It's Cold in them there Hills

The 2019 winter season kicked off in chilly conditions in the hills around Hill End. The area, first used for the 2017 Australian Champs, proved a real challenge for all and sundry. Orienteers were spread far and wide and many chose to make the drive in each day from Bathurst or Mudgee where restaurants were far more numerous.

Saturday served up fog and rain in the morning but fortunately it had lifted by kick off time but it was still damp out in the bush. The heavy overnight rain ( 25mm) made life interesting in the gullies shaped by the gold rush which saw Hill End grow to over 30 000 with 32 pubs. Really good Town Museum which was definitely worth a visit.

A typical control placement

The gullies were oft times very steep in and out and you had to be careful not to slip. More than a few orienteers ended the day with bruised bottoms courtesy of a slip and slide going into the gullies. Navigation required intense concentration as there were few if any easy legs as the complex gold mining terrain tested your ability to stay in contact with the map.

Sunday's long course for M35A and M40A - not M45A Ant!!!!!

For a better view of the gold minig terrain

Results wise Uringa dominated the podium with 8 members home in first. It was great to see Helen and Terry back in bush events. Felt a little for Jitka who missed a control

1	Maureen Ogilvie	W85A
1	Dave Lotty	M65AS
1	Maggie Mackay	W12A
1	Gayle Shepherd	W55AS
1	Jonathan Nolan	EODE
1	Serena Doyle	W20A
1	Shane Doyle	M50A
1	Brady Kopriva	EODVE
2	Helen Murphy	W65AS
3	Dick Ogilvie	M75A
3	Melanie Christie	W45A
4	Linda Sesta	W50A
4	Ant Nolan	M45A
5	Ron Pallas	M55AS
5	Michael Warlters	M50A
7	Danielle Kopriva	W40A
11	Terry Murphy	M70A
	Jitka Kopriva	W70A
	Jim Mackay	M35AS

The biggest problem with Hill End that whilst there is a surprising amount of accommodation around, there is one cafe and 2 eateries. The cafe was besieged by coffee consumers and by the advertised closing time of 3pm they were still serving like crazy. Unfortunately the author had to settle for a chicken pie - which was delicious all the same.
Saturday night  dinner was taken either at the Royal Hotel or the Hill End Lodge- whichever it was - there was standing room and longish waits.
Mind you we commandeered a table and ordered at about 7.30 and were fed around 45 minutes later. Typical pub grub- hearty, tasty and  filling!
Sunday Morning dawned and many were thinking - why didn't I bring more clothes- it was chilly - around 3 degrees at 8am. However the sun came out a little later and the world was a better place.
It was back on the same map with the courses considerably longer as were many of the legs on your course.
Most courses included a run through the streets of Hill End. I almost stopped at the cafe to secure a meat pie but the competitive instincts over ruled that desire.
A feature of the courses was that from the start it was straight into tricky gold mining terrain for 2 or 3 controls followed by a few long legs then back into gold mining out for a long leg or two and then you guessed it back into gold mining to do your head in.

Uringans again put in some outstanding efforts.

1	Dick Ogilvie	M75A
1	Jonathan Nolan	EODE
1	Maureen Ogilvie	W85A
1	Melanie Christie	W45AS
1	Dave Lotty	M65AS
1	Jim Mackay	M45AS
2	Maggie Mackay	W12A
2	Brady Kopriva	EODVE
3	Linda Sesta	W50A
3	Gayle Shepherd	W55AS
3	Shane Doyle	M50A
6	Danielle Kopriva	W40A
6	Michael Warlters	M50A
6	Jitka Kopriva	W70A
	Ron Pallas	M55AS
	Ant Nolan	M45AS
	Sue Healy	Open E
	Hanna Jones	EODM

There are some tales to tell. A big result for Dick- 1st in M75A. Don't let the age fool you as this is one highly competitive age class. Maureen completed a double header in fine form  and she had a much better run today than Saturday.  Good to see Jim having a better run
There were some sad tales with Ant picking up the wrong map, Ron completely missing control 7, Sue  and Hanna both succumb to the challenging terrain Mind you there was some strapping of a leg in the Jones camp that may have led to the dnf.

Make no mistake the Hill End terrain is very very difficult and there were many an experienced orienteers who came unstuck.

Ant in full flight 

A very happy Brady and proud mum Dani.

Maggie on her way to the finish

Maureen heading for home

Serena caught mid flight - great shot by Alec Watt

Shane - obviously had a spill or two- Alex Watt photo

One of the few buildings left in the town

A formidable gully

More terrain

PS managed to score a beautiful lamb pie for lunch- yum!

Next foray into the bush is some way off 18/19 May - saturday at Wyangala dam and Sunday at Roseberg State Forest. there is accommodation at the dam but could be all taken or Cowra is nearby.
5th may sees a Metro League Event at Boronia Park, just north of Hunters Hill.

Also worth a look are the Southern Highlands Forest series of events