NATIONAL JUNIOR SQUAD

NATIONAL

JUNIOR SQUAD

Two national Junior training squads have been announced for 2009. Juniors Team Manager, Hilary Wood, has collected a series of profiles of our talented juniors and here we reproduce some of them. The series will be continued in future editions of the magazine.

National Junior Squad 2009

Boys: Joshua Blatchford (NSW), Oliver Crosato (Qld), Lachlan Dow (ACT), Leon Keely (Vic), Simon Mee (Qld), Joshua Neumann (Qld), Kurt Neumann (Qld), Max Neve (Vic), Oscar Phillips (Tas), Patrick Watts (Tas) Girls: Bridget Anderson (Qld), Ineka Booth (ACT), Sarah Buckerfield (Tas), Lilian Burrill (Qld), Belinda Lawford (ACT), Krystal Neumann (Qld), Brea Pearce (Tas), Aislinn Prendergast (Vic)

Junior Development Squad 2009

Boys: Aaron Breed (Qld), Ian Lawford (ACT), Stuart Lawrie (Tas), Alex Massey (NSW), Todd Neve (Vic), Tom Palfrey (Tas), Oliver Poland (ACT) Girls: Katie Doyle (Qld), Mary Fleming (Vic), Morgan McIntyre (Qld), Naomi Mitchell (ACT), Melanie Neumann (Qld), Glennie Nottle (Qld), Georgia Parsons (ACT), Rebekah Sunley (Vic)

Lilian Burrill Photo: Rob Preston

Lilian Burrill

Nickname: Lily Age: 16. (DOB) 03/07/1992

Currently running in which class:

W16 – soon to be running W1720E ahhh! Club: Boulecourt Boulder Bounders - BBQ Where do you live? Warwick, Qld Current status - working/student (where): Year 11, Warwick High School

Current job/subject studying:

Biology, Music, Drama, Maths B, English, Multi-Arts Other Interests: Piano, Clarinet, Netball, Bit of tennis, sport in general, lots of stuff actually.

How did you start orienteering?

Family dragged me along.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve orienteering

success is: Just keep plodding along. Orienteering successes: Easter 2008, W16 Champion; Aussie school team 2007.

Orienteering goals for 2009:

Go to New Zealand – Tick; Go to Easter in Tasmania. Future plans: Maybe take a holiday on a JWOC trip one day if it fits into my busy schedule somewhere.

One interesting thing about you

is: I hate pumpkin, love icecream and paintball skirmish hurts (but it’s still lots of fun!) Nickname: Kido / Ains-head Attackpoint Name (if you have one): Kido Age: 19. (DOB): 21/07/89

Currently running in which class:

W17-20E Club: Eureka Where do you live? Ballarat, Victoria Current status - working/student (where): Working, deferred uni.

Current job/subject studying:

Checkout Chick at Officeworks Other Interests: Triathlon, Hockey, Live Music, Movies, Travel.

How did you start orienteering?

My parents started orienteering in the 70’s and used to drag me and my sister and brother to events. I eventually realised I loved it.

Aislinn Prendergast Photo: Rob Preston

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve orienteering

success is: Determination; you can achieve anything if you work hard enough!

Orienteering successes:

Australian Champion W1720E 2007, 48th Junior World Long Distance Orienteering Championships 2008, 3rd Australian Sprint Champs 2008.

Orienteering goals for 2009:

To make the JWOC team, make the final in the JWOC Middle Distance and come in the top 10 in the JWOC Long Distance. Also to find success at the Oceania Championships and win the Australian Champs. Future plans: Go to uni next year to study Chemical Engineering and begin a career in chemical research. Make WOC in the future, improve my orienteering and be successful. Travel the world or even spend a few years living overseas.

One interesting thing about you

is: I have a coach for a dad and a Dietitian for a mum…how could I not be an athlete?

Belinda Lawford

Nickname: Bun, Bee

Attackpoint (name if you have

one): belindaL Age: 17. (DOB): 29-5-1991

Currently running in which class:

W17 – 20 E Club: Abominable O-men Where do you live? Duffy, ACT Current status - working/student (where): yr 11 student, Canberra Girls Grammar School.

Current job/subject studying:

studying biology, chemistry, human movement, English, maths methods. Other Interests: travelling, cross country running, athletics,

How did you start orienteering?

My parents took me along to events.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve orienteering

success is: enjoying competing and training. Orienteering successes: JWOC 2007 and 2008.

Orienteering goals for 2009:

JWOC 2009, learn and improve as much as I can! Future plans: hopefully as many JWOC’s as I am eligible for and then I would like to compete at WOC as well.

One interesting thing about you

is: my favourite food is oats!

Bridget Anderson Photo: Rob Preston

Bridget Anderson

Nickname: biddy, chops

Attackpoint (name if you have

one): biddy Age: 19. (DOB) 21/04/1989

Currently running in which class:

20E and sometimes 21E Club: Ugly Gully, Qld. Where do you live? The Gap, QLD Current status - working/student (where): Part time Nanny, Newsagent chick and Student at UQ and full time orienteer.

Current job/subject studying:

Studying Bachelor of Speech Pathology. Other Interests: watching movies and The Simpsons…that’s pretty much it. How did you start orienteering? I started Orienteering at Coromandle Valley Primary school in Adelaide through David Tilbrook who was a teacher there. I also did it because my big brother Ian did it. That was way back in 1995 I think.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve orienteering

success is: Don’t let the bad times bring you down. Just pick yourself up and work harder towards goals and your achievements will be that much sweeter…wow that sounds pretty inspirational. Orienteering successes: Most memorable: 28th in the Middle Distance for JWOC 2008; being selected for the 2007 JWOC team; 1st at Easter in 2005 and 2008; being selected for the Australian Honour team in 2005 for Senior girls and winning the Timberlight trophy for W10 back in 1999. Orienteering goals for 2009: solid runs in W21E; to make the top10 in the Middle Distance for JWOC and to have fun as a last year of being a junior. Future plans: After I finish my last year of juniors I want to continue training and hopefully improve my fitness and skills to make it into the WOC team. I also would someday like to finish my uni degree…but you never know what the future holds, I could drop out and become a beauty therapist.

One interesting thing about you

is: At one of my first orienteering events in Adelaide, I put my legs backwards through a baby swing. Evidently I couldn’t get them out and mum had to get a fireman to free me. One of the most embarrassing moments of my life and I have never stepped foot near a baby swing since.

Lachlan Dow

Nickname: Lachy Attackpoint name (if you have one): Big D Age: 17. (DOB): 24/08/91

Currently running in which class:

M17-20E Club: Bushflyers ACT Where do you live? Ainslie, ACT Current status - working/student (where): student year 11, 2008, Dickson College. Current job/subject studying: no part time job; studying physics, chemistry, biology, maths, jazz, classical music. Other Interests: them things called mountain bikes; getting outside any way possible; the natural world.

How did you start orienteering?

A work friend of my mum’s (Anna Booth) recommended it to me in 2003.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve orienteering

success is: super-simplifying, i.e. ignoring rocks in granite, vegetation, and piddly little contours until I get to the circle or when I’m planning route choice. Orienteering successes: third in 2008 AUS Sprint Champs; 84th in JWOC Sprint; actually making the JWOC team.

Orienteering goals for 2009:

NOL league top 3; JWOC rep; run Middle Distance A final. Future plans: keep orienteering, getting outside, becoming a hectic scientist, drinking some nice orange juice.

One interesting thing about

you is: had to deal with a cop in Maryborough due to a complaint some locals sent to the police station that went along the lines of “A bunch of kids are mucking around with a phone booth”. That’s what scavenger hunt dedication is.

Simon James Mee

Nickname: Simee

Attackpoint (name if you have

one): Slimes Age: 18. (DOB): 29/12/89

Currently running in which class:

M20E Club: Toohey Forest, Qld Where do you live? Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD Current status - working/student (where): Full time student.

Simon Mee Photo: Rob Preston

Current job/subject studying:

work at Woollies, study business at QUT. Other Interests: Bodyboarding for sure.

How did you start orienteering?

Uncles got me into it. Thanks Tim and Dave.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve orienteering

success is: For me personally, not to over analyse situations. Technically, compass. Physically, run up every dam hill you can. Orienteering successes: 5 Qld and 2 Aussie Schools teams.

Orienteering goals for 2009:

JWOC (top third in all races); place at Easter; win JNOL. Future plans: Finish Uni, surf as much as possible, get a job that pays better than the minimum wage.

One interesting thing about

you is: I can’t get enough of bodyboarding; it is my escape, passion, keeps me going and would trade anything to surf every day.

Orienteering Australia – National Training Centre

www.osoa.com.au

Orienteering Service of Australia stocks a wide range of orienteering equipment and publications, Miry MTBO mapboards and world-leading Silva compasses. We also supply navigational aids, walking poles, pedometers and personal lighting and other outdoor equipment. Check out our range of Italian designed Gabel trekking and walking poles. Gabel poles are high quality and lightweight.

Order online

and receive a free gift!

Quote “AOad” when you order for a free carabiner LED light.

Browse our product range and order securely online at:

www.osoa.com.au

AMAZING

New Zealand

tales

New zealand orienteering in full colour

drama % action % passion % thrills & spills

magazine subscription via www.nzorienteering.com or email nzof@nzorienteering.com annual subscription (4 issues) = 31.50 NZD ≈ 13GBP or 28AUD