OA NEWS
SILVA Medal 2021 DARRYL ERBACHER - OA STATISTICIAN
The 2021 SILVA Medal has been won by Marina Iskhakova (RR-A).
T
he SILVA Medal competition for 2021 is based on points for participating and placing in the Australian 3-Days Championships (each day considered as a separate event) . In 2021, this award would have been based on the Australian 3-Days, plus the cancelled Sprint, Middle & Long Australian Championships and the Tasmanian Middle Distance Championships. As it is not possible to win the SILVA Medal without attending the Australian 3-Days, the OA Board has decided to make an award for 2021 based on the Australian 3-Days. Points are scored for completing a course as follows: 1st – 4; 2nd – 3; 3rd – 2 and 1 for finishing, 1 point if there are less than 4 starters. Six orienteers won all three days at the Australian 3-Days Championships scoring a maximum of 12 points. To determine the winner of the SILVA Medal a countback based on average winning margins was used. Orienteers who scored 10 points of more are listed below.
Marina Iskhakova
RR A
W40A
12
0.31
Greg Barbour
BF N
M55A
12
0.18
Warren Key*
MF V
M60A
12
0.14
Jenny Hawkins
BS A
W75A
12
0.09
Grant Bluett
AO A
M45A
12
0.07
Chris Brown
EV T
W60A
12
0.06
Sue Key
MF V
W65A
11
Steve Flick
BN N
M70A
11
Milla Key
MF V
W16A
11
Matt Doyle
CC A
M21E
11
Jennifer Enderby
NC N
W50A
11
Gareth Candy
AO A
M40A
11
Wayne Eliot
UR N
M35A
10
Tracy Marsh
BF N
W45A
10
Tom Walter
RR A
M40A
10
Toby Cazzolato
SW S
M18E
10
Mikayla Enderby
ST N
W18E
10
Mace Neve
RR A
W35A
10
Jock Davis
BF N
M50A
10
Istvan Kertesz
GO N
M35A
10
Erika Enderby
NC N
W16A
10
Emily Sorensen
SW S
W20E
10
Briohny Seaman
WR N
W35A
10
*Previous winner of SILVA Medal
36 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER JUNE 2022
Marina with Darryl Erbacher. Photo: John Harding
OA Statistician, Darryl Erbacher, interviews Marina Iskhakova Statistician: Marina, you have had an outstanding career and now the SILVA Medal. Congratulations. Marina: Thanks Darryl! S: How does it feel to hold this (heavy) trophy?
M: It feels excellent! First the trophy is very beautiful! And it has so much rich Australian orienteering history in it. When I first heard about the SILVA Medal and Trophy back in 2010 in Sydney when we became members of Bennelong Northside, I dreamt one day I might win it.
S: In a year of reduced relevant events you were one of 6 orienteers to gain maximum points but on a countback you blitzed your class by an average winning margin of 31%. Your fitness and navigation skills must be at a peak?
M: 2021 was very disruptive for all, including me. As the competition was only for a few events, I tried to get the maximum from each of them and put on the best possible performance. I love very technical and very complicated challenging terrain where you need to exhibit the highest technical and mental endurance from the start to the finish. The Gumble Pinnacle courses provided that precise challenge. I was in very good shape and managed to keep a very high level of concentration over all days. Yes, when you are in a SILVA Medal contest with such excellent orienteers as Greg Barbour, Warren Key, and Grant Bluett, who all obtained maximum points after 3 events – you also need a little bit of luck to get on a top and secure the trophy.
