WAGGAROO orienteers excelled at the Riverina Orienteering Championships and the NSW Middle Distance Orienteering Championships last weekend.

The Riverina Orienteering Championships were conducted at Pomingalarna on Saturday.

The terrain surprised many being more intricate than expected.

As such they approached the control sites somewhat casually and suddenly realised they were not where they expected to be.

Some found the open terrain to be faster than anticipated and over-ran the target control sites while others, choosing to follow one of the numerous levy banks, missed their target by following the wrong bank.

The Fossum family, recently arrived from Norway, were delighted to see so many kangaroos at close range.

The Riverina Orienteering Championship is awarded to the male and female with the largest percentage winning margin in their age-class.

Waggaroo Ed McDougall put himself in contention by winning the M14A age-class comfortably from Big Foot’s Ewan Shingler.

Although Ed’s time was 62 percent better than Ewan’s, he was pipped for the title by Newcastle’s Josh Blatchford who won his age-class by 68 percent.

Liz Abbott was declared women’s champion with a 56 percent winning margin in the W55A class.

WaggaRoo Lucy McGarva finished with a very good third placing behind Canberra’s Lizzie Ingham and Bendigo’s Clare Brownridge.

Ingham is a New Zealand international based in Canberra and currently ranked 56th in the world.

Although Lizzie’s winning margin was clear-cut, the two placegetters were far from outclassed.

The NSW Middle Distance Orienteering Championship was quite different.

Conducted at Connorton just south of Wagga, the rocky terrain required a major adjustment in navigational techniques.

In middle distance orienteering the short legs, numerous controls and frequent changes in direction place the emphasis on rapid decision making over short distances.

Small errors can lead to large time losses as navigational corrections are made and the concentration on the map features in tricky terrain has to be intense.

The Women’s Championship was won by Lizzie Ingham who showed her class with a comfortable win.

WaggaRoo Briohny Seaman, returning to competitive orienteering following the birth of her second child, did exceptionally well to finish second just ahead of Bendigo’s Clare Brownridge.

WaggaRoo Lucy McGarva again was in the mix finishing a close fourth.

The Men’s Championship was much closer with Canberra’s Dave Shepherd just edging out Southern Highlander Dave Meyer. Newcastle’s Andrew Morris was in third place but well off the pace.

Uringa’s Jones family had an outstanding day with Sophie winning W14, Georgia winning W16 and Lawrence winning the M17-20 class.

Other notable performances were by Canberra’ Rob Allison who won M60 by a mere 18 seconds from Newcastle’s Ian Dempsey and Basil Baldwin (Goldseekers, Orange) who just beat John Hodsdon (Southern Highlands) in the M70 class, Liz Abbott (Canberra, W55), Ruth Goddard (Yarra Valley, W60) and Jean Baldwin (Goldseekers, W70).

The Australian Orienteering Championships will be conducted in the first weekend in October in Perth.

The next local event will be on Sunday October 12 in the Murraguldrie State Forest commencing at 10am.

From Tumbarumba Road turn into the Murraguldrie State forest about 6km south of the Hume Hwy overpass.

RULES MEN’S BOWLS

A FULL complement of 26 teams of pairs from across the Riverina competed for the $2900 prizemoney in the Annual Challenge Pairs Tournament played last weekend.

Rules Club bowlers took away most of the prizemoney with David Streher and Kevin Cheney collecting first prizemoney of $1300 with five wins and a draw and plus 33 shots; second prizemoney of $700 went to Tumut’s Nick Gannon and Col Curtis with five wins plus 37 shots; third prizemoney of $400 went to Bob Wright and Bob Parker with five wins plus 28 shots on a countback from in 4th place and prizemoney of $200 Peter Thornton and John Hetherington also five wins plus 28 shots and fifth prizemoney of $100 went to Isaac Rayner and Apollo Birch with four wins and a draw and plus 37 shots.

Wednesday blind draw triples: (winners) Barry Breust, Lawrie Maher and Jim Sloan 26 pts, (runners-up) Ralph Todd, Mile Knezevic and Rod Dunlop 25 pts, (third place) Mark Pearce, Mick Mahon and Ritchie Munro 22 pts

Friday nominated pairs: (winners) Hugh Gladman and Keith Gill 23 pts, (runners-up) Bob Robertson and Jim Sloan 19 pts, (third place) Barry Breust and Rooney Coates 18 pts

Sunday mixed mufti blind draw: (winners) Kay Reid, Alice Bower and June Taylor 22 pts, (runners-up) Peter Reid, Pat McDonald and Les Allen 21 pts

Draw for the club triples is on the board.

The first round is to be played on or before September 20.

Nominations for the major/minor blind draw pairs championships close on October 9, with the first round to be played on or before October 23.

The annual general meeting of the bowling club will be held on the morning of Sunday September 28 at 10.30am.

Nominations are called for all executive and committee positions.

Coming events: Wednesday (blind draw triples) names in by 12 noon for a 1pm start, Friday (nominated pairs) names in by 12 noon for a 1pm start, Saturday (blind draw) names in by 12 noon for a 1pm start, Sunday (mixed mufti blind draw) names in by 12.30pm for a 1pm start

TENNIS BY ROMAN ADAMCEWICZ

LAST Saturday another exciting match in the Junior Tennis Competitions at the Forest Hill courts.

The match between Bradyen Smythe and Xavier McDevitt against Lara Plum and Jed Toohey’ Templeton was decided 10 points to eight in a tie-breaker, well done to both teams for such a great match.

No tennis this Saturday due to the school holidays.

The competitions will resume on October 11 with a new start time of 1pm.

The competition runs until 3pm.

The junior tennis competition is open to all juniors wanting to play tennis in a friendly relaxed format, and is their first steps to playing competition.

All players should be able to serve to take part.

There will be trophies to all players having played at least five matches, as well as a special best and fairest award which will be presented at the end of the competition.

In the junior tournament leading is Xavier McDevitt on 26 points followed by Bradyen Smythe on 18 1/2 points with Carter Noble on 13 points then Lara Plum on 7 1/2 points and Chloe Dumaresq on 6 1/2 points make up the top five positions.

The master competition is for the player wanting more serious tournament play, with proper tie-breaker sets being played.

There is prizemoney for the top twenty players in the competition for all players having played five matches, as well as a best and fairest award.

To take part just turn up before the new start time of 1pm.

Leading the masters competition is Angus Dumaresq on 32 points followed by Isaac McDevitt on 12 points and Caden Maxwell on 11 1/2 then Reece Rutland on 11 points with Charlton Geier on 9 points making up the top five places.

McDonald’s Sports Award winners: (masters) Charlton Geier, (juniors) Xavier McDevitt and Bradyen Smythe.

All enquires about the junior competitions or tennis lessons please contact Roman Adamcewicz on 6922 4963 or 0439 584 125.

Social tennis every Monday and Thursday night from 7pm for all standards at Forest Hill contact Col 0447 464 234 or Trevor 0407 513 974.

ULYSSES CLUB

SADLY we have to announce the passing of one of our members last week.

Ron Jeisman, a long time member of the Ulysses Club, was just 63 when a higher authority called him home.

Ron did not enjoy very good health over the past few years, but he always had a smile and a cheerful disposition.

Farewell number 29577.

The three branch weekend at Tumut was a roaring success, with 55 people taking part in the event.

There was a fairly even mix of riders from Wagga, Griffith and Albury.

I was told that what happened in Tumut stays in Tumut.

I couldn’t go along, but I did get the chance to meet up with everyone at the T-House in Bethungra on Sunday morning.

This is where most of the weekend warriors bade their farewells as they made their respective ways home.

There were a few sheepish faces and, I am sure, a few stories busting to be released.

Last Wednesday eight of the pension bunch headed off to Howlong where they had lunch and a gasbag, then shot back to Albury and up the Olympic Goat Track back to Wagga.

A relatively short ride but none the less enjoyable.

Just a reminder that there is a Wednesday ride each week that leaves Billy’s Cafe at 9am.

If you can’t go for a ride lob down at 8.15am for a coffee and chat before those venerable explorers sail off into the distance.

The next club ride is Jackie Starr’s mystery ride next Sunday, September 21.

It will leave the McDonald’s car park in Edward Street at 9am.

With the lovely sunny days we have been having riding is a pure joy although the temperatures could still do with a bit of jazzing up.

Coming up on October 5 is a Grower’s Market, Craft Fair and a Bric-a-Bat thingy at Talbingo.

Also there will be a show and shine with a few vintage MG’s, some Can Am Spyders and about 65 stalls selling all sorts of stuff and a heap of motorcycles if we turn up.

If you want to know more phone Bob Quarmby on 0418 692 411.

On October 12 there is the Border Bike Festival in Albury and on October 19 there is a Pink Ribbon Ride to Eskdale leaving from McDonald’s at 9am.

More about that later.

The next branch meeting is on October 21.

Don’t forget to turn up at Billy’s Cafe each and every Saturday morning for our meet and greet session which kicks off at 10am and finishes when the last one to linger departs the scene.

For safety’s sake keep you bike well maintained, ride defensively and enjoy the sweeping bends.

WAGGA CITY GOLF CLUB

LAST Monday’s Veterans saw Grahame Winson score 28 nett to get home from Les Hodges and John Wilson by a shot, followed by Tony Brunskill 30 and Ross Cobby 31 nett.

Thursday’s competition and Ron Culgan carded 29 nett to win on a c/b from Dave Richmond, followed by Barry Longmore 31, and Charlie Down and John Burkinshaw each with 32 nett.

The ladies played their September Monthly Medal last Tuesday, with the medals going to Jan Longmore in division one with 69 nett, and Janine Fitzgerald in division two with 67 nett on a c/b.

Scratch winners on the day were Colleen Minos in division one (88), Cae Cobby in division two (94 c/b) and Joan Veerhuis in division three (101) while the handicap winners were Lorraine Hickey in division one (70 nett c/b), Pam Seymour in division two (70 nett) and Sandra Donohue in division three with 67 nett.

NTP vouchers went to Cassie Gill, Cheryl Jeffree and Sandra Donohue, while the putting competitions were won by Lorraine Hickey, Cheryl Jeffree and Joan Veerhuis, each with the respectable total of 30 putts for the round.

Members played a stableford event last Wednesday, and Kerry Smith went one better than last week’s runner-up result by winning the A grade event with a solid round of 41 pts, while Bob Alexander grabbed second spot with 39 pts.

In B grade, Tom McDonnell scored 39 pts for success by a shot from Noel Wicks.

NTP vouchers were collected by John Dare, Doug Emery and Grahame Winson, while the ball competition rounded out at 35 pts.

The girls returned for a stableford event on Friday, when Marg O’Rourke scored 40 pts to win division one from Pat Tooze 39 pts.

Di Jenkins played well for 39 pts to take care of division one, from Pat Grieve 35 pts c/b.

NTP’s to Cae Cobby, Gloria Vonarx and Pat Grieve.

Ball competition to 32 pts c/b.

Members played a 4BBB Stroke event on Saturday, and with some run on the course, scores were hot.

The winning team was Nick Willers and Tony Landrigan with 60 nett, which was good enough for a c/b win from newcomer, Rowan Laurent, and old stager, Jimmy Briggs.

Third place was taken by Elliot Green and Garry Samios with 62 nett, while the ball competition went to 66 nett on a c/b.

NTPs to Matt Sullivan, Peter Treharne and Eric Hunt.

Members, social golfers and anyone planning a function are encouraged to have a look at the club’s flash new web site, www.waggagolf.com.au.

You may well be surprised by the amount of relevant information available there.

WAGGA RSL MEN’S BOWLING CLUB

WEDNESDAY: (morning blind draw) J Hay, T Harvey and B Weyland 17 1/4; M Douglas, W Black and L Peacock 14

Wednesday: (afternoon nominated pairs) W Manning and B Lawrence 15; D Knight, B Harmer and R Williams 13 1/2

Wednesday: (jackpot) M Sanbrook and L Sands

Friday: (morning blind draw) R Crago, R Williams and B Williams 16 1/2; W Paton, D Harmer, R Dugdale 13 1/4

Sunday: (morning blind draw) A Smith, J Cousley and G Johnson 16; B Lawrence, L Johnson and L Plant 14 1/2

Consistency singles: (final) M Sanbrook 151 d M Cousley 137

Coming events: (Tuesday) 1.30pm blind draw – social, (Wednesday) 10am blind draw, 1pm nominated pairs; (Friday) 10am blind draw, (Sunday) 10am blind draw

Major/minor pairs championships are to be played on September 27 and 28.

Entries close on September 19.

The club’s annual general meeting will be held on October 19 at 10.30am, and will be followed by a game of bowls.

Nominations for executive and committee positions close on October 4.

WAGGA RSL WOMEN’S BOWLS

TUESDAY 9: (social bowls) S Hayward, M Hilton and C Parkinson 22 d M Passlow, P Wray and D Christie 13; D Grogan and B Stockley 17 d Hillier and J Graham 15

Club singles: S Geddes d S Bowman; J Smith d C Colman; C Sanbrook d H Pearce; J Smith d B Reid; N Rodway d S Geddes; S.Hayward d M Hilton; J Graham d M Hillier; P Wray d B Stockley

Social roster: (Thursday September 18) L Hardwick and S Kingston; (Tuesday 23) B Reid and F Samios

WAGGA WOMEN’S PAIRS

TUESDAY: (championship singles – round one) B Patterson d Judy Willis; (social) N Gray and J Beck d W Grinter and J Le Lievre.

Thursday: (championship singles – round one) R Evershed d W Grinter; (social) J Mackay, J McClure, J Willis and M Johnston d C Mackay, D Luhrs, N Gray and K Fraser

Saturday: (championship singles – round one) K Grentell d N Gray; M Johnston d J Beck; B Lloyd d B Laing (social – yard stick) pos J Le Lievre, D Luhrs and C Mackay.

Coming events: (Wednesday) card games.

All are welcome to attend.