An excited crowd of orienteers gathered at Thornleigh Oval on Sunday morning for the first event of the 2018 MetrO league, hosted by Bennelong Northside Orienteers. Established in 2004 by the late Frank Assenza of BNN, the league is an annual inter-club competition for clubs in the greater Sydney area, and comprises a series of six bush orienteering events in five divisions. A total of 30 teams are registered for the 2018 league, including three combined Uringa/Central Coast Orienteers teams. The UR-CC teams got off to a great start on Sunday, with the UR-CC Harriers winning against the Garingal Orienteers Frill Necks in Division 2, and the UR-CC Kestrels beating the GO Blue Tongues to emerge top of the leaderboard in Division 5. In Division 3 the UR-CC Kites conceded to the GO Skinks, with only two members finishing.
Despite the hot dry weather on the day the ground was wet and slippery underfoot, thanks to the heavy rainfall during the week, and there was much talk of the “greenness” of the map and the wisdom of utilising the trails as much as possible to minimise the amount of bush-bashing. Those competing on the longer, harder courses had more of an off-road adventure, and bush orienteering experience was a strong advantage in all divisions, as discovered by a number of navigationally-challenged novices who found themselves out of their depth in the thicket. There were reports of close encounters with a variety of local flora and fauna including snakes, lizards, spiders and enormous eucalypts, one of which came crashing down metres from where two orienteers were standing.
On the 2.8k Division 2 course, Shane Doyle continued his excellent form to finish first in in a time of 50.06, followed Finn Mackay (15th in 104.48), Michael Warlters (17th in 106.09) and Serje Robidoux (31st in 1.31.12). Zoe Melling, having filled a vacancy on the team at the last minute, recorded her first DNF after finally conceding defeat and emerging long after the rest of the field had left, with only half the controls in the bag. In Division 3, Colin Price and Robyn Pallas of UR-CC Kites finished 14th and 22nd respectively in 1.21.54 and 1.28.04, while David Bowerman was waylaid by a nasty fall and Jim Mackay also clocked a DNF. First home from the UR-CC Kestrels in Division 5 was Melanie Christie in 5th position in 50.01 for the 2.3k course, followed by Ron Pallas (8th in 58.24), Dave Lotty (15th in 1.09.42), Gayle Sheppard (18th in 1.12.39) and Adrienne Kirby (22nd in 1.15.00). Outside of the team competition, Ian Mackenzie was 22nd on the Division 1 course in a time of 1.43.55 and Maggie Mackay was 5th on the easy course in 27.28.
Team results are on the NSW Orienteering site and full individual results are on Eventor.
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| Map of the Division 2 course on which Shane Doyle finished first |
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| Map for Division 5 which the UR-CC Kestrels is leading |
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| Jim and Maggie Mackay out on the easy course. Photo: Salme Fuller, IKO |
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