NEWS
NEWS
National Training Centre at ACTAS
World Record claimed
Julian Dent (NSW) and Danielle Winslow (Tas) have been granted National Training Centre scholarships that enable them to be members of the ACTAS Orienteering Squad and yet compete for their home National League teams. As well, David Meyer (NSW) has been granted a National Training Centre scholarship funded by his home State. He, too, will be able to compete for his home State “Ultimax Stingers” in the National League.
In the calendar year 2005, Mike Hubbert (M60) of Victorian club Bayside Kangaroos completed 180 courses. This achievement is being claimed as a world record in Orienteering. Along the way Mike visited 2292 controls and covered 1038km in 210 hours. Mike ran in the first event (of the modern era) held in Upper Beaconsfield in 1969 and has been orienteering ever since. In 2004 he completed 176 courses. In 2004 a Norwegian orienteer, Frode Konst of the Oslo club IL Tyrving, claimed to have set the record at 142 courses completed, beating British runner Mark Thomson’s claimed record of 140 courses. Mike’s tally of courses was closely followed by Jenny Sheahan (W60) and John Sheahan (M65), of Bayside Kangaroos, who both completed 173 courses. A number of other Victorian orienteers have chalked up high numbers of courses completed in 2005 and an article appeared recently in the international magazine Orienteering Today.
Bob McCreddin (left) President, Orienteering Australia, seals the deal with a handshake with Ken Norris, Manager ACT Academy of Sport.
Uproar in Sweden Some 800 Swedish elite orienteers have petitioned SOFT, the Swedish national orienteering body, protesting at the way recent changes to event programs have seen Classic (long-distance) events being replaced by Sprint and Middledistance events. In an “Open letter to SOFT” they single out the programs for the Swedish Elitserien 2006 and O-Ringen 2006 Super-Elit in which they claim there is too much emphasis on Sprint and Middle-distance formats. The Elitserien 2006 runs from April to June and comprises one Ultra-long-distance race, two Long-distance, two Middle-distance and two Sprints. In the O-Ringen Super-Elit in July there will be one Middle-distance, one Sprint and one Long-distance event.
BOOMERANGS – new name for National Senior Team The National Senior Team will now be known as the BOOMERANGS, a name which well suits our team of flying orienteers who will spin their way through the bush and come rushing back to the finish in spectacular fashion. OA registered the name last December.
Royal Patron for WOC2006 Denmark: WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2006 Patron: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik. Does this mean that the WOC2006 Patroness is a Tasmanian?
Future WOCs to be spread In the future the International Orienteering Federation board will make decisions on where world championships are to be held, seeking a better geographical spread. So-called “poorer countries” have an advantage in that they can offer less costly WOC packages.
Swiss orienteering grows 27 per cent Orienteering is a growth sport in Switzerland. At the end of 2003, the number of regular orienteers had grown by no less than 27% compared with the number at the end of 2001. It is clear that this is the result of sCOOL (schools program) and WOC2003 in Switzerland. Figures published in the Swiss magazine Sponsoring show the growth sports are skate boarding (+72%) and football (+16%). Sports which have lost numbers include handball, cross-country skiing and tennis. The report says that more recently cross-country skiing has shown increasing numbers and tennis has stabilised. OL, Switzerland
Lifetime Most Courses Tally Mike Hubbert (VIC) has edged ahead of Dave Lotty (NSW) in the Most Courses duel, thanks largely to the extensive Summer Series programs held in Melbourne. At time of publication Mike had completed 2125 courses while Dave’s tally stood at 2094. We’d like to hear from other orienteers who are recording their tally of courses completed. There must be some out there who are approaching 2000 courses. Write to the Editor, The Australian Orienteer. 6 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER MARCH 2006
