State League 3 and 4 – sunshine on the Central West slopes and tablelands

Uringans were out in force. There are city orienteers and there are bush orienteers. Yes, there is some overlap in the two categories…but some are only seen in the bush and at social events (and bush orienteering is very social).

The weekend event were NSW State, ACT State League and also National Orienteering League events. The National Orienteering League and Junior National Orienteering League (under 21) are open to elite orienteers only. The NSW team is called the Stingers.

Wyangala Waters (SL3)

This was the day of  views. Keep focussed – don’t look at the lake. A middle distance course.

W12A
4 Maggie Mackay

M12A
3 Jonathan Nolan

M Junior B
1 William Nolan

W Open B
7 Jane Boland

M45A
3 Ant Nolan

M45AS
2 Jim Mackay

W50A
3 Linda Sesta

M50A
2 Shane Doyle
4 Michael Warlters

M55AS
5 Ron Pallas

W60A
8 Margaret Wilmott

M65A
2 Nick Wilmott

M65AS
1 Dave Lotty

W70A
6 Mary Jane Mahony

M75A
2 Dick Ogilvie

M80A
5 Brian Cleland

W85A
1 Maureen Ogilvie

EOD Moderate
1 Serje Robidoux

Roseberg State Forest (SL4)

These were the long championships, and for the elite the ultralong championships. It was not surprising that there were more DNFs, and even DNSs, in the results list. The long legs demanded close attention to navigation – this get more challenging as (the less fit anyway) orienteers tire.

The ultralong competition was well beyond the ordinary orienteerer's imagination. M21E was a 24km course. The winner took 2hr30min. The last runner to finish took 5hr12min. W21E was 14.6km.

W12A
4 Maggie Mackay

M12A
4 Jonathan Nolan

M Junior B
1 William Nolan

W Open B
2 Jane Boland

M45A
7 Ant Nolan

M45AS
3 Jim Mackay

W50A
4 Linda Sesta

M50A
1 Michael Warlters
2 Shane Doyle

W55AS
1 Jan Sargood

M55AS
8 Ron Pallas

W60A
8 Margaret Wilmott

M65A
1 Nick Wilmott
8 Rick Steele

M65AS
1 Dave Lotty

W70A
5 Mary Jane Mahony

M75A
2 Dick Ogilvie

M80A
5 Brian Cleland

EOD Hard Short
1 Serje Robidoux

Go West, You Orienteers

The two big national orienteering events each year are the Australian Three Days (part of a larger Easter Carnival) and the Australian Championships (held roughly over the September-October school holidays and also part of a larger orienteering event series). The states/territories where these events are held rotate. More info here for future planning!

This year the Easter Orienteering Carnival was held in Western Australia. The Australian Sprint Champs and the Australian Middle Distance Champs were held on the following weekend. (There were some schools and public races on the weekdays between.)

The first day, the sprint, was in the middle of Perth. The other two events in the Three Days were in the York-Beverly region east of Perth, full of history, farm land and forest.

While ten days of orienteering was on offer, it was a very long way to go, with just five Uringans participating in some or all of the events on offer. (Next year it will be held in the NSW Orange region.)

Australian Three-Day Results

The times for all three events are combined for the placings. Runners who MP/DNS/DNF for any one of the days are out of contention.

M50A

2 Shane Doyle
5 Michael Warlters

W70A
12 Mary Jane Mahony

M80A
3 Brian Cleland

Australian Sprint Champs

W20E
17 Serena Doyle

M50A
3 Shane Doyle
7 Michael Warlters

Australian Middle Distance

W20E
18 Serena Doyle

M50A
2 Michael Warlters
5 Shane Doyle

Photos thanks to OA FaceBook and Mary Jane Mahony.

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

Sydney Summer Series Finale

Congratulations to Helen Murphy who wrapped up the Sydney Summer Series in style with a season-best score and a well-earned podium position at the SSS Cup prizegiving in West Pymble last night. Helen completed 25 of the 26 events in the series, and her highest 12 scores earned her third place in the Women’s Legends class, just edging out Adrienne Kirby who finished in 4th position. Mary Jane Mahony was 7th in the class. Other Uringans who participated regularly in the series included Brian Cleland (6th in the Immortal Men’s class), Terry Murphy (17th Legends Men), Ian Mckenzie (24th Legends Men), Jim Mackay (14th Super Veteran men), Zoe Melling (4th Veteran Women), Linda Sesta (9th Veteran Women), Melanie Christie (14th Veteran Women), Catherine Murphy (7th Masters Women), Laurent Billot (5th Masters Men), Michael Weiner (6th Masters Men), Owen Shepherd (14th Masters Men), Serje Robidoux (15th Masters Men), Corey Spink (22nd Masters Men), and Roderick Smith (28th Masters Men).

Full results are on the Sydney Summer Series site.

2018 Christmas 5-Days in Sydney

Each year the Christmas 5-Days Orienteering Carnival is held somewhere in NSW. The principles for the event are family fun, mild competition, and opportunity to explore, or just chill out, after the morning orienteering.

This is the second time it's been in Sydney. Families were out in force thanks to summer time and the holiday season. Five different events at five superb locations. 

Day #1 Score event, Kirribilli

Day #2 Three line course loops: bush, rock, garden, Centennial Park

Uringa puts on an 'outside-the-box' event due to the creativity of course setter Matt Peters, scored by the technical wizardry of Ron Pallas, and supported with club members at many posts. 

Set up on the day started at 6.30am with pack-up completed by noon. It takes a village [club] to run such a great event.

Day #3 Mass start score event, Clay Pan, Beacon Hill

A little something different after the parks and views of inner Sydney. This event was organised by the Stingers. Technology by guru Ron Pallas.

Day #4 Sprint, Cardinals Palace, North Head, Manly

A new map for everyone, brilliant sunshine (again), salt air and ocean views, not to mention history and parkland most didn't know about.

Day #5 Long sprint, University of Sydney

Hot, hotter, hottest seemed to be the description of the five days this year.

Each day’s podium placers were eligible for a prize (on their first placing). There are also lucky draw prizes each day drawn from the names of all pre-registered participants.  It's all very social.

Overall scores are based on the best four results

MA: Michael 17th, Laurent 21st, Ian 39th
MB: Shane 4th, Ori 29th
MC: Jim 16th, Brett 32nd, Ian 38th
MD: Terry Murphy 16th, Brian 33rd, Dick 36th, Rupert 38th
ME: Angus 12th
WA: Catherine 3rd, Clare 17th, Maree 18th
WB: Linda 2nd, Serena 5th, Melanie 12th 
WC: Helen 10th, Adrienne 21st, Ursula 27th, Heidi & Mary Jane 34th
WD: Penny 21st
Combined: Joe 14th

[Photos thanks to OA and ONSW FaceBook sites and the keen photographers who contributed to them as well as club members.]