GRAND PRIX – OGP#1

from The Australian Orienteer – December 2022

INVITATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM

WARREN KEY

The first weekend of the Australia Orienteering Carnival saw the inaugural Orienteering Grand Prix.

The arena was picture perfect, overlooking beautiful Lake Daylesford and set amongst spring blossoms. Fortuitously, the weather was kind and entries of over 550 made it feel like an MCG crowd. For everyone involved it was a step into the unknown and a Aston Key (VIC) & Patrick Jaffe (VIC). day of full-on action. The Elite format involved what was really three races in one: Part 1 And more drama when both Aston Key and Angus Haines were saw the mass start knock-out phase at just 5 minutes into the race sensationally disqualified in the Men’s race gifting the crown to our with a “penalty loop” for those who were being dropped; the leaders master of ceremonies, Victorian Pat Jaffe. Taking home the Junior continued straight through to the urban phase and through the top Elite trophies were Milla Key (VIC) & Ryan Gray (QLD). of town that ended in an arena dash for position to set up the critical re-start order. A top-4 place here meant a small but valuable time advantage leading into the last leg. Those in the next 6 places started only 5 seconds later, and the rest within touching distance. What was refreshing was the buy-in by so many; from the beginning with the Carnival director Warwick Williams and his club Eureka led by Ian Chennel and Mark Valentine, to all the OGP support team. The organised chaos was beautifully handled by all. Orienteering skill was still the winner but tactics played a bigger than usual part. The race-deciding last 700 metres loop involved all the attributes of orienteering we love, subtle route choices, technical challenges and tight decision making, where micro seconds really do count. It looked like fun and I was told after that it was a great learning experience for a new and evolving head-to-head racing format. Like it was for every day of the Carnival, the best came with the excitement of the unknown on the day. The Schools opening ceremony orchestrated by Sue Guinane was the “best ever” and broke new ground. The “Le Mans” start; new, hectic and exciting to watch. The anticipation of the crowd following the race through the early stages with the first micro split control before the wait-to-see moment; who would be delayed by that penalty loop on the saddle. It To add to the excitement, two Juniors fought it out for the was tense. The route choice that wasn’t and the re-emergence of the Elite female crown with New Zealand up and coming star, Kaia peloton into the arena and jostling for position was also tense. The Joergensen, passing Victorian Milla Key in the Finish chute. swarming spectators, seeking the best vantage point to see the re-start chaos and quick positioning for the final flourish at the Finish hill climb was full on action, from both sides of the fence. And the race up to the summit finish etched with graffiti and lined with supporters was fantastic. I would like to thank Fergus Fitzwater and Carl Dalheim who helped bring the OGP to life. To the huge crowd who got there early and stayed late, I really hope you enjoyed the day. See you at OGP#2.