Vic Secondary Schools

2021 Victorian Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships

WORDS BRODIE NANKERVIS & PATRICK JAFFE

overall points score beating Braemar College (85 points). Regardless, it was tremendous to see a large turnout from many schools. The kilometre rates from various competitors were impressive, e.g. Jensen Key 5:20, Milla Key 5:32, Callum White 5:42, Torren Arthur 5:48 and Lucas Kent 5:52. Not to be outdone, Jesse Smith and Harry Luxmore running as a pair for Braemar College clocked 5:22 per km - very quick.

The organising team had some innovative ideas to improve the events atmosphere, and ensure the students had a great orienteering experience. There was commentating throughout the day, the arena was set up so that students could cheer their students running into the finish, and Jim Russell had live results up and running. A fun addition this year was the winner’s “wreath” for the current leader of fastest split in the finish chute in each age category, generating a lot of interest and healthy competition throughout the day.

Thank you to the large army of volunteers who helped make this event a success.

Victorian Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships held on Friday 7 May at Hawkstowe Park, South Morang. conveniently timed during term 2 when kids were actually at school, and people from Melbourne could venture further than 5km from home! Expertly set courses from Patrick Jaffe saw students traversing the west side of Plenty Gorge, offering interesting routes around the lakes and parklands, combined with some bush sections. The two longest courses featured some long legs with four different route choice options, which provided a different kind of challenge to what is usually experienced at the Schools Championships. This was challenging enough for the experienced students, but also friendly for the beginner students.

We had concerns that VSSOC would not attract many competitors, but we need not have worried. Entries were received from 18 schools, 256 students in total. As expected our young club orienteers excelled in their respective classes, but unexpectedly Kew High School (106 points) won the