On Golden Ponds

On Golden Ponds


Bendigo played host to the 2013 Australian 3 days (4 if you’re an elite) carnival providing all competitors with a variety of terrains in areas close to Bendigo. This allowed a maximisation of tourist activities in a city which had a huge Easter carnival happening. Parades, fireworks, displays including old VWs and a book fair that had Dick O drooling were great entertainment.

Day 1 for the punters was held on “Yorkshire Hill” a stone’s throw from the city centre. The area was heavily mined during the 1850’s and the remnant mine shafts and mullock heaps create a lunar landscape in places. At times it is easy to lose one’s way in the mounds.

Sophie and Georgia Jones were on a mission with a 1st and 2nd placing in W12A and W16A respectively. Also securing a 2nd was Gayle Shepherd in W55AS. Brian Cleland in M75A was not far off the pace in 4th.

After a good rest the crowds flocked to Mount Alexander for day 2. The map looks very much like a fly with inked feet spent the day treading all over the map. Black dots everywhere! I can remember this map from an event held last century. (Dave l could probably tell me when!) This was going to be movers day for sure. The steepness of the terrain made it imperative that you remained on the right contour and all the rock made it a case of stay in contact of spend time scratching one’s head. There was a lot of conjecture amongst some very respected navigators about the placement and or map around control 6.

Georgia in W16A maintained her contact with the leaders with a fine 3rd . Sophie slipped out of the top 3 after a little trouble on her course. Gayle also had troubles and dropped to 9th on this day. Mind you Dick O had one of his better runs for a while finishing in 13th place in M65A. Jitka Kopriva, W65A and Ian Jones M45A were the only other Uringans who managed to move up the leader board on this day. Dave McKenna showed fine form in the rock in M45AS to claim 3rd.

After food, wine and another good sleep it was off to Kangaroo Flat for the final day on “Crusoe” . Today proved to be a day of consolidation as the open forested yet vague terrain seemed easy but it proved to be easy to make simple errors. Jitka commented on her 1st control- straight down the fence and in: Yep Jitka went on to say that she went in about 20 metres and spent some time finding the control which was about 35m in.

Sophie Jones returned to the podium with a fine 2nd placing. Jitka continued her march up the leaders list with a very strong 6th and Gayle returned to form and climbed to 4th place. Maureen, in W80A, returned to the forest after missing Days 1 &2 following surgery showed she was still at the top her of her game with an outstanding win in her class.

Overall results

After 3 days prizes were awarded with Sophie and Georgia finishing in 2nd and 3rd overall in their respective classes. Gayle was just a whisker away from the podium in W55As finishing 4th.

If you want consistency Sarah Garnett managed to finish in 12th, 12th, 12th for the 3 days which led to her finishing 12th overall. Ask her about her run on day 2 as she was absolutely over the moon with what was a PB in that terrain.

And so the carnival finished and it was a case for many of an early exit for the drive up the Hume to home.