Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Christmas Party 2018


Another superb Christmas party has [almost] completed 2018 for Uringa Orienteers. [Almost, as there are still two events to run: Wed Dec 5 at Birchgrove and Thur Dec 28 at Centennial Park.]  

Social Coordinator Gayle Shepherd ensured there was a bumper attendance of 31 seniors and 8 juniors, good weather, and a groaning table of good things to eat contributed by all. 

Everyone provided conversation and laughter. Some of the newer club members (toddler Charlotte and baby Millie in particular) weren't too clear what it was all about, but soon got into the party mood.
  












The President’s Cup sent runners out on a line course of about three kilometres on the Villa Maria map. With three different sequences around the same controls it was essential you read your own map and not be tempted by someone else’s direction. Control questions ranged from the colour of the pots in front of someone’s garage (not the colour of the pots on the veranda!) to the school motto on a gatepost (with bonus points for an accurate translation). Participating in the Cup is not essential but it is good fun.












 The President’s Cup is always a bit of fun. Course setting and awarding of the cups is by the club’s president or delegate/s (this year Helen Murphy, Ant Nolan and Linda Sesta). Criteria used to award the cup is masked in secrecy. This year's winners were Terry Murphy, Matt & Helen Peters, and Jane Boland.














How long potter and orienteer Jitka Kopriva has been making the President’s Cup mugs prompted some discussion. The consensus seemed to be since 1989.





Santa Claus made his traditional appearance to wide spread excitement.







Mary Jane Mahony provided a ten-question Orienteering Quiz which proved more challenging than expected. The prize for best score (8-1/2) was jointly awarded to Melanie Christie and Barbara Dawson. (And, yes, there were some books about orienteering which were being recycled. Thanks to Terry Murphy.)







Helen Murphy drew lucky door prizes before presenting a thank you gift to Helen and Matt Peters for again generously hosting the party. Helen Peters and Matt Peters have now hosted the Uringa Christmas party a record nine times at Hunter’s Hill.







Monday, November 26, 2018

2018 Southern Sydney Summer Series

Seven events: 4 organised by Uringa, 2 by Illawarra-Kareelah and 1 by Garingal.

This year several innovations were introduced into the Southern Sydney Summer Series including clustering events along the Cooks River, offering both score and line course options, several different promotion strategies to introduce new people to orienteering and a dedicated newcomer briefing person (thank you to Barbara Dawson of Garingal).

There were lots of lessons learned about managing lots of newcomers (especially scouts!), what works for  encouraging people new to orienteering, and how to be prepared for an intense registration period due to limiting the start window to 4-5pm this year.


Participant numbers were up, newcomers were many, and the weather was very good (except for the downpour during registration at the first event at Hughes Park).



Three course options, commitment to help at Uringan events, new members, and, not least, the advent of the silly season. Consequently, the 'league' tables mean little. They depend on how many events a participant completed - the result  being best-of-four - and not every participant was consistent in course choice over the series.

The following is merely a report of Uringan participation. And, a challenge for Uringa  Orienteers members, to work out how many Uringans they know now, and what may be their 'score' in a few months time, given the number of recent new members. (By the way, we hope for a new delivery of club shirts no later than January, which could make it easier to step up to someone you don't already know.)

New members, of course, have less navigation experience though they may have greater fitness, not to mention that a number of Uringans helped at all four Uringa events and took the opportunity to run. (Or 'run' as some members may say.)

Women's Score (35 participants over the 7 events)
2 Linda Sesta
5 Mary Jane Mahony
7 Adrienne Kirby
12 Therese Walsh
15 Heidi Van Schaik
17 Maree Lucas
19 Zoe Melling
26 Monica Brockmyre

Men's Score (60 participants over 7 events)
2 Paul Veerhuis
21 Shane Doyle
22 Ian McKenzie
26 Phillip Ryan
32 John Ovenden
40 Owen Shepherd
52 Ron Pallas



Women's Long Line (19)
1 Catherine Murphy
2 Jane Boland
4 Melanie Christie
5 Clare Murphy
6 Serena Doyle
7 Zoe Melling
8 Ursula Roper
9 Helen Murphy
12 Linda Sesta

Men's Long Line (36 participants over 7 events)
1 Ant Nolan
2 Jim Mackay
4 Brian Cleland
5 Serje Robidoux
6 Terry Murphy
8 Ian McKenzie
9 Dick Ogilvie
11 Ori Gudes
13 Ian Bilmon
17 Rupert Roper
26 Nick Wilmott
28 David Christie
34 Dave Lotty

Short Line  (41 participants over 7 events)
2 Dave Lotty
3 Elliott Veerhuis
3 Georgia Veerhuis
5 Lucy Veerhuis
6 Jonathan Nolan
7 Joe Roper
8 Hanna Jones
9 Nazara Jones
10 Ian Bilmon
11 Angus Van Schaik
13 Helen Murphy
13 Therese Walsh
17 Jane Boland
23 Sophis Hillier
24 Alon Gudes
28 Brady Kopriva
32 Maureen Ogilvie
40 Sue Healy
41 James Hillier



Saturday, November 10, 2018

Orienteering NSW Awards Presentation Day


Congratulations to all the Uringans who were honoured at the NSW annual awards ceremony today. Presented in the scenic surrounds of Waverton North Sydney Club after the Saturday Orienteering Series event, the awards recognised the contribution of the sport’s many dedicated volunteers and administrators as well as the achievements of those who represented their club in competitions throughout the year.

Seven club members earned podium places in the NSW State League and were presented with badges. Jim Mackay was first in the M55AS class, Dave Lotty won the M65AS class and Maureen Ogilvie was first W85A. Serena Doyle (W16), Jane Boland (WOpenB) and Linda Sesta (W50A) scored bronze in their categories.

Dave Lotty, winner of M65AS class
Brian Cleland, 2nd M80A
Serena Doyle, 3rd W16 with winner Niam Cassar of WHO
Linda Sesta, winner of the W50A class

In the 2018 MetrO League, the Uringa CC Harriers won Division 2, and team members Shane Doyle, Serena Doyle and Paul Prudhoe were on hand to collect the shield. Shane was also awarded a medal for winning the individual championship title. In Division 5, Melanie Christie won the individual title, and she also picked up the Rookie of the Year Award for her achievements since taking up orienteering.

Uringa CC Harriers Paul Prudhoe, Serena Doyle and Shane Doyle
Melanie Christie with her Rookie of the Year Award


Sunday, October 21, 2018

Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO) - Uringa runs an event

You ride your mountain bike and you orienteer, all at the same time. Yes, it is that lesser known version of orienteering. Its leader in Uringa Orienteers is Ori Gudes, and there are other Uringans who have discovered its attraction.



Saturday, 20 October was the 2018 NSW MTBO Middle Distance Championships. Ori was the course setter with Uringans (and others) managing the event.




By the way, we also had a NSW MTBO Middle Distance champ: M40 Ant Nolan.

Orienteering NSW reported: 'Brand new map of the area east of Wedderburn Aerodrome that required a 5km ride to the start and the same back again! So 10km on top of your course length. And should we mention it was pushing 30 degrees all afternoon? Very hard work as many tracks were a bit rough, or a bit soft, or had obstacles. And did we mention how hot it was? An event where the purists prevailed while still managing 4 minutes per km'. 


Are you interested in MTBO? Go here, and/or speak to Ori Gudes.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

2018 National Rankings – non-elite orienteers


Every year the national rankings list is published. To be on the list an orienteer needs to compete in national events. Uringa had no one running in the elite classes this year; however, we do have some non-elite members in the rankings.
Congratulations to Shane Doyle and Maureen Ogilivie, first in their respective age classes.
Maureen Ogilvie W85

Shane Doyle M50
Rankings in non-elite classes were determined based on results in the Australian 3-Days Championship, Australian Championships and the South Australian Middle Championship using the three best results.
Points are awarded for each event completed on the basis of 100 points for first place and lesser points for other competitors. When more than one orienteer in a class has 100 points, the first ranked orienteer is determined by the average of their three best winning margins.
The Uringans
W16 13/17 (72.23) Serena Doyle
W60 14/18 (57.07) Sarah Garnett
W70 21/23 (67.12) Mary Jane Mahony
W85 1/1 (100.00) Maureen Ogilvie

M50 1/20 (100.00) Shane Doyle
M50 7/20 (84.98) Michael Warlters
M60 11/38 (89.29) Nick Wilmott
M65 12/35 (84.77) Rick Steele
M65 17/35 (81.93) Ian McKenzie
M70 30/38 (67.30) DIck Ogilvie
M80 3/4 (98.53) Brian Cleland

Australian Championships 2018 South Australia

Each year the Australian Orienteering Championships are held in a different state around the October long weekend. The maps and courses are of international standard. This year they were in South Australia around Renmark in the Riverland and east of Adelaide near the southern end of the Barossa Valley.  A small but determined band of orienteers made the trip.

Where is Serena...
For elite orienteers this is an opportunity to prove themselves in stiff competition. For  the non-elite the age class challenge is there combined with the opportunity to meet up again with old friends and make new ones, and to explore another interesting part of Australia (mentioned in passing were Birds Australia Gluepot Reserve, Kangaroo Island, and the cycling paths of the Barossa).

Chest number in place
The Australian Schools Championships is part of the carnival (set during the week when all Australian schools are on holiday), giving much encouragement to junior orienteers, and their parents.






Australian Middle Distance (Map: Crooked Straight, Renmark)


  • M50A: 2 Shane Doyle
  • W85A: 1 Maureen Ogilvie











Australian Sprint Championships (Map: Renmark Schools)
  • M50A: 1 Shane Doyle
  • M80A: 2 Brian Cleland
  • W85A: 1 Maureen Ogilvie





Australian Long Distance (Map: Gumeracha Goldfields, east of Adelaide)

  • M80A: 3 Brian Cleland
  • W85A: 1 Maureen Ogilvie



What an opportunity to see the outcome of long term plantation forestry

Australian Relay Championships
(Map: Wiela - Bunyip Ridge, Remark)
Teams containing Uringa members:
  • WOpenB: Maree 3rd
  • W21AS: Gayle 3rd
  • M45A: Shane 3rd

South Australian Championships Middle Distance (Map: Keynes Gap)
The host state also usually runs a state championship event, and this one offered up some confronting rock.
  • M45AS: 1 Ron Pallas
  • M50A: 2 Shane Doyle
  • M80A: 1 Brian Cleland
  • W85A: 1 Maureen Ogilvie

Just nice open paddocks with occasional very old trees...

...but turn around and there was the (first) rocky ridge

...and coming down to the final controls took some care.