The event was conducted in the north western part of the Park. The shorter easier navigation courses encompassed parts of the Multifunction track while the longer harder navigation courses included some serious hilly sections. 

Tom Janetski won the 1.7km Easy course by almost 7 minutes despite losing a little time by missing the second control and having to retrace his steps. Grace Hargreaves from Tumut came second with a steady effort on her first orienteering course and Rob McDougall did well to finish third 6 minutes further back.

Jack Janetski competed on the 3.0km Moderate navigation course which challenged participants with route choice decision about taking the direct line across hills or going a bit further around hillsides to reduce the climb.

Jack made a classic parallel error by following the wrong spur line and subsequent gully away from his second control and the only realising his error when came out onto a track. From there his run was almost faultless and his time of 36:15 was almost half that of his nearest rival. Ian McDougall finished second and the Iona Judd maintained a steady pace around the course to finish third.

The hard navigation courses traversed more of the hilly terrain and required two climbs over the main ridgeline. The dry winter and summer has resulted in less undergrowth so despite the hills the forest was reasonably runnable. As a result no-one made any significant navigational errors and places were largely decided by running speed.

On the 3.9km Hard course Deb Davey was impressive winning by just over 40 minutes from Wes Campbell. Deb and Dave Murray just edged out Phil Roy and Loren Edmanson for third place.

Alex Davey had the fastest time on the 4.7km Hard course. However, 14 year old Cameron McDougall did exceptionally finishing just 16 minutes behind. Indeed from the half way mark Cameron conceded only one additional minute to Alex and was faster on two of the five final legs.

Next event will be in the southern part of the Livingstone National Park and State Conservation Area starting at 10 am on Sunday April 12. From Wagga drive south along Holbrook Rd towards Mangoplah for about 24km. Turn left into Burrandana Rd and after a further 10km just before the Burkes Creek Bridge turn left into Livingstone National Park at Burrandana Hall and follow the orienteering signs to the assembly area.

Results: 1.7km Easy Course: Tom Janetski 18.29; Grace Hargreaves 25.37; Rob McDougall 31.22; Kath Oliver 36.13; Jarrah Mestan 51.28. 3.0km Moderate Course: Jack Janetski 36.15; Ian McDougall 72.23; Iona Judd Group 86.27; Lisa Metcalfe 88.03. 3.9km Hard Course: Deb Davey 52.59; Wes Campbell 95.11; Dave & Debbie Murray 107.14; Loren Edmanson & Phil Roy 107.21. 4.7km Hard Course: Alex Davey 68.53; Cameron McDougall 84.59

TUESDAY, March 20:, social bowls: A. Bower, G. Rose & E. McCrum def A. Bower, J. Brown & J. Mitchell. E Larkin, N. Gay & M. Hounsell def G. Smith, M. Williams & T. Iirilli. I. Crouch, L. Woolbank & K. McMIllan def J. Forrest, C. Freeman & V. Burkinshaw. T. Hogan, J. Serhan & K. Reid def N. Post, J. Stair & M. Thornton. DAY WINNERS: E Larkin, N. Gay & M. Hounsell.

THURSDAY, March 22 social bowls: E. Larkin, J. Stair & J. Wilson def T. Hogan, J. Brown & J. Mitchell. H. Tyrrell, N. Gay & T. Iirlli def S. Davidson, A. Leonard & M. Hounsell. B. Robinson, M McCrum & F. Mahon def B. Robinson, M. Williams & B. Cotterill. N. Post, L. Carroll & M. Henderson def A. Bower, V, Quigley & M. Thornton. G. Hull, L. Woolbank & J. Mitchell drew I. Crouch, S. Lucas & K. Reid. DAY WINNERS: E. Larkin, J. Stair & J. Wilson.

Social Bowls: Thursday, March 8: N Jones, C Mackay d B Patterson, L Moorby.

Tuesday, March 13: M Johnson, B Patterson, J Willis d J McClure, J Bishop, N Jones.

Thursday,  March 15: N Gray, N Jones d C Mackay, R Evershed.

Saturday, March 17: B Laing (SL), J Willis, J Beck d B Laing (SL), K Grentell, J Le lievre’

Tuesday, March 20: J McClure (SL), M Johnston, N Gray, J Le Lievre d J McClure (SL) J Bishop, J Beck, J Willis’

Thursday, March 22: M Johnston, R Evershed, J LeLievre d C Mackay, N Gray, E Low’

Winter bowls commence Saturday, April 7 at 1 pm – names in by 12.45pm.

Committee meeting  - Monday, April 9 at 11.30am.

General Meeting – Monday, April 9 at 1.30pm.

Bus trip to Altina Wildlife Park – Friday, April 13 - depart Club 8.30am.

Any ladies interested in trying bowls phone Norma 6921 4610.

TENNIS continues today Wednesday in the Junior Doubles Tennis Competition at the Bolton Park Tennis Complex.

The competition is open to all players that are able to serve. To enter turn up at the courts before the start time of 4pm finish at 6pm sharp. Sportsmans Warehouse giftcards awarded at the end of the competition as well as a Best and Fairest award.

Leading the competition is Pat Wright on 27 points with Makenna Irlam on 26 points then Lachlan McDonald on 24 points close behind Riley Wilson on 21 points then Kelsey Atkinson on 14½ points making up the top five positions.

Last week’s winners of the McDonalds Sports Award were John Kennedy and Riley Wilson.

Due to Easter there is no tennis this Saturday in the junior tennis competitions at 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 at the end of the competition. To take part, just turn up at the start time of 3pm until 5pm.    

Leading the masters competition is Oliver Plum on 29 points, then Robert Grantham on 11½ points close behind Pat Wright on 11 points with Caden Maxwell on 8 points than Lachlan McDonald on 7 points making up the top five positions.

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.

Leading the junior tournament is Tory Grantham on 15½ points close behind Alastair Wright on 13½ points then Yassin El Sanabary on 7½ points.

This week’s McDonalds Sports Award winners were Masters Robert Grantham and Junior Tournament Alastair Wright.

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

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

San Isidore Tennis Club has tennis coaching every Monday from 4.30pm and social tennis every Friday commencing at 6.30pm. All standards are welcome contact Ruth on 0409 743677.

WE will call the ride last week “The Scrambler” as no one quite knew where they were going and the six who departed from Billy’s all had  minds of their own. Now it wasn’t a great day, with a fair bit of wind about, and that is probably what blew their minds. The ride took them to Harden where half of the bunch entered one way and the rest entered another way and that is where confusion took over. 

Now it was discussed at the start that lunch would be at Boorowa so what does big Trev and another miscreant do, they prop for lunch at Harden while the rest of the motley crew continue on to Boorowa and have a bee-sting or two at the bakery there where they wait for big Trev and his mate to turn up.  But no one turns up so after an hour or so Les, Woody and Co give up and head for Young then Temora where Woody peels off and goes home. The rest is history. Age shall not weary them.

Meet and Greet at Billy’s on Saturday was also a bit of a shambles with the 10 or so of us who turned up waiting an eternity for our orders while poor old Annette was trying to satisfy a bus load of tourists.  However we managed to get a fair bit of discussion going on all things important and get home just in time for lunch.  

And on Sunday 16 of us turned up at the Boat Club for breakfast which was very pleasant and relaxed.  You should have seen John Starr tuck into a double order. A big plate of muesli  nuts and honey followed by a massive serve of bacon and eggs. He was not to be outdone, scoffed it all down then burped his way out the door to his car.  It was not his intention to have such a large meal, that was the way it was. We should do it more often.

At the AGM, in Barmera, an Adelaide motorcycle tyre changing Company will be at the event for three days from Tuesday. Tyres can be pre-ordered by ringing GC Motorcycles on 08 8344 7888. They can also get tyres to the site via overnight courier as a backup. So if you have any tyre problems they will be able to sort you out. 

The Paddle Steamer Industry has advised us that they will be conducting cruises on Thursday and Friday from 11.00am to 1.30pm and on the Saturday from 1pm to 2.45pm. Advance bookings are strongly advised as if they do not get a reasonable number on board, the sailing will be cancelled owing to the large effort needed to get a full head of steam and the need for an experienced captain and crew to be sourced. Direct bookings can be made on 1300 344 704. Scones, jam and cream are included! There is a fair chance it will be cool at night down in the Riverland so pack something warm.

The next ride in Wagga will be on April 1 and will be a ride and decide leaving McDonalds car park at 9am.  Don’t forget to reset your clocks with the ending of daylight saving. Apart from the Wednesday rides form Billy’s Café our next ride in April will be on the 15^th.