JWOC 2007
Busy in July 2007? Ron Pallas Chairman Organising Committee, JWOC 2007
Join us at Junior World Orienteering Championships and Western Plains Carnival JWOC 2007 will be the first time that the Junior World Orienteering Championships have been staged outside Europe. We expect around 300 competitors and 100 officials from 35 countries will make the trip “down under” for the event.
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ERE is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get close to international orienteering action in our own backyard, featuring the most outstanding up and coming junior orienteers from all over the world. Not only will you have the chance to see the events and cheer the Aussies home, you will also be able to participate in six orienteering events interlaced within the JWOC Carnival running on maps used by the JWOC competitors. Are you up for the challenge?
Event Centre – Dubbo, NSW. The Event Centre for JWOC and the Western Plains Carnival will be Dubbo, the geographical centre of New South Wales. This inland city with a population of 30,000 has a strong tourist base. Boasting over 3500 beds, in a variety of accommodation modes, there should be little trouble in finding something to suit everyone’s taste. Dubbo has a wide variety of shopping outlets that will provide the odd hour or two of retail therapy as well as providing a range of supermarkets for those essential goods. A wide range of eating houses from the traditional Service and Bowling Clubs to fine restaurants are on hand to sate the hungry competitors. Amongst its most famous attractions are the Dubbo Gaol and Western Plains Zoo, however there is much more to see and do. Tranquil Japanese Gardens, a range or art galleries, visit the Military Museum or observe the universe from the Dubbo Observatory. Perhaps a trip just down the road, to Parkes to visit “The Dish”, the giant radio telescope, is to your liking, or the amazing limestone caves at Wellington or gold mine at Peak Hill. Contact Dubbo City Tourism when looking for accommodation – tel: 02 68841422 or www.dubbotourism.nsw.gov.au 26 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER OCTOBER 2006
JWOC Competition The JWOC carnival kicks off on Saturday 7th July with the Model Event followed by the opening ceremony later in the evening. Sunday morning will see the start of competition with the running of the Sprint. Dubbo’s most famous tourist attraction, the Western Plains Zoo, will be the venue. It is not hard to imagine competitors punching a control in clear view of both spectators and a wide variety of wild animals. The course setter, David Meyer, has resisted the temptation to run a leg through the lions’ den – pity! Could have seen some really fast splits! However he has many other interesting control placements that will not only test the runners but feature the beauty of the zoo. As a spectator you will have the opportunity to wander the zoo whilst taking in the race. There will be an entry fee to the zoo, however your ticket discounted by around 25% allows you to return anytime in the following 12 months (Easter 2008!) – Tickets must be pre-purchased via the entry form. With adrenalin still pumping, Monday will see the focus shift into terrain around Dubbo. Julian Dent will be out to test competitors in the Long-distance race with his courses tackling complex granite mapped by Eric Andrews and Alex Tarr. The terrain is a delightful mix of fast valleys and complex ridges. After a rest day on Tuesday, JWOC moves into Middle-distance mode on Wednesday. Jim Merchant has prepared the courses for the Middle-distance Qualification. The competitors are split into three heats, run simultaneously, with the top competitors in each heat making it into the A final. Thursday will see the Middledistance finals on courses set by David Shepherd. With A, B and C finals it will be a great day to be out in the forest cheering home the runners.
