Metro 4 - Mount Annan Uringa triumphs

It was extremely chilly in the shade (4.5 degrees at 9am) as the teams assembled for Metro 4 at William Howe Reserve Mt Annan. Mind you once in the sun it was quite warm and helped the crowd warm to the day.

The map was a delightful mix of grassland, smallish trees, some local streets and an open ridge line. The course setter, Dean Williamson, did a great job to provide a course that was interesting, and challenging whilst keeping hills to a minimum. (Divs 1,2,3 had a few more up and overs that 4 and 5)

A lot of people struggled with control 6 but wily old fox Dave went around and attacked the control from the north was the most successful. Your truly went at it from the south and struggled to read the clearings.
Our Div 2 team maintains their unblemished record with a fine 36/18 wim over Garingal. When looking at the results for the course it is no wonder as Ant 1st, Shane 2nd and Michael 3rd made life tough for the opposing team. Finn 14th and serena ( stepping up from Div 3 )25th rounded out the team.
Our Div 3 team was short of runners as was SHOO their opponents  -(they were running the event) and went down 31/18.
Div 5 had a fine win over SHOO 31/24. Newcomer to metro racing Will Nolan was the standout finishing 8th overall, Ron 10th, Melanie and Adrienne 12th and 13th respectively and Dave rounded out the results with a strong 15th.

Up Coming Events
7th / 8th July State League double header on the Southern Highlands Wingello and Belanglo. Entries close this coming Friday
22/7- Metro 5 at Lapstone we will need all hands on deck for this event..Entries close 9th July
18/19th August - State League double header - Orange
26/8- Metro League 6 Final at Lansdowne This is a Uringa event and we will need lots of help as well as runners.

The Queen's Birthday Weekend QBIII

Celebrating the Queen's official (not actual) birthday means a NSW three day weekend. It provided opportunity for orienteering, time for exploring and time for socialising!

QBIII was organised by Central Coast Orienteers, a small club, with help from many friends. The finish tent was staffed by Ron Pallas and his team.

To get a QBIII result the competitor must run all three days in the same event.

M12A

6 Jonathan Nolan

W12A

5 Maggie Mackay

M45A

4 Ant Nolan

W45A

6 Melanie Christie

W50A

2 Linda Sesta

M55AS

2 Jim Mackay

W55AS

2 Gayle Shepherd

M65AS

7 Ian McKenzie

M65AS

1 Dave Lotty

M70A

6 Dick Ogilvie

W70A

7 Mary Jane Mahony

M80A

2 Brian Cleland

WOpenB

3 Jane Boland

The NSW juniors worked hard to raise funds.

And on Sunday night most Uringans, and many other orienteers enjoyed great meals and good company at the Globe Hotel.

Clandulla - Rylestone (State League #7, #8, #9)

Each day of the QBIII weekend offered a State League event. Uringans were out in force.

Carwell’s labyrinth (State League #7)

This World Master's final map offered interesting terrain, with cliffs and some pagodas for the longer courses. The heavy rain of the night and day before left the ground and its covering of leaves wet and slippery. The rain mostly halted for the duration of the event.

M12A

7 Jonothan Nolan

W12A

5 Maggie Mackay

W16A

2 Serena Doyle

M45A

5 Ant Nolan

W45A

7 Melanie Christie

M50A

5 Shane Doyle

W50A

3 Linda Sesta

M55AS

2 Jim Mackay

W55AS

3 Gayle Shepherd

M65AS

3 Ian McKenzie

M65AS

1 Dave Lotty

M70A

6 Dick Ogilvie

W70A

7 Mary Jane Mahony

M80A

2 Brian Cleland

WOpenB

3 Jane Boland

Open Easy

1 William Nolan

Prosser’s Reef (State League #8)

Vague spurr/gully was the main offer. Many motorbike tracks, all unmarked, cris-crossed the map, ensuring a distraction for anyone looking for an easier way and forgetting to keep their compass bearing firmly in mind.

The sunshine made it a magic day both for orienteering and for socialising. The noise level of the conversations was notable.

The first two events used the same Assembly area, on a private property.

M12A

7 Jonothan Nolan

W12A

5 Maggie Mackay

W16A

2 Serena Doyle

M45A

4 Ant Nolan

W45A

5 Melanie Christie

M50A

2 Shane Doyle

W50A

2 Linda Sesta

M55AS

2 Jim Mackay

W55AS

5 Gayle Shepherd

M65AS

9 Ian McKenzie

M65AS

1 Dave Lotty

M70A

7 Dick Ogilvie

W70A

7 Mary Jane Mahony

M80A

1 Brian Cleland

WOpenB

3 Jane Boland

MOpenB

4 William Nolan

Rylestone Common (State League #9)

Located on the edge of Rylestone (not much of a walk from the caravan park) and up above the local golf course, it was bush but not as usually known. Some were unsure what a 'bush sprint' would be. Changes of direction, runners going in all directions combined with ups and downs and some limited visibility. There were more challenges than expected.

M12A

6 Jonothan Nolan

W12A

2 Maggie Mackay

M45A

5 Ant Nolan

W45A

7 Melanie Christie

W50A

2 Linda Sesta

M55AS

1 Jim Mackay

W55AS

1 Gayle Shepherd

M65AS

7 Ian McKenzie

M65AS

1 Dave Lotty

M70A

4 Dick Ogilvie

W70A

6 Mary Jane Mahony

M80A

2 Brian Cleland

W85A

1 Maureen Ogilvie

WOpenB

2 Jane Boland

MOpenB

2 William Nolan

44th Great NOSH Race

What's the NOSH? It's an annual trail run established and organised by the orienteering community.

Run or walk on a traffic-free course from Lindfield Oval via Roseville Bridge to Seaforth Oval through some of Sydney's most spectacular bushland.  The course is approximately 16.4km in length, mostly on bush tracks and fire trails, with some steep sections.  There's 570m climb throughout the course.

Uringa's contribution has for many years been to organise and staff the water station underneath the Roseville Bridge. Organiser in chief is Ron Pallas.

Oh, yes, and also to be represented by runners. Ant Nolan was 22nd at 1.20.39 followed by Will Nolan 82nd at 1.39.17.

If you look at it from a different point of view, it is the annual celebration of Gayle Shepherd's birthday. There's always cake (this year baked by Jane Boland).

Orienteering history was also represented by the florescent fleeces worn by some - harkening back to the cold but exciting week of running  2007 JWOC (Junior World Orienteering Championships) starts  in the chilly dawn of winter on maps near Dubbo.