2026 King's Birthday 3 Days- Lithgow

The three days- three events in Lithgow were the attraction and so a large contingent of Uringans retraced Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson exploration of the Blue Mountains. Like the trio there was no Victoria Pass available to descend to the western slopes and plains. (more on that later) 

Day 1- Baal Bone Junction 

Appropriately named after the rail line that traverses the northern end of the map, the southern part of a  map that features one rather tall hill with a rock line (cliffs) circumnavigating it. The course setter used the hill to challenge the navigation but to a bigger degree the ability to climb contours.

 It was a welcome back to long time Uringans Jan, Keth, Rick and Sarah. Sarah obviously had lost none of her orienteering know how with a fine win in W65A. Jen, Michell and Harrison Grubits had a good day out in the office. 

Results:

First 

Sarah Garnett W65A 

Jen Grubits W Open B 

Mitchell Grubits M Junior B 

Ron Pallas M65AS 

Linda Sesta W55A 

Second 

Laurence Bruggermann W Open B 

Jonathan Nolan M20A 

Jan Sargood W70A 

Third 

Harrison Grubits M14A 

Elodie Warlters W12A 

Michael Warlters M60A 

The weather was extremely kind and the Uringan circle the wagons with members sitting around discussing their efforts. This is one of the great things about our sport. The sunshine was greatly appreciated.

Later in the afternoon a large hoard of hungry orienteers descended on the Hotel Alexander in Rydal. The room was warm and the food like the conversation flowed easily. Our host for the evening was very appreciative of our choosing his pub – there were 18 of us! (The meals arrived a lot faster than the previous club dinner in Cootamundra)

Men 60A

Moderate Course - W Open B, M Junior B, M 14A

W12A

W55A

Day 2 Lidsdale State Forest

Everyone woke to a cracking frost as various methods of de-icing the windscreens had to be  employed before setting off.  Reminded me of my days in Crookwell when you strategically placed newspaper on the windscreen- otherwise you had to drive with your head out the window!

Lidsdale State Forest really needs an extension to the title “and Blackberry Farm”  and a new definition of dark green was aptly named “Blackberry Green”.

The 1500metre walk to the start had you well and truly warmed up for your course. Fortunately, the course setter picked the eyes out of the map giving you route choice to avoid the Blackberry Green.  Alon Gudes, M14A had a blinder to join in the celebrations. Sarah, Jen and Mitchell repeated their winning runs from Day 1. Michael, M60A joined them on the top step of the podium. Laurence and Jonathan were second for the second day in a row.  Great to see Jane, Gayle and Benjamin all made it home in 3rd place.

Results 

First

 Second

Third

 

W55AS

M14A

W65A

Now here is a "would have, could have, should have moment. Ron going from 3-4-5 totally concentrated on getting control 5 missed 4. If only.! The Livelox trace show just how close he was to the control – saw it but didn’t register that it was his control.

The little green arrow in the bottom image tells the tale!

Day 3- Rydal Showground

Many orienteers will remember camping on the showground and one memorable evening where dinner was prepared by the local CWA Way back in the late “80s”

The event was rated as a “Longish sprint” with a mix of parkland, toss in some buildings and add a modicum of bush.

It was certainly fast and furious. Everyone had their first 4 controls in an open area just west of the start. Then it was off on some unusually long legs north. Many people took advantage of the start opening earlier than advertised to finish and hit the road. ( smart move!).

Results

First

 Second

Jen	Grubits	W Open B
Ant	Nolan	M50A
Ron	Pallas	M65AS
Michael	Warlters	M60A

 Third

Jane	Boland	W Open B
Linda	Sesta	W55A

 

Laurence turned the tables on Jen in W Open B. Note that it was a trifecta for Uringa in W Open B. Great to see Jonathan showing exceptional speed in M20A to head the field home. Istvan made it into 1^st place which meant all the Grubits were on the podium. Benjamin was consistent to score his second 3^rd place of the weekend.

Once again, the weather was brilliant and lots of time was spent analysing one’s route choices. Always good fun. Meanwhile the KB3 organisers were busy working out overall winners based on combined times from the 3 races.

M20A

M50A

M60A

Overall results

First

Second

Third

Jane	Boland	W Open B
Linda	Sesta	W55A

 Fourth

Istvan	Grubits	M45AS
Ant	Nolan	M50A
Elodie	Warlters	W12A

Fifth

Gayle	Shepherd	W55AS
Jan	Sargood	W70A
Rick	Steele	M70A

Unfortunately the following either had a “mp” or only ran 2 days

Harrison

Jen and Laurence

Michael

Mitchell

Many left early as the dreaded detour through Lithgow was filling cars with great apprehension. Yes they was right as many reported 1.5 hrs to crawl through Lithgow. There were some who stayed until Tuesday morning and had to deal with only just a few red lights and a couple of slow trucks with no bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Some photos from the weekend courtesy of Sandi and Tony

The next time we head over the mountains will be for the NSW School Championships plus State Leagues 11/12 – 15^th/16^th August

Inaugural Dave Lotty Award presented to Matt Peters

 

At the invitation of the Uringa Board, Dave Lotty presented the Dave Lotty award to long standing Uringa member Matt Peters. 

The trophy is presented in honour of a member who gives time, energy and commitment to the enhancement of sport and our club. 

The Dave Lotty Award

 

Dave Lotty was recognised in a Club award in his name, announced at the Uringa Orienteers Annual General Meeting on 13 March 2026. This annual Award has been established to honour Dave’s contributions and commitment to Uringa.

Helen Murphy offered this tribute on behalf of the Club:

‘Dave, this is a thank you tribute for all that you have done for Orienteering and in particular for Uringa. 

We have started a perpetual trophy in your honour. Your name will be part of Uringa Orienteering for years to come. This trophy will be passed on to someone who gives time, energy and commitment to the enhancement of sport and our club. We will ask you to present it for the first time shortly.

Our younger members or those who are new to our club possibly don’t know of your accomplishments. They are too numerous to list here but we thought a few commendations were important.

Beyond the Club, we know you have been acknowledged by Orienteering Australia (then known as the Orienteering Federation of Australia) with the SILVA Award for Services to Orienteering in 1991. You were inducted into the Orienteering Australia Hall of Fame as a General Member in 2021. OANSW also honoured your contribution to orienteering with a life membership in the early 2000s. I do not know how many trophies, badges, medals and other awards you have received but they’re probably in a drawer or cabinet somewhere.

You were first and foremost a runner in your younger days. In International Competition in 1969 at the Pacific Conference Games you came 3^rd in the 10,000m in a time of 29.02.4.

In National Competition in the Australian Track and Field 1968-69 you came 3^rd in both the 5,000m 14.19.2 and 10,000m in a shade over 29 mins.

However, in1971, you worked to establish orienteering in NSW and in 1972 helped to form OANSW. You were also responsible for the concept of the Easter 3 Days and organised the first QBIII event in NSW.

By 2005 you had completed your 2000^th event in Jindabyne.

Dave claims that his run closest to perfection was in Wagga Wagga in 1980. You said and I quote from an interview you gave: “the controls just appeared in front of me”. You went on to say you lost 20-30 seconds on the second last control but won by 8 mins! He did 62.00min for 10.4 km. We know in Wagga how ferocious the boulders can be, so it was quite a feat.

I would like to say to everyone that whilst going through records that I found a mis-punch and a DNF, so Dave is a little bit like the rest of us. I have the details, Dave, so don’t argue!

I do have to mention that Dave Lotty was part of many memorable squad camps. My children won’t give me details but assure me there was a lot of orienteering and lots of laughs. I believe he adopted a ‘laissez-faire’ approach. My daughter Clare said that he created opportunities for young orienteers to create life-long friends and a love of the sport. My daughter Catherine included two orienteers in her bridal party and went for a run with another three the morning of her wedding. Now many of their children are orienteering.

If you were part of this bonding, Dave, you have done well. May your legacy live on!

He formed Uringa with the Wilmott family in 1975, so he’s been part of the club for over 50 years. He has been described as a titan in the sport, pivotal to the sport and his lifelong contribution is unlikely to be matched.

Dave once said: “too much orienteering is barely enough”. Well said, Dave, and thank you.’

Club History: 2025 was the 37th President's Cup

The 37th President's Cup was part of the 2025 Uringa end-of-year / Christmas celebrations. Yes, the 37th!

Winners of the 37th were:

• Big Cup: Team Charlotte, Sophie and Grace Bilmon
• Small Cup: Alon Gudes
• Medium Cup: Melanie Christie

The first President's Cup was held at Belanglo Creek in 1988. At that event only two cups were awarded: Big Cup: Michael Anderson and Small Cup: Wendy Fleming. 

Over the years this annual event has been held on many maps/locations. Recent years it has been the Villa Maria map and Hunters Hill, but others included Butchers Block, Exile Bay, Callan Park, Gray's Point, Concord, Riverview, Peters Precinct, Richo's Realm, Bicentennial Park, The Piggery, Burrawang, Bunnygalore and Belanglo Creek.Format and rules have varied (well, the 'rules' are what the President and event team decide). 

President's Cup History

Uringa Christmas Party 2025

A run for fun - the President's Cup (short and shorter courses)! More delicious food than anyone could eat! A visit from Santa Claus! And it did not rain.

This year's Uringa end-of-year party was as enjoyable as always. Matt and Helen offered their home again... a location well placed on the 'Villa Maria' map (flat, hill, creek, historical, views). (The weather was against using the new pool in the back yard.) Lots of conversation and catching up, and a run in the middle of it.

There was a Bluey's theme.  Even with an emailed hint before the day, and even with some runners asking a few random children along the way, many were unsuccessful in identifying the Bluey character at each control.

Feedback from the course setter is always useful after an event.

Cup winners are celebrated. Big cup to Charlotte, Sophie and Grace Bilmon, small cup to Alon Gudes and medium cup to Melanie Christie. (There will be a separate blog post about the cups.)

The club provides the barbecue items (meat and not-meat). Guests brought contributions, carefuly coordinated by Gayle.

Santa Claus always attends.  There is a lot of shyness among those for whom Santa has brought gifts.

Photos thanks to Aldo Sesta and Mary Jane Mahony.