiful ( Closed at the moment). The views at the northern end are magic!

 A little history:
The line, of standard gauge, was built in 1888 to carry coal mined in Nattai Gorge the seven klms to the main southern Line at Mittagong. The line passes through several cuttings and a tunnel 84 metres in length. It ends at the "incline", by which coal was brought up from the gorge. The Colliery probably had its heyday in 1888, when 100 tons of coal per week were shipped to Melbourne during a coal strike. The Colliery was closed in 1896 and the tramway (railway) abandoned.

So a number of Uringans came and ran but a quick look at the results will see that the times were way longer than expected.  The courses made use of that super interesting rock line where you had to stay focused whilst many around were impersonating headless chooks.

Only 3 Uringans finished off the podium  and of the winners Ian McKenzie’s win in M35A was worthy of special mention. (Ian backed it up with a close 4th in M40A the following day.)

Plac
Name
Class
Time
1
Maureen Ogilvie
2:42:43
1
Sophie Jones
1:03:29
1
Ian McKenzie
1:48:18
1
Jim Mackay
56:36
1
Ian Jones
1:03:22
1
Shane Doyle
57:51
2
Maggie Mackay
16:03
2
Linda Sesta
57:57
3
Finn Mackay
55:45
3
Margaret Jones
1:09:06
3
Ron Pallas
1:12:17
5
Dick Ogilvie
1:15:18
8
Dave Lotty
1:22:59
Gayle Shepherd
mispunched

State League 12.
I have been going to Belanglo since around 1984 and it was a case of having read the planners comments I should have considered staying at home. The area has greened up- the white is light green, the light green darker and the dark green……. However it was a real physical challenge in places and a mental challenge in others.
As I mentioned earlier the weather was typical southern highlands. Chilly in the shade but magnificent in the sun. It was interesting to see the number of orienteers who paid a visit the Memorial for those who lost their lives in the Backpacker Murders.
The courses were well set to the long format and we had some great navigational challenges in the rock. But it was often a case of the vegetation “10 orienteer 0” as it was difficult to stay on line and or read the lie of the land. My leg 8 to 9 was  a case in part as the 100 metres from the track junction to the control should be a snack. Alas the thick green  just prior has grown in volume and pushed you away south  from the control with the track at #10 to save you. The better route choice was to go north east on the track and come due south – it was apparently thick but not as thick
Again some great results and it was good to see that Gayle remembered to visit all controls this time!

Plac
Name
Class
Time
1
Georgia Jones
1:55:02
1
Maureen Ogilvie
2:11:36
2
Ian Jones
1:27:40
2
Sophie Jones
55:27
2
Finn Mackay
36:17
2
Jim Mackay
55:30
3
Maggie Mackay
18:44
4
Gayle Shepherd
1:07:30
4
Shane Doyle
1:50:03
4
Ian McKenzie
2:37:28
4
Ron Pallas
59:17
7
Dave Lotty
1:41:50
Dick Ogilvie
did not finish


WHAT'S ON FOR SUMMER

With the final events in the winter bush season almost upon us it is time to look ahead for the upcoming 2016-2017 summer season.
There are a number of series run during the summer

NSSS- North Sydney Summer Series (begins 5th October)
SSSS- South Sydney Summer Series 
(begins 9th October)
WSSS- West Sydney Summer Series 
(begins 9th October)
Sprint Series (begins in 8th January 2017)

Uringa has a foot in three of the above series  - NSSS, SSSS, Sprint Series
These are our commitments  for the summer Events
Date
Location
Map
Organiser
Series
16 Oct
Ramsgate
Scarborough Park
Shane Doyle
SSSS
6 Nov
Woollahra
Cooper Park
Ian McKenzie
SSSS
20 Nov
Vaucluse
Watsons Bay
Adrienne Kirby
SSSS
23 Nov
Hurlstone Park
Cup & Saucer Creek
Rick Steele
NSSS
11 Dec
Centennial Park
Centennial Park
Dave Lotty
SSSS
15 Jan
Birchgrove
Mort Bay Dock
Helen Murphy
Sprint Series
25 Jan
Lilyfield
Lilyfield Lanes
Matt Peters
NSSS
19 Feb
Alexandria
Sydney Park
Dave McKenna
Sprint
The events on 23/11 and 25/01 are big events with 200 plus runners. The other events usually have up to 100 or so.

 

Another important Date for your Diary


URINGA XMAS PARTY
 
Date: Saturday 26 November
Venue: Matt and Helen’s at Hunters Hill
Time: Approx 3.30pm onwards
Details: Official Invite to come!
 


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