Monday, March 18, 2013

We climbed every mountain and some!


State League 1 & 2 Double Header-Lithgow

As was reported in the last post in the blog a band of 20 orienteers, well 18 in the end, headed over the mountains to compete in this year’s opening State League events just north of Lithgow.
The two days competition was held in a long valley called Gardiners Gap. The name comes from a little bit of activity of Frank Gardiner, noted bushranger of the 19th century. This area is not all that far from a certain coal mining lease that has been in the news with the ICAC.

Day 1 was middle distance and looking at the winning times would suggest that the courses may have been a smidgen too long. The area used was high on the side of the valley where boulders and rock lines of immense height live to taunt the unwary orienteer. Toss into the mix some very unforgiving vegetation, quite warm weather  and you have a course that requires bucket loads of concentration and a high degree of stamina. Mind you being amongst these towering rock pagodas was thrilling and awe inspiring: it was just the going up and down and up and down that was a real physical challenge. That said there was many a tale of success amongst the Uringa camp.

Maureen Ogilvie            W-70A     1:31:17     2

Dick Ogilvie               M-65A     1:03:24     3

Dave Lotty                 M-65A     1:11:52     4

Gayle Shepherd             W-45AS    1:14:28     2

Ron Pallas                 M-45AS    1:26:22     5

Linda Sesta                W-45A     1:08:57     2

Eric Charpentier           M-21A     1:46:19     6

Celine Samba               WopenB    1:38:27     2

Margaret Jones             W-21AS      58:06     1

Lawrence Jones             M-18A     1:08:52     2

Sophie Jones               W-12A       39:16     1

Georgia Jones              W-16A     1:01:59     1

Ian Jones                  M-45A     1:05:17     3

Angela Murray              W-65A     1:08:05     5

Ant Nolan                  M-40A     1:05:44     5

William Nolan              M-10A     1:27:23     3

Brian Cleland              M-75A     1:08:51     2

Mary Jane Mahony           W-65A     1:23:57     7



 

After a feast at the Lithgow Workies  everyone toddled off to their respective beds for a good sleep before heading back out to State League 2.

Day 2 was a long event and was also in the lower section of the valley. Mind you if you thought that you would have relatively flat courses forget that as the course setter seemed to feel that unnecessary climb was a much needed component of well my course at least. (Check out legs 6-7-8- hanging on to contour lines to avoid sliding down the hill- even the Swiss headed down, in fear of one’s safety whilst going to 8 rather than contouring). That said the open areas early in the courses were a delight  and hard to believe but yes I did it messed up number 1.

Again Uringan’s did well:

Maureen Ogilvie            W-70A     1:08:05     2

Dick Ogilvie               M-65A     1:21:12     6

Dave Lotty                 M-65A     1:20:16     5

Gayle Shepherd             W-45AS    1:04:43     2

Ron Pallas                 M-45AS    1:19:24     5

Linda Sesta                W-21AS      49:55     1

Eric Charpentier           M-21A     2:03:02     5

Celine Samba               WopenB      59:23     1

Margaret Jones             W-21AS      59:49     2

Lawrence Jones             M-18A     1:35:00     2

Sophie Jones               W-12A       21:49     1

Georgia Jones              W-16A       59:20     1

Ian Jones                  M-45A     1:22:09     3

Ant Nolan                  M-40A     1:37:57     5

William Nolan              M-10A       33:07     2

Brian Cleland              M-75A       59:26     2

Mary Jane Mahony           W-65A     1:22:45     6

After the event is was a delight to enjoy the delightful weather  that was on offer. Central Coast, our buddy club, was amazing as they put the two days on with about 10 members present. They were assisted by a number of the juniors who headed back out into the hills after the event to collect controls.



And so we now head south to the Australian 3 days based in Bendigo. What is in store for us? Well like all things we will just have to wait and see.

 

 

 

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