Australian Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships

Last weekend the Australian MTBO championships and round 2 of the national MTBO series was held in Queensland. The event was organised by the Sunshine orienteers club, and the championships comprised of sprint, middle and long distance events.

The sprint event was held in St Paul’s School. The main challenge in this map was to clearly view the control points and then execute careful, not rushed but consistent navigation. After being disqualified in Victoria (despite a good performance) I came motivated to Queensland. I was pleased with my first ride in which I finished 3rd in the M40 category, with very tight times amongst the top 3 riders. Ricky Thackray (WA) took the M21 category.  Split results are available here.

The sprint map

Glass Mountains

The middle distance Australian MTBO championships were held on a horse riding farm. Uncharacteristically, riders were able to ride across country on both shades of yellow, which isn't normally allowed in MTBO maps. This time, I started the race with some big mistakes and was hesitant (I took some suboptimal route choices) throughout the race so was positioned only 6th overall. Carolyn Jackson excelled in this terrain with a clear win over Jayne Sales who came unstuck going to control 1. It was a great experience and I am confident that the more experienced foot orienteers would have benefited.

The middle distance map

The long distance Australian MTBO championships were held around the Glass Mountains area. To quote Kay Harshma, "the map was titled "resurrection" but for many it had a deflating experience with some closely located controls resulting in an inordinate amount of miss punching". Seriously it was hard work in the office… muddy, wet, deep puddles, sandy, lantana...well we survived.. (-;

In this event I made a big error early in course #4, it seems many others mispunched and did not finish the course at all. Overall I was happy with the result, 3rd again, but not with my time.

I was seriously happy with the weekend results with two 3rds! Where next? I am heading to Victoria next weekend for the rescheduled round 1 of the national series after it was cancelled due to bush fire back in March. In October, Uringa will host the middle distance NSW MTBO championships. It would be great to see some new Uringas riding! 

The long distance map

More pictures here

Ori in action at the MTBO Championships

Report by Ori Gudes

Metro League 3 @ Ropes Crossing

On a new map just around the back of Tregear some noted orienteers gathered for the fray. Unlike the "Man from Snowy River" terrain this area was flat as a pancake ( I managed a tough 13m change in elevation on Div 5 Course).
The parkland area was not a challenge however a narrow band of creek with a "local unofficial" BMX track caused chaos in navigation as there area was very compact,  circles distinctly difficult to see and then fine navigate into.

Result wise Uringa had 2 up and one down.

Division 2 team had a fine win over WHO 38/17.  Ant 1st on course, Michael 2nd and Shane 5th followed by Finn is was 13th with our CC buddy Paul 22nd fastest on course

Division 3 did not fare as well going down to WHO 33/22. Jim had a great run being 3rd fastest on course but alas the remainder of the team has problems on course and finished in the bottom 3rd of the course.

Division 5 had a resounding victory 36/16 over a depleted GO team. Gayle scored top points with Dave, Melanie and Adrienne also filling the top spots in the competition.

The efforts of  Ron 3rd fastest and Jane 5th fastest on the Division 5 courses were not needed as the team all performed consistently.

AS far as the overall team points go - Division 2 is tied for the lead with BF,. Dive 3 are searching for their first win of the season and Division 5 are tied for the lead with WH.

Jono had a very fine win on the easy course. I saw Jono and mate out on the course and they were travelling quite quickly.in the open terrain.

The next Metro will be on June 24th at Mt Annan also on a new map.

Autumn weekend in the ACT - State League 5 & 6

ONSW and OACT now collaborate in promoting some winter season events. This has lead to increased participation, satisfactory for both runners and organisers.

The weather was initially predicted as cold (well,check out the beanies in the photos) and perhaps wet (the rain seemed to have finished when the Saturday sprint event was starting),. The result was an enjoyable weekend, with Sunday a magic autumn day in the bush (as long as you were dressed for it).

Saturday, State League 5

W 16A
2 Serena Doyle

W70A
3 Mary Jane Mahony

M50 A
1 Shane Doyle

M65AS
1 Dave Lotty

M70A
4 Dick Ogilvie

M80A
1 Brian Cleland

Sunday, State League 6

W 16A
2 Serena Doyle

W45A
6 Melanie Christie

W70A
4 Mary Jane Mahony

W85A
1 Maureen Ogilvie

M50 A
2 Shane Doyle

M65AS
1 Dave Lotty

M70A
7 Dick Ogilvie

M80A
2 Brian Cleland

ACT Middle Distance Championship awards presented by 2018 JWOC Team member Zoe Melhuish of the ACT

NSW Middle and Long Distance Championships 2018

The 10 Uringans who represented the club at the NSW Middle and Long Distance Championships over the weekend produced some excellent results. The championships incorporated events #3 and #4 of the NSW State League, as well as the hotly contested Orienteer of the Year Competition. Hosted by Northern Tablelands and Bush n Beach Orienteering clubs, both events were held on newly mapped territory at Pine Tree, Yarrowyck, 35 km west of Armidale, which included lots of granite and boulders. Weather conditions were ideal, with sunshine and moderate temperatures.

The Middle Champs/State League event #3 held on Saturday morning yielded two wins and two third places for Uringa. Jim Mackay won the M55As class by a whopping 12 ½ minutes, completing the 2.71km course in a time of 31.10, and Dave Lotty was 1st in the M65AS class in 32.52 for 1.97km. Brian Cleland came 3rd in the M80A class, also over 1.97km, in a time of 1.03.10, and Shane Doyle was 3rd in the M50A class, finishing in 48.28 for 4.1km. Finn Mackay was 9th in the M16A class, running 49.36 for 3.27km. In the women’s races, Maggie Mackay was 4th in the W12A class, completing the 2.51km course in 31.23, Linda Sesta was 4th W50A in a time of 40.56 over 3.24km, Serena Doyle came 5th in the W16A class in 51.09 for 3.24km, Melanie Christie was 5th W45A in 1.21.57 for 3.27km, and Mary Jane Mahony finished 5th in the W70A class in 1.30.13 over 2.71km.

 

Brian Cleland competing in the Middle Champs on Saturday. Photo: Alec Watt, NTN  

Linda Sestsa finishing the Middle Champs on Saturday. Photo: Orienteering NSW.

Map of the 2.71km Middle Champs course. Photo: Orienteering NSW.

The Long Champs/State League #4 event on Sunday morning was challenging by all accounts, and involved navigating over steep, rocky terrain. All the Uringan competitors persevered to cross the finish line, and four members earned podium positions for their efforts. Shane Doyle improved on his Saturday performance to grab 2nd place in the M50A class, finishing in 1.06.59 for 6.54km, while Jim Mackay was just over a minute off 1st place in the M55AS class, finishing in 1.07.47 for 4.1km. Dave Lotty came 2nd in the M65AS class in a time of 43.33 for 2.68km, and in the M80A class Brian Cleland was 2nd, completing the 2.68km course in 46.00. Finn Mackay was 5th in the M16A class in 1.14.29 for 5.94km. Best placed of the women was Serena Doyle, who finished 2nd in the W16A class in 1.32.52 for 4.87km. Linda Sesta had a great race in the W50A class, finishing a close 4th on the 5.94km course in a time of 1.14.06, while Mary Jane Mahony was 4th in her W70A class in 2.34.25 for 4.1k, Melanie Christie was 5th W45A in 2.22.40 for 6.54km, and Maggie Mackay was 5th in the W12A class, finishing in 32.35 for 2.68km.

Jim Mackay, 2nd M55AS at the Long Champs on Sunday. Photo: Alec Watt, NTN.

 

Map of the 4.87km Long Champs course. Photo: Orienteering NSW.

Full results for both events are on the Orienteering NSW site.