Christmas Party & End of Year Celebration

President's Cup winners: Marg, the Nolan  'Gong Team (cyclists), Georgia

The Uringa Christmas party is one of the club's two big annual social events (the winter dinner being the other). This year's event was yet another highly successful mix of orienteering (the President's Cup), socialising, eating, and, of course, Santa Claus. The venue this year was provided by Matt and Helen (all renovations complete), along with the pool at St. Joseph's College across the street.

The President's Cup
The traditional afternoon start (3.30pm-ish) was not a hot one this year, with the temperature moderated by a cloudy sky. The map offered a hill, water views and crossings, and St.Joseph's College campus.

The course offered 21 controls for a 40 minute score event, with a question to be answered at each. Much discussion afterwards on some of them: what is a chimney stack and how does it differ from a chimney pot? what is a goal post (when seen from a distance)? and even where is south? and, oh yes, I was distracted while I was counting the bricks.

President's Cup mugs, made by Jitka, are awarded at the discretion of the club president. (For a complete history of President's Cup awardees, go to the 2015 November postings in this blog.)

The Eating and the Socialising

You didn't have to enter the President's Cup to enjoy this aspect, though you did have to bring your contribution to the meal.

The club provides the barbecue cooked by Aldo and Ron  (meat and vegetarian options) while attendees bring a plate, coordinated by Gayle. It was a feast! Again.

Best of all was the opportunity to catch up with old friends, get to know new friends better, and start the wind-down to the end of the year.

 

And, of course, there was Santa

Cup & Saucer (Sydney Summer Series South of the Harbour)

Cup & Saucer is the newest of the Cooks River maps, and had its first outing for an event in the 26th year of the Wednesday Sydney Summer Series.

Rick Steel set a course which catered to all, not too hilly, lots of route choice (even with a river and a creek and limited crossings of each).

Those who were not among the 140 or so runners who turned up Wednesday can be forgiven. This time.

Yes, the radar said there would be a storm, and there was: set up for the event was compactly arranged within a picnic shelter and the early runner went out in the rain - but then the weather cleared and it was a lovely, cool summer evening from about 5pm onwards.

Yes, there would have been substantial traffic between north of the harbour and south of the harbour, but we know all about that - summer series orienteers living south of the harbour routinely experience it to attend the many north of the harbour events.

Watson's Bay Wow (Southern Summer Series)

Adrienne Kirby's first ever course setting for Uringa Orienteers was a wow! Great views of the Pacific Ocean to the east, while to the west Watson's Bay, Parsley Bay, Sydney Harbour - you name it. There were ups and downs aplenty - after all, Old South Head Rd runs along a narrow ridge. The views, the challenge, the sea breezes all made it worthwhile.

Cooper Park - an up and down Sunday challenge

 
 A stone's throw from Bondi Junction is the lovely Cooper Park (and environs). The park/s were their lovely selves on a Sunny afternoon, and the envrions  were, well, hilly. This map is always a challenge to navigators to minimise the ups and downs. On this outing the big points were out at the edges, and from the scores it appears not too many participants reached them. Thanks to course setter Ian McKenzie for a challenging run.

 

Uringa Orienteers Christmas Party

****URINGA CHRISTMAS PARTY DATE HAS CHANGED TO SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2016****

We would like to encourage all newcomers to come along and join us for this traditional Uringa event; we always have a very jolly time, and it's a great way to meet fellow Uringans.

When:                  
Sunday, 27 November 2016 (please note new date)

Time:                      
3.30 pm mass start                                  

 The President's Cup is bike and pram friendly !!

Where:                 
 Helen and Matt’s Mansion, 38A Mary St, Hunters Hill

  

What to bring:  
Running gear, BYO drinks, chair, cossies

Food:                     
Steak and sausages will be provided by the club.                                 

 Let Gayle know if you require a veggie burger
** Nominate whether you’d like to bring a salad, dessert or nibbles **

Santa:                    
Will be making an appearance, so if you have little kiddies (or bigger ones) don’t  forget to bring a present.  

RSVP:                     
to gayleshep@hotmail.com by Monday, 21 November 2016  advising number of adults/children, carnivore or herbivore, and whether  you are bringing salad, dessert or nibbles.

Orienteering NSW Presentation

The NSW Presentations took place last Sunday at Lake Parramatta Reserve in slightly humid conditions, but it’s nice to be finally out in T-shirt and shorts!! Bennelong put on a great 45 minute score event in bush terrain around the pretty lake system. Careful planning (at least for some!!) was required as km rates were definitely going to be slower than at your usual urban score event. Ian Jessup took us through the Award proceedings in record time, probably due to the fact that hardly anyone was there to receive their awards :-(  . Uringa picked up quite a few Orienteer of the Year badges, which is calculated on the 7 best results in State League events. Congratulations and well done to all the recipients:

1st W14A Sophie Jones

1st W17-20A Georgia Jones

1st W80 Maureen Ogilvie

1st M45A Shane Doyle

2nd W15-20B Maree Doyle

2nd W45A Linda Sesta

2nd W55A Lisa Lampe

2nd M14A Finn Mackay

2nd M15-20B Jakob Doyle

2nd M Open B Michael Lloyd

3rd W14A Serena Doyle

3rd W15-20B Zara Doyle

Thanks to Linda for the report.