Quite a number of Uringans headed west to orange for the
2013 Xmas 5 Days. This annual event attracts orienteers from all over Australia
and this year we also had entrants from Sweden, Norway and Ireland to add an
international flavour. Oh yes and from across the ditch there were a couple of
gun runners in attendance.
There are no age classes just general groupings with Men
A,B,C,D,E and Women A, B, C, D being on
hard courses with varying lengths – Hard 1 longest to hard 5 shortest. Classes Men F and Women E are on Moderate. Men G and Women F on Easy and M/W Novice on Very Easy Courses.
Day 1 kicked off the carnival in style with a sprint around
Charles Sturt Uni campus, complete with stabling yards! It was a late afternoon
start and it was hot in the open but shade, consumed by many, was cooling. It was fast and furious out there.
Dave Lotty climbed onto the podium with a 3rd .
Sophie, Lawrence and Finn were just a step off the podium in 4th
place. Paul Batten zoomed around the
Hard 3 EOD course to win on the day.
Must mention that there were a few family challenges going
on with Ian and Lawrence on the same course and Georgia and Maggie on the
course as each other. Lawrence 1 Ian 0, Georgia and Maggie were a dead heat on
15.05 minutes.
Day 2 saw a convoy of cars heading east to Kahli’s Rocks.
This well-known area has brought many an orienteer undone with rock in
abundance. Sophie Jones scored a great 2nd place and Jared McKenna also claiming 2nd.
Paul batten again took out 1st
place on the EOD Moderate course.
Jones Challenge: Ian 1, Lawrence 0 – Georgia 1, Maggie 0
Day 3 and the gaggle of cars headed north into Mullion Creek
State Forest to the aptly named Rocky Falls map. Only Jared in Men F (This
carnival saw Jared having his first go at moderate courses) troubled the scorer
today with another 3rd place. Paul and Bronwyn Batten competing in
EOD Hard and Easy respectively claimed 1st both winning quite
comfortably.
Jones scoreboard: Ian 1, Lawrence 0. Georgia 1, Maggie 0
Day 4 and by now the early morning jump out of beds had been
reduced to a struggle. But the Cry of “There is Gold in them there Hills”
certainly had the heart beating faster or was it the early morning coffee. Off
to Ophir Diggings, the site of early gold finds in the 1851 gold rush. Evidence of
diggers was certainly visible in the creek beds as they went in search of
alluvial gold. Finn Mackay was the only Uringan to go anywhere near a gold with
a 3rd in Men G. It was good to see him getting back on track after a
mp the previous day. It was also great to see Brady Kopriva, son of Danielle
and Grandson to Jitka and Zuzu out on a course. Mind you I think that Jitka
deserves the medal!
 |
| Jitka, Brady and Stroller with fast finishing DickO |
Jones scoreboard: Ian 1, Lawrence 0. Georgia 1, Maggie 0. So
as we head into the last round it is Ian leading 3-1 and Georgia leading 3.5 -0
.5
Day 5 saw us in all up and packed early as it was the last
day and post event it was time to head home. Macquarie Woods 27kms east of Orange
was a fitting finale.
Course setter Basil Baldwin had a nifty loops map challenge.
You ran either on the A map or B map. Each course had two loops with the A map
going one way through the loops and the B map going the other way before returning
with the same course to the finish. The two runners started off together. Great
Challenges.
No podium placing among Team Uringa. Sophie and Finn’s 4th
placing was the best amongst our mob.
Now in the Jones Challenge Ian and Lawrence started together
as did Georgia and Maggie. Lawrence showed great determination to pip dad by
over a minute whilst Georgia had a very comfortable 8 minute margin over mum.
Looking at the splits on these two battles you can see how
these event unfolded. It is apparent that Ian had an error heading to control 1
as Lawrence was well over a minute faster to the control. When they returned to
the pivot control after their two loops Lawrence was just over a minute in
front which he held until the end.
The Georgia Maggie battle saw the race to the first control
leaning to Georgia by a mere 11 seconds and the race around the loops to the
final pivot saw that the gap had grown to just over a minute. It was later in
the race- controls 7 and 8 where Georgia pulled out a larger lead. Over the rest
of the course the two swapped fastest times. By the way Georgia and Sophie tied
in the finish sprint.
Overall placing’s in the 5 days is determined by a point
score. It allows you to drop your worst day which is heaven in a multi-day
event.
Winners are grinners and so too are 2nd place
getters which is why Sophie was smiling all the way to the podium. Well done
Sophie.
How did we go overall:
Name
|
Class
|
Place
|
Dave Lotty
|
Men E
|
6th
|
Jim Mackay
|
Men D
|
29th
|
Sophie Jones
|
Women F
|
2nd
|
Lawrence Jones
|
Men B
|
7th
|
Ian Jones
|
Men B
|
5th
|
Georgia Jones
|
Women C
|
7th
|
Maggie Jones
|
Women C
|
13th
|
Fin Mackay
|
Men G
|
4th
|
Mary Jane Mahony
|
Women D
|
28th
|
Brian Cleland
|
Men E
|
18th
|
Zuzu Burford
|
Men E
|
25th
|
Jitka Kopriva
|
Women D
|
10th
|
Danielle Kopriva
|
Women B
|
13th
|
Dick Ogilvie
|
Men D
|
20th
|
Maureen Ogilvie
|
Women D
|
30th
|
Gayle Shepherd
|
Women D
|
13th
|
It was delightful to head down the mountains and not get
stuck in traffic. It was also delightful having the time to unpack the car in a
leisurely fashion in day light. The curtain falls on another 5 days.
Xmas 5 Days this coming year will be based around Sydney I believe. Mmm daily drags across Sydney not my favourite way to start the day.
PS
From my side of the fence as event organiser and also
running the computers I had a blast. There are so many lovely people in orienteering who are very mindful of the efforts of those who put on the events and take the time to say thank you.
Mind you it is not so nice to cop a spray
from orienteers as they reach the finish tent who have some negative thoughts about the course planning,
control placement or when the computer says “NO” and they “MP”.
Go away and
think about it and then comment or question in a more polite and tolerant way to
the person actually responsible is my
suggestion as you might actually be listened to. I don't get paid enough!
It is nice to have some of the “sprayers” return later and
apologise for their behaviour. Respect for the person returns.
