6 minute read
WOC & JWOC THANK YOUS
WOC & JWOC Teams thank their supporters
There were some amazing experiences had by some of our most talented Elites this year in Europe and elsewhere abroad. After missing out on the opportunity to compete over 2020 and 2021 it was great to see a large contingent travelling to represent Australia this year in Teams and also others competing in spectator events for experience. Australia was represented at the following International races: World Cups #1, 2 and 3, World Championships, European Youth Championships, Junior World Championships, World Games and World University Games. The benefits of competing and training overseas are enormous for our Elites and upcoming Juniors, to experience new terrains and see our Sport at a whole different level. They come back with a burst of enthusiasm and eyes wide to what they need to do to improve. This is not always easy and all fun and games for them though, there is a lot of hard work put into training and technical research for months and even years beforehand, into saving money, missing School, Uni, work ... just to get there. But there is also a lot of support given to most of our Team members and I would like to acknowledge this and on behalf of our athletes take the opportunity to say “thank you” to those Clubs that support their club members who make International or State teams, to State Associations and also to Orienteering Australia itself. We also have some very generous donations from the Orienteering Community. Some of which are anonymous and we’d really like to say “Thank you” and how much it really does help. I think for a lot of our athletes it wouldn’t be possible to afford the costs involved to have these opportunities without such amazing support. I asked our team members from WOC and JWOC to put into a ‘snap shot’ sentence some of the experiences they had and are grateful for. I’m sure there is plenty more they’d like to say given the chance though …..... Thanks again,
Natasha Key – Head Coach
Erika Enderby: JWOC was such an amazing experience and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to compete against the best Juniors in the world. Incredible Sprint races and memories I will cherish forever. I would also like to thank my parents, Newcastle Orienteering Club, ONSW and everyone else who made it possible. Emily Sorensen: WOC was such a crazy amazing experience and a huge learning curve. It was so surreal being in the same race with the likes of Tove Alexandersson and Simona Aebersold. Getting there would not have been possible without the support from Tintookies, Bigfoot, OSA and ONSW. Also a big thank you to our amazing coaches, Mary and Tash, for taking care of us, organising us and making the experience as stress-free as possible. And another massive thank you to Warren and Mikkel for organising training in the week before the races. Mikaela Gray: I really loved competing in awesome terrain at JWOC in Portugal. My favourite memory was lining up next to Norway and Sweden in the mass start. Thanks to OQ and Ugly Gully for their support, and I hope to return to Portugal even stronger! Aston Key: WOC this year was super fun and an amazing learning experience for the years to come. I would like to thank my parents, OA, OV, DROC, MFR, TuS my Finnish club and my teammates, who all helped and supported me in getting to the starting line fit and healthy, to compete at my best. Ryan Gray: JWOC in Portugal was so much fun! The weather might have overcompensated a bit from Aussie winter, but it was an incredible opportunity to meet people and race in some amazing terrain. It wouldn’t have been possible without my Club and State’s funding and support for which I am very grateful. Jensen Key: JWOC was an experience like no other, it was an opportunity to make new friends and improve my navigational ability. I loved the terrain, especially the forest. I would like to thank MFR, DROC, OV, OA and Latrobe Uni. Julia Gannon: JWOC was a fantastic opportunity to improve my orienteering (particularly Sprints …), catch-up with and meet overseas friends, and be a part of something great! Big thank you to Orienteering QLD and Range Runner for all their support. Ethan Penck: JWOC was an incredible experience which has changed my life forever! I will never forget the fantastic people I met and raced against on some fabulous terrain. I’d like to thank my parents for helping me get there, my coach for getting me fit, and my fellow orienteers back in SA for continuing to keep the competition high. Nea Shingler: WOC - Such a surreal experience and an epic opportunity! JWOC - Hot with a side of incredible Sprint orienteering that wouldn’t be possible without the support from home! Olivia Sprod: I’d like to FLAG that it’s a happy SI of relief that we have such an excellent group of UNITS in our OA community, we thank you for all the COMPASSion to help the team head NORTH to sprint our hearts out for AUS. The experience has left a positive (Den)mark on us :) Ewan Shingler: WOC and JWOC were amazing experiences and I would like to thank all of those people who helped me participate at these events. Mikayla Cooper: JWOC and WOC were such eye-opening, inspiring experiences and I created memories that’ll last a lifetime. Sam Woolford: JWOC was a fantastic experience to share with all of the Aussie team and Kiwis. Massive thanks to Bush ‘n Beach orienteering club supporting me to make it there. Alastair George: WOC was an amazing experience. Although disappointed with my result, it has only fuelled my motivation for next year. Thanks Bigfoot, ONSW and OA for supporting me and the Team to compete at the highest level. We wouldn’t be able to do it without the support. Caitlin Young: WOC was an awesome opportunity! I learnt a lot about what to improve on for future international events and it was such a fun Team to spend the week with. Thanks to Bushflyers and OACT for your support.
Joanna George: JWOC was a memorable experience and very motivating. It was great meeting new people and being able to compete in an International event. Thank you to family and coaches for all the support. Angus Haines: WOC was like no other comp I had ever been to, the atmosphere in the arena was buzzing. You felt the same rush as the athletes competing when they came running past. Being about to spectate and compete in such an incredible event was an honour. WUOC, as always, was another outstanding week filled with all the novelties of an orienteering competition. From the FISU anthem being played 6 times a day, to the outstanding social relay before the banquet, I made and reconnected with many amazing friends, as well as running some of my best international results. David Stocks: There are so many memories and connections that I am so grateful for and can hopefully look forward to building on in future years. The whole trip was one huge highlight! I loved being able to sample a variety of terrains and experiences across Europe, with such a fantastic bunch of coaches, teammates and friends.
