Wagga and Riverina Occasional Orienteers
THE Australian 3 Days Orienteering 2017 will conducted in Wagga region over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend June 10 to 12.
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The event has been conducted annually every Easter since 1974.
It was rescheduled to the June this year because the World Masters Orienteering Championships were conducted in Auckland at Easter.
A different type of event will be conducted each day.
The cumulative time over the three events will determine final placings.
Some 510 orienteers from across Australia have entered.
The youngest participants will be under 10 years old and the oldest in their nineties (Neil Shafer, Sydney, and Hermann Wehner, ACT).
The oldest woman will be 85-year-old Sue Healy (Melbourne).
There will be an international flavour with four entries received from New Zealand and one from Sweden.
The Australian 3 Day Orienteering event will also include the National O-League competition in the Elite Men and Elite Women classes.
The event is being supported by Wagga Wagga City Council.
Women’s Elite and National O-League
WaggaRoos Briohny Seaman and Lucy McGarva will be representing NSW as members of the NSW Stingers team competing in the W21 Elite class.
Favourite to win is Jo Allison (ACT) current W40 World Masters Orienteering Champion in both Long and Sprint Distances and still the number two ranked female Australian orienteer.
Other strong contenders are: Belinda Lawford (ACT) – Australian number three orienteer. Bridget Anderson (South Australia) – Australian number six orienteer. Shannon Jones, former WaggaRoo , now competing for ACT and returning to top form after giving birth last year.
Men’s Elite
Is a red-hot contest. Favourite is Simon Uppill (South Australia) currently Australian number 3 and hoping to extend his 5 event winning streak on the National O-League circuit.
Challengers
Matthew Crane (ACT): ranked number four and recently won the World M35 Masters Orienteering Sprint Distance Championship. Is giving a few years in age to Simon but is in great form and has been a strong contender in the National O-League all year.
Rob Walter (ACT) and David Shepherd (ACT) both former Australian representatives but still ranked 10 and 11 respectively and still capable of upsetting younger runners.
Tomas Krajca – formerly Czech Republic now resident in ACT. Tomas is improving and has been doing extremely well in local Wagga events. Tomas could be a surprise.
Martin Dent, 2012 Olympic marathon representative competing for ACT. Martin is a very capable orienteer and could also be a surprise package given the terrain will favour speed and endurance.. His strength will count on the hills.
WaggaRoos competing in other classes
Lachlan Billett should do well in the M16A class.
Had a great year in 2016 where he improved remarkably and represented NSW in the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships and Australian Orienteering Championships.
In an even field Lachlan’s main competition will be from Sydney’s Finn Mackay and Alvin Craig and Melbourne’s Jenson Key and Mason Arthur.
Cameron McDougall will have his work cut out in the M14A class. Remi Afnan (South Australia), Patrick Shelton Agar(ACT) and Toby Cazzolato (New Zealand) will likely fight out the main placings.
In W16A Joannah McDougall will have to be at her very best to hold off Caitlyn Steer (Bendigo), Sophie Jones (Sydney) and Joanna Hill (Sydney).
Julie Gooding should be too good for Central Coast’s Alice Martin in the W21AS class.
Iain Crossett has been orienteering very well in local events and could be a surprise in the M45AS class. His main challengers will be Ian Jessup (Sydney), Darren Eenjes (Bendigo), and Sean Sunley who has recently moved to Wagga but will be competing for the Tuckonie club in Melbourne.
Pauline Moore could do well in the W70A class. This is a very even field with any of the entrants capable of winning on the day. Kathy Liley (Melbourne) and Jean Baldwin (Orange) will be strong contenders.
Wagga residents who would like to try orienteering are welcome to attend. Entries on the day will be accepted. Full instruction will be provided at the Registration tent.
Mayor Greg Conkey will present the awards to placegetters on Monday, June 12. The presentation ceremony will commence at 11.30am.
Saturday, June 10, Connorton, 10km south of Wagga.
- This will be a Middle Distance Event.
- Course lengths will range from 2-7km.
- Terrain is a mixture of open farmland and native forest with extensive granite rock features, some very large, across the whole map. Generally it will be fast and open running apart from some steeper and more technical areas.
- First start will be at 12.30pm. Courses will close at 4.30pm. Most people will finish between 1pm to 3pm.
- Directions to the event: From Jubilee Park travel south along Holbrook Road for about 6km. Just after crossing Stringybark Creek turn right into the “Connorton” property and follow signs to parking. Allow 15 minutes from Central Wagga.
- PLEASE NOTE: the turn into the property is on a sweeping left hand bend on a 100km/h road so take extra care when slowing and crossing. Similar care needs to be taken when leaving the event.
Sunday, June 11, Murraguldrie State Forest.
- 50km south of Wagga. This will be a Long Distance Event. Course lengths will range from 4-15km.
- Terrain is predominantly native eucalypt forest with areas of granite rock. The forest varies from gently undulating to quite steep. A challenge will be navigating between the numerous blackberry thickets that have invaded some sections.
- First start will be at 10am. Courses will close at 3.30pm. Most people will finish between 11am and 1.30pm.
- Directions to the event: Drive towards Tumbarumba via Ladysmith or Gregadoo Rd. Cross over the Hume Highway and continue on Tumbarumba Rd for a further 6.5 km. Turn right into Murraguldrie State Forest at Burngoogee Fire Track (also signposted to the Vietnam Veterans Retreat). Follow orienteering signs on the unsealed forest road for 3.5km to the Arena and parking. Allow 50 minutes from central Wagga Wagga.
Monday, June 12, CSU Boorooma St Campus.
- 10km north of Wagga.
- This will be a Sprint Distance event.
- Course lengths will range from 1km to 3km.
- Terrain will vary between the extremes of paved paths and grassy areas between the various campus buildings and the bush of the adjacent steep and rocky hillside.
- First start will be at 9:m. Courses will close at noon. Most people will finish between 9.15am and 10.30am.
- Directions to the event: From the main entrance to the CSU campus in Booroma St turn left into Darnell-Smith Drive and follow for about 300m to Car Park P04 or P06 on the left. DO NOT PARK in the car parks on the northern side of this road! Follow signs to the Arena, an easy 150m walk from parking.
Contact John Oliver, President WaggaRoos, 0427 201 954.
Tennis
Roman Adamcewicz
NO JUNIOR tennis this Saturday at the Forest Hill courts due to the Queen’s birthday long weekend. Wednesday’s Junior Doubles Tennis Competition at the Bolton Park Tennis Complex is open to all juniors that are able to serve. To enter just turn up before the start time of 4pm finish at 6pm sharp.
Leading the competition is Caden Maxwell on 17 points close behind is Oliver Plum on 12 points then Pat Wright on 10½ points with Josh Hillis on 6 points and Zac McCarthy on 5 points making up the top five positions.
This week’s McDonald’s Sports Award winner was Caden Maxwell.
Further information by contacting the co-ordinator Roman Adamcewicz on 6922 4963 or 0439 584125.
Last Saturday there was excellent tennis played in the junior tennis competitions at the Forest Hill courts.
The masters competition is for players 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 at the start time of 3pm until 5pm.
Leading the masters competition is Caden Maxwell on 50½ points close behind is Oliver Plum on 45 points with Sam Hood on 32 points then Reece Rutland on 23 points and Robert Grantham on 24½ points make up the top 5 spots.
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 there is a special best and fairest award presented at the end of the competition. This competition starts at 3pm to 5pm.
The junior tournament leader is Lachlan McDonald on 52 points ahead of Zac McCarthy on 44 points then Tory Grantham on 41½ points with Mohamed Ghazy on 22½ points and Emma McDonald on 19 ½ points making up the 5 top places. This week’s McDonalds Sports Award went to: Masters winner Sam Hood. Junior Tournament winner was Emma McDonald.
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.
