XMAS 5 Days- Sydney

Usually the Xmas 5 Days is held up country with Orange and Armidale two of the more favoured locations. This year it is being held in Sydney with the events held within the Sydney basin.

	Venue	Format	Notes
Day 1	Georges Heights 27th December	Long Sprint	Urban bush environment with amazing harbour views
Day 2	Cockatoo Island 28th December	Sprint	Beautifully located in the middle of Sydney Harbour
Day 3	Pyrmont 29th December	Score Event 45 minutes	Race through the historic Pyrmont area; mixture of urban and harbourside parks
Day 4	Lapstone 30th December	Middle Distance	Bushland located on the doorway to the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains
Day 5	Kippax Lake (SCG) 31st December	Ultra sprint	Historic recreation park just a stone’s throw from Sydney Airport and the CBD

The courses / classes are structured to suit a variety of abilities

Available Classes Men                 Women		Difficulty
Men A		Hard 1 Hard Navigation (longest course)
Men B	Women A	Hard 2 Hard Navigation (medium length)
Men C	Women B	Hard 3 Hard Navigation (Shortest Course)
Men D	Women C	Moderate Navigation
Men E	Women D	Easy Navigation
Novice		Very Easy Navigation

The highlight will be no doubt the chance to orienteer on Cockatoo Island. Now I have been to the island a number of times but just yesterday I went there with a copy of the map ( I am not running) and I can tell you this is going to be brilliant. With two distinct levels, tunnels, large buildings, inside which you could easily place controls. Magnificent views, beautiful sandstone buildings, seagulls who are very raucous- the Island has it all. After your run you can head to one of the slipways for a swim (it has netting across the entrance to keep out the "noahs arks") There are also a number of coffee shops and then there is the harbour...
You will need to catch a ferry to the island or kayak or if you have your own boat?

The second highlight will no doubt be the Ultra-Sprint just outside the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Three short, fast, furious, confusing, brain draining sprints is the order of the day for each competitor. Uringa will be taxed to the limit to put this event on- Did I mention the maze? Yes there is a maze which all competitors will visit at least once per courses (twice for some courses)

Entries close on 14th December. Whilst each day's competition will have Enter on the Day in Very Easy, Easy, Moderate and one of the hard navigation course, there will not be a limitless supply of maps. Especially for the ultra-sprint where each competitor has 3 maps. So rather than chance it - enter. You do not have to run all 5 days but can pick and choose.
The runs at Georges Heights- Sydney Harbour Vista and Pyrmont - inner harbour scenery are also worth a visit. Lapstone is just a hop skip and jump away from Katoomba or Wet and Wild