OceaYarnia International Orienteering journalist Con Torrline interviews David Jaffe and Warren Key WORD s & PH OTO S DAVI D JA F F E
The Oceania Long event last October at Kangaroo Crossing lived up to the great Victorian tradition of trying to match the best European carnivals. With over 1000 runners in 21 classes on 15 courses there was a lot to organise and plan. Coorganiser David Jaffe (DJ) and course planner Warren Key (WK) were interviewed for the OV Yearbook by journalist Con Torrline:
what is required for high level competition, then reward those with the skills set to put it together on the day. What were you most worried about before the event? WK: Well we had three levels of controllers so we had checked and checked and checked again so not too much. DJ: I was worried about having to get on yet another organisers’ two-hour teleconference with the combined ACT/ NSW team as I’d done far too many of those. More seriously, I was worried about heavy rain or a hot day. Once we saw the forecast, we made sure we created shade on the hill as we knew it would be an issue. We got lots of tents and tried to make a grandstand.
What were you hoping the Oceania long would achieve?
DJ: I wanted everyone to have fun from 3-year-olds to 93. I hoped it would be a great event where people remembered it as a celebration of the best we could put on in Victoria that also tried to innovate. When Warren and I went on site we knew we had a great arena that deserved some theatre so we tried to think like producers as much as orienteers.
What idea or aspect were you proudest of?
WK: Our coach in residence and friend, Will Gardner, brought his parents out from the UK to show off his experiences in Australia. Will’s dad, Richard, is an age group gun and he has a great sense of humour too. Will had really talked up our day long before arriving so by the time I added the threat of a GPS tracker, Richard was on tender hooks. It was great because, well as a parent, we all know it's impossible to walk in your child’s shoes, but on this big race day I am sure for a passing moment Richard experienced what it feels like to be Will, to be under the microscope like an Elite athlete feels for all big races. To see how Richard handled it, look back over his GPS tracking
WK: Kangaroo Crossing is a uniquely superb bit of terrain that challenges all the senses. I wanted to offer the experience of international orienteering on as many levels as possible, not just the courses but the whole package. From the anticipation of the challenge (we hyped this up a little like a WOC runner experiences in the lead up; the special terrain, the tough courses, the big race) and even the walk to the start. On the courses I wanted to challenge competitors’ true orienteering abilities. I wanted every runner to be immersed by their orienteering senses and see through their own eyes page 4
