The Australian Orienteer – March 2023

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OrienteeringAustralia

SportAustraliaistheAustralian Governmentagencythatdevelops, supportsandinvestsinsportatall levelsinAustralia.

OrienteeringAustraliahasworked closelywithSportAustraliato developorienteeringfrom communityparticipation tohigh-levelperformance.

OrienteeringAustraliaisoneof manynationalsporting organisationsthathasformeda winningpartnershipwith SportAustraliatodevelop itssportinAustralia. www.sportaus.gov.au

The Chairman's Page

Welcometothe2023orienteeringyearwhichisnowwell underway.AsIwritethiscolumn,Iaminthemidstofa festivaloforienteeringinmyhomestateofTasmaniawiththe OceaniaChampionshipshavingjustconcludedandTheHobart Shortsunderway.TheOceaniaChampionshipswillbereported elsewhereinthisedition.Frommypartitwasgratifyingforusto finallybeabletoconducttheRegionalChampionships,tousethe wonderfulmapsmadebythelateRobPlowrightandtocatchup withmanyOfriends.

Ihavewrittenextensivelyinthepastastotheimportanceof acknowledgingandrecognisingtheamazingamountofvolunteer workthatgoesintooursportforustoenjoyit.BertElsonisan amazingexampleofsuchavolunteer.Notonlydidhecoordinate alltheequipmentfortheOceaniaChampionships,buthewasalso thedrivingforcebehindTheHobartShorts,sixeventsinfour days.Thankyou,Bert,forsuchamazingenergy.KateLucasis another.Weallknowthattogettimelyandaccurateresultsis important.Well,Katewasthepersonbehindbothcompetitions. Andthirdly,parkingcanbealogisticalnightmarebutanecessityof greatimportanceforourbigevents.JulianRoscoeundertookthis managementroleforbothcompetitions,avitalbutoftenthankless task.Thankyou,Bert,KateandJulian.Itispeoplelikeyouand countlessothersinoursportthatmakeourenjoymentpossible. Lookingaheadonthecompetitionfront,wehaveourNational Leagueinthefirstpartoftheyear,theEaster3Daysinthe JindabyneregionorganisedbyACTandtheAustralian ChampionshipscarnivallaterintheyearinWA.ForourElitewe willhaveWOCinthealpineareasofSwitzerland,JWOCin Romania,theWorldCupinNorway,CzechRepublic,andItaly, andtheMTBWOCinCzechRepublic.Forourmastersthe WMOCwillbeinSlovakiainsensationalkarstterrainthatIrana WorldCupin1988onandlovedit.

OntheOABoardfront,wearegearingupforanotherbusyyear. Bythetimethisissuehitsyourinbox,letterbox,oryourhandsatan eventwewillhaveorbeveryclosetofinallycompletingthe transitiontoacompanylimitedbyguaranteeasrequiredbySport Australia.TheBoardwillhaveagreedits2023ActivityPlanand finaliseditsbudgetfortheyear.SpeakingoftheOAbudget,itis alwaysafinebalancingactbetweenincomeandexpense.The realityisthatOAcouldexpendmuchmoreoncoreactivitiesthan theincomeitreceives.Thisyearwewillrunadeficit.TheBoardis workingonideastolookatalonger-termfinancialstrategyandthe financialrelationshipbetweenourmemberStatesandOA.

ConnectedtothisistherebrandingofOA,thedevelopmentofa brandingstrategyandbuildingthisintoabettercommunication strategy.Inaddition,wewillbeworkingwithStatesthrough2023 tolookatfurtherimprovingourwaysofbuildingengagementand participationinoursport.

Maytheforceofthemapbewithyouin2023.

Introducing Your New

Editor

AutobiographyofanAverageOrienteer

Hellofelloworienteersandreadersofthismagazine.I amthrilledandhonouredtobeappointedthenew Editorof TheAustralianOrienteer. ThankyoutotheBoard ofOrienteeringAustralia,allthewell-wishersand,of course,Michaelforbeingagreatmentorandforediting thisissuewithme.

W21ASforthenextevent.Mybiggestorienteeringachievement followedaweeklater,whenslowlylimpingandputting SPORTidentstationsonstandsatKooyooraIdiscoveredthatone controlfortheWorldMastersGamesseemedtobeinawrong gully.Consequently,myimpressionwasvalidatedandthecontrol locationwasrectifiedfortheevent.Glorytothosewhoarenot afraidtospeakupandpotentiallylooksilly.

Beingsomeonepassionateaboutnatureconservation,whohas enjoyedorienteering,bikeriding,cross-countryskiingandhiking,I wantedtopursueacareerofascientistworkingoutdoors.Several academicsadvisedmethattocarryoutfieldworkIneededtodoa PhD.SoIdid.Orienteeringskillsprovedveryusefulduringmy studiesofmolecularecologyoftheyellow-footedantechinus, Antechinusflavipes. Randomsiteswereestablishedinforestsusing gridpaper,andtwiceadayIefficientlychecked180trapsby runningwithapieceofpaperandacompass.Ithelpedthatallthe investigatedforestswereriverredgumorbox-ironbarkones,so relativelyeasytomovethrough.Sadly,althoughmycolleagues foundthismethodamusing,itdidnotcatchon.Ifyouare wondering;allanimalswerereleasedatthepointofcapture, includingnon-targetspeciessuchasred-belliedblacksnakes, Pseudechisporphyriacus.Themostrewardingoutcomeofthiswork wasmysubmissiontotheVictorianEnvironmentAssessment Councilin2007,inwhichIprovidedevidencesupporting establishmentofnewnationalparks.

Ihavebeenanorienteerformostofmylife.Whengrowingupin Polandthatwejokinglyconsidered“afourthworldcountry”for itsoppressiveregime(ourfamilyfriendswereprisonersof conscience),pollutionanddireeconomicsituationinthe1980s,it wasagreatreliefandawonderfulexperiencetoparticipatein orienteeringtrainingandcompetitions.Myclub,StartGdańsk,was relativelysmallbutprovidedagoodrivalryintheNationalLeague toseverallarge,well-resourcedarmyclubs.Regularlycompetingin regionalandnationaleventsinvolvedtravellingasagroupon crowdedovernighttrains(afterthecraziestamongushadjumped ontomovingcarriagestoreserveacompartment),runningthenext dayandsleepinginschoolhalls.Imostfondlyrememberwinter trainingcamps,especiallyrunninginsnowinmountains,exploring ruinedcastlesandstayinginmountaineeringvillas.

WehadrelativesinAustralia,andmydreamwastomovetothis exoticcountry,whichIknewonlyfromletters,booksandpostcards thatshowedbeautifullandscapesandintriguingwildlife.After obtainingthepermanent-residencyvisasandmigratingtoAustralia withmyparentsinthe1990s,mydadandIjoinedYarraValley OrienteeringClubinVictoria.AtmyfirsteventintheSouthern Hemisphere,theVictorianChampionshipson GlenlyonRoses,Iwas confrontedwiththemapfullofcontourswithhardlyanytracks.It tookmeover100mintofindallthecontrols!Eventually,I developedmyenthusiasmforsuchspurgullyterrain.Ifcontours mystifyyou,donotdespair,thereishope.

From2001to2005IcompetedinorienteeringintheW21Eclass, usuallyplacinginthebottomhalfofthefield.In2002,my VictorianW21relayteamcamesecondintheAustralianRelay Championships.Unfortunately,Imissedtheceremonyduetomy kneebeingstitchedupafterasuddencollisionwithaFlinders Ranges’rockonroutetothefirstcontrol.Theemergencydoctorin theHawkerhospitalwasdismayedattheorienteerswhohad completedtheircourseswhileinjured.Iamwonderingifhewasthe personwhorangtheorganisersandrequestedtomovemeto

In2009,catastrophicBlackSaturdayfiresengulfedour neighbourhood.Tosurvivewecouldrelyonlyonourbushfire preparation,chanceandinstantaneousactions.Theemergency systemwastotallyoverwhelmed.Subsequently,Iwrotetwo submissionstothe2009VictorianBushfiresRoyalCommission. Thefirstsubmissioncontainedadescriptionoftheeventsand suggestionshowdatacouldbecollectedandanalysedtoinform futureactions.Inthesecondsubmission,namesofscientistswho hadbushfireexpertisewereproposedbasedontheirpublished record,inhopethatatleastsomeofthemwillbeconsulted.Istill dislikethesmellofsmoke,andavoidbushorienteeringeventson above-30-degreedays.

WhenmypartnerandIbecameparents,weeksawayfromhome turnedintofieldworkasafamily.Ourdaughter,EllaMaja,learned inforestshowtowalkandrideabike.Herkindergartenteachers

HaniaLada

Yellow-footed antechinus fieldwork.Photo byQuentinLang.

wereveryenthusiasticaboutexposingchildrentoorienteeringand science,soImademapsofthekindergartenbackyardandofthe nearbyplayground.Itwasawesomewitnessinghowfour-yearolds enjoyedrunningwithmapsorre-enactingscientificfieldworkthat involvedcatchingantechinusIhadknitted.Thisinfluencedmeto startasmallbusiness,MerryMapsEducation,whilestillworking part-timeasascientist.Subsequently,whenvoluntarilypreparing anddeliveringscienceandorienteeringactivitiesatthelocalschool Idecidedtomakeamajorcareerchange.

AfterpublishingscientificpapersonAustralianbirds,mammals, invertebrates,frogsandplants,Iwasreadyforanewchallengeand toinspirethenextgeneration,thereforeIbecameaprimaryschool teacher.Iusedorienteeringandbirdsurveysasbrainbreaksformy students,andduringremotelearningImostenjoyedcreatingfiction andnon-fictiontextsforthemaswellasworkingwithsmallgroups online.Eventually,full-timeworkasateacheratanInternational Baccalaureateschoolturnedouttoberewardingandincompatible withabalancedlifebecauseitdidnotallowenoughtimeforfamily, friends,orienteering,creativeactivities,scienceandexercisingina physiotherapygym.Consequently,becomingamathematicsand VCEbiologytutor,andacoachwithOrienteeringVictoria providingactivitiestoprimaryandsecondaryschools,provedtobe anexcellentchoice.

Inadditiontomyfamilyandfriends,YarraValleyOrienteering Club,hasbeenthemostconstantpartofmylifeinAustralia.Even whenIwastoopreoccupiedortooinjuredtoattendorienteering eventsIstillfeltasamemberoftheorienteeringcommunity.I enjoyallformsoforienteeringbutamyettotryunderwaterevents. Myfavouritemapis KooyooraSpur becauserocksaremagnificent andwhenpresentinahighdensityposeagreatnavigational challenge.

Ilookforwardtoediting TheAustralianOrienteer, andknowthatI willputtoomucheffortintoitasisalwaysthecasewiththingsI careabout.WhileIenjoyexperiments,Idonotplantomake radicalchanges,justtinkeralittle,informedbyreaders’comments. Myintentionistoincludearegularsectioncateringfornoviceand moderate-navigationorienteers,andtocontinuethelegacyofthe pastEditors.Constructivefeedbackismostwelcome,andIhave muchexperiencedealingwithmutuallyexclusiveadvice.Allthe bestandhappyreading.

AustralianWOC,JWOCandMTBOteamsareoutfittedby

Orienteeringamongrocks.PhotobyQuentinLang.

Former Editor’s scribble

MichaelHubbert

WhereforeOinAsia?

SoonaftertheSydney2000OlympicsChinabegan recruitingsomeoftheirbestrunnerstoOrienteering.And theydidquitewell,particularlywhenrunningabilitywasa majorfactorforsuccess.Theirwomenorienteerswerethe best,particularlyZhuMingyue,HaoShuangyan&LiJiwho, asaRelayTeam,placed7thatthe2008World ChampionshipsinCzechRepublic.Thatwasamajor achievementforanationalteamthathadbeenattending WorldOrienteeringChampionshipsonlysince2004.

MuchoftheinterestforChinainOrienteeringwascreatedbyPark WorldTourwhichinitiatedaseriesofeventsin1998andtheyears thatfollowed.Chineseorienteershavecontinuedtocompeteat mostWorldChampionshipsbutsincethoseheadydaysofsuccess theyhavemostlyfinishedmuchfurtherdownintheresults.

JapanisanotherOrienteeringnationtonote.Japanhasbeenan IOFmembersince1969andhasstagedaWorldChampionshipsin 2005(onlythethirdoutsideofEurope).ButJapaneseorienteers haven’thadmuchsuccessatthetopleveldespiteJapan’slong historyofrunningexcellence.

OrienteersfromotherAsiannationssuchasHongKongChina, RepublicofSouthKoreaandChineseTaipeihaveattendedWorld ChampionshipsformoreyearsthanthosefromChinabuthave neverachievedmuchsuccess.OthernationssuchasIndia, Indonesia,Malaysia,Nepal,Philippines,PRKNorthKorea, SingaporeandThailandarealsomembersoftheIOF. SowhatisholdingAsiannationsback?Therearemanyfactorsnot leastofwhichisthelackofsuitableforestterraininwhichtotrain andcompeteonintheirhomecountries.Otherfactorscouldbe economics,nutritionandsuitablecoaching.Sprintterrainseems morelikelytobeavailableandcertainlymoresuitableandevents havebeenheldincitiesandvillageswithmuchinterestanda modicumofsuccess.

ThefounderoftheORIEN.ASIAwebsite,RaphaelMak,hasbeen promotingOrienteeringCityRacesforsomeyears(though COVIDinterruptedrecentones).Nowheisdevelopingaprogram for2023.

Hewrites: “ORIEN.ASIAishelpingThailandwithcreatinganew generationoforienteerswhowilltakeinitiativeinformingOrienteering lifeofthecountry,withnationwideeventsandrepresentationin internationalevents.Withthelargeandactiverunningcommunity here,wealsohopetoattractmorerunnerstotryOrienteering byLandrunningevents,whichcombineelementsofrunningwith Orienteering.”

HealsowritesofIndonesia: “Indonesiastilldoesn’tquitegetincluded inthelistofusualAsianorienteeringcountriesinourminds.Tostart with,theyhaven’tquitegottenintoholdingamajoreventyet(World RankingEventswerescheduledfor2020-2021butduetotheCOVID-

19pandemichadtobepostponed),andhavethusfarneversentateam totheAsianOrienteeringChampionshipsorWorldOrienteering Championships.”

“ButtothinkofIndonesiaasacountrywithlittleOrienteeringactivity isagrossunderestimationandahighlybiasedview.Withwellover200 millionpeople,culturalproximitytootherOrienteeringcountries (especiallyMalaysiaandSingapore),andmandatoryscoutparticipation atschoolsince2013,it’simpossibleforOrienteeringtostayunderthe radarforsolong.”

BycomparingOrienteeringInstagramaccounts,postsandfollowers inIndonesiawithsimilardatainestablishedOrienteeringcountries inEurope,RaphaelMakestimatestheremaybearound16,400 interestedorienteersinIndonesia.Hesays: “16,400orienteersin Indonesia-farmorethanyou’dexpect,isn’tit?”

WhilethedirectcomparisonswithEuropeanInstagramaccounts maybealittle“rubbery”thereisnodoubtthatOrienteeringis gainingafootholdofinterestinIndonesia.

Maksays: “OrienteeringinIndonesiaismuchbiggerthanyouthink. We’veunderestimateditallalong.”

Heasks: “Whyisthat?Tostartwith,thereappearstobeatendencyto underestimatethescaleofOrienteeringoutsideofEurope.Orienteering isstillaEurope-dominatedsport,andifyou’refromEuropeyou’d probablynoteventhinkofHongKongandMalaysiaasplaceswith Orienteeringunlessyou’rewellinformed(ortravelledthereyourself).”

“OrienteeringisbiasedtowardsEuropenotjustbecauseofgeography andlanguage-theincreasingtechnicaldemandsofthesport,broughtby theimprovedqualityofOrienteeringmapmaking,isrelatedtoa “standardisation”and“idealisation”ofthetypicalOrienteeringterrainto thatofaScandinavianforestwithconsiderablecomplexitiesinterrain. TheWorldOrienteeringChampionshipshaveneverventuredoutsideof Europesince2005(Japan).Whilenavigationalchallengesinforestsare funforthoseobsessedwithOrienteering,iteffectivelyshutsoutalarge partofthepopulationlivinginnon-temperateclimates-andevenalot ofpeopleinEuropewhofindittoohardortooinconvenient(especially forthosewithoutcars)totryOrienteering.”

“WeshouldrecognisetheinherentbiasinoursportagainstnonEuropeancountriesand,consequently,considerIndonesia’sOrienteering activitiesinamorepositivelight.”

WeinAustraliacanalsorecogniseRaphaelMak’sclaimthat “OrienteeringisstillaEurope-dominatedsport”, thoughitmustbe saidthattherecentintroductionbytheIOFofSprintWorld Championshipsinalternateyearsshouldgoalongwayto spreadingtheSprintWorldChampionshipsprogramtolocations outsideofEurope.

Chair&Director–International(IOF)

www.orienteering.asn.au

POBox3379,NorthStrathfield,NSW2137

MikeDowling international@orienteering.asn.au

0410775799

STATEASSOCIATIONS

OrienteeringQueensland: POBox275,FernyHillsDC,QLD4055.Secretary:SueCampbell secretary@oq.asn.au

OrienteeringNSW: POBox3379NorthStrathfieldNSW2137.AdminOfficer:JohnMurray,Ph.(02)87361252 admin@onsw.asn.au

OrienteeringACT: POBox402JamisonCentreACT2614.Secretary:StephenGoggs,Ph.(02)61821815 office@act.orienteering.asn.au

OrienteeringVictoria: POBox1010TemplestoweVIC3106.Secretary:AislinnPrendergast secretary@vicorienteering.asn.au

OrienteeringSA: 1WindsorRd,GlensideSA5065.Sec:FiPahor secretary@sa.orienteering.asn.au

OrienteeringWesternAustralia: POBox234SubiacoWA6904.Secretary:CeriPass, oawa.secretary@gmail.com

OrienteeringTasmania: Secretary:JulianRoscoe secretary@tasorienteering.asn.au

TopEndOrienteers(NorthernTerritory): POBox39152WinnellieNT0821.Secretary:SusanneCasanova topendorienteersNT@gmail.com

NEXTISSUEDEADLINE

April6.Time-sensitive:April14

ISSN0818-6510Issue1/23(no.208) MARCH2023

ThenationalmagazineofOrienteeringAustraliaInc.ABN77406995497

Publishedfourtimesayear:FirstdayofMarch,June,September, December.PrintPostApprovedPP236080/00011,(100023602forNSW).

Editor: HaniaLada,P.O.Box165,Warrandyte,Victoria3113 magazine@orienteering.asn.au Phone0493615203

MagazineDesign&Assembly: PeterCusworth,Ph.0409797023 pcusworth53@gmail.com

Printer: FerntreePrint,1154BurwoodHwyUpperFerntreeGully.

Contributiondeadline: April6;Time-sensitive–April14. Deadlinedatesforcontributionsarethelatestwecanacceptcopy. Publicationisnormallyplannedforthe1stofMarch,June,September& December.CopiesaredispatchedinbulktoStateassociationsintheweek priortothatdate.

RegularContributors: Competition-BlairTrewin;MTBO-CraigSteffens

Contributionswelcome, eitherdirectlyorviaStateeditorialcontacts. Priorconsultationissuggestedbeforepreparingmajorcontributions. Guidelinesavailablefromtheeditororfromstatecontacts.

StateEditorialContacts: VIC,WAandTAS– vacant

QLD:LizBourne–batmaps.liz@gmail.com

NSW:NSWMarketing–marketing@onsw.asn.au

ACT:JohnScown–scown@light.net.au

SA:EricaDiment–ericadiment@adam.com.au–tel:0408852313

Subscriptions: StateAssociationmembersviaStateAssociations.Contact relevantAssociationSecretaryfordetails.Othersubscribers:Writeto The AustralianOrienteer, PO-Box165,Warrandyte,Vic.3113.WithinAustralia: $40pa.Overseas:Asia/Pacific(inc.NZ)$A49,RestofWorld$A58pa. Deliveryisairmail,thereisnoseamailoption.Pleasesendpaymentin Australiandollarsbybankdraftorinternationalpostalorder,orpaydirect byVisaorMastercard.Quotefullcardnumberandexpirydate.

Subscriptionrenewals (directsubscriptionsonly).Thenumberinthetop right-handcorneroftheaddresslabelindicatesthefinalissueinyour currentsubscription.

Opinionsexpressed in TheAustralianOrienteer arenotnecessarilythose ofOrienteeringAustralia.

OceaniaOrienteering Championships2023

Afteranolympic-likewaittheOceaniaOrienteering ChampionshipstookplaceinJanuary2023inTasmania, Australia.ThepreviousChampionshipshadbeenin2019,also inAustralia,organisedbyACT,NSWandVictoria.Normally, theChampionshipsareheldeverytwoyearsbuttheplanned 2021OceaniaeventsinNewZealandwerepostponeduntil 2022duetotheCovid-19pandemic.Subsequentlythey transformedintoNottheOceaniaOrienteering ChampionshipswhentravelbetweenAustraliaandNew ZealandinJanuary2022wasbannedbecauseofthefirst OmicronSARS-CoV-2VariantofConcernwave.Finally,ayear later,theOceaniaChampionshipswereback!

TasmaniawelcomedparticipantsfromAustralia(AUS),New Zealand(NZ),NewCaledonia,HongKong,Japan,Great Britain(GBR),Sweden,Germany,CzechRepublic,Switzerland andIreland.SomehadbeenenticedbytheWorldRanking statusoftheevents,somewerekeentobecompetitivein non-Eliteclasses,andsomewerejusthappyforsummer orienteeringholidaysinTasmania.TheAustralia–NewZealand (ANZ)ChallengewasrunintenclassesintheSprint,Middle DistanceandLongDistanceindividualcompetitions,andfor nineclassesintheRelay.

Australiawasexperiencingasummeroffloods,bushfires, toxic“babyspinach”,contaminatedbabycucumbersandthe nthpeakofCovid-19wave,soithadbeenhopedthat disasterswillsparetheOceaniaChampionships2023. Fortunately,theydid.Overall,theorganisersandcompetitors couldbepleased.Weatherwasfine,mapsandcourseshada highstandard,andsomeexpectedandsurprisingresultswere delivered.

TheInternationalOrienteeringFederation(IOF)medalsand diplomaswereawardedintheSprint,theLongDistanceand theMiddleDistancetothethreefastestcitizensofOceaniain theMenandWomen16A,18A,20Aand21Eclasses,andto thetopthreeintra-nationalteamsfromOceaniainW16A, M16A,W18A,M18A,W20A,M20A,W21AandM21Ainthe Relay.Inaddition,awardsweregiventothetopthree finishersineachclass,exceptforW20A,M20A,W21Eand M21E,inwhichthetopsixwereacknowledged.Acrossthe fourevents,thepodiumfinisherscamefromAustralia,Czech Republic,HongKong,NewCaledonia,NewZealand,Sweden, IrelandandGreatBritain.ResultsfortheEliteandAclasses arecomparedandreportedhere.

Tenathleteswonallthreeindividualracesintheirrespective classes:AstonKey(AUS)inM21E,LizzieIngham(NZ)in W21E,MatthewCrane(AUS)inM40A,BruceArthur(AUS)in M45A,CarstenJoergensen(NZ)inM50A,JenniferEnderby (AUS)inW55A,JennyBourne(AUS)inW65A,DavidScott (NZ)inM75A,AlexTarr(AUS)inM80AandNaomiPenton (AUS)inW12A.

The BellsMarsh and HuntTinMine mapsusedforthe LongDistanceandMiddleDistanceChampionships, respectively,hadbeenproducedbyRobPlowright.His twosonsRuiandCaio,wholiveinJapan,attended theMiddleDistanceawards ceremony,andinamovingtribute totheirlatedadtheyweregiven Rob’sframedmapsasgifts.They alsoassistedwithpresenting awardstothetopcompetitors.

HANIALADA

OceaniaLongDistance-KatherineBabington(NZ).PhotobyPeterYeates.

OceaniaSprint-GraceCrane(AUS).PhotobyPeterYeates

OceaniaChampionshipsSprint

Mildweather,mostlycloudyandthemaximumof24˚C, welcomedcompetitorstotheOceaniaChampionships SprintattheUniversityofTasmaniacampusinLauncestonon Saturday7thofJanuary.Thenumberofcompetitorsperclass rangedfromone(M10A,M35AandW85A)to31(W21E)and 32(M21E).Therewere463starters,ofwhom94%finished theircourseswithoutmispunches.

EliteclassesW20A,M20A,W21EandM21E

InW21ELizzieIngham(NZ)wongoldin16:26onthe3.4km course,leadingalltheway.CaitlinYoung(AUS)earnedsilver in17:36,andEvalinBrautigam(AUS)gotbronze19sbehind Caitlin.Twosecondsseparatedfourth-placedKaiaJoergensen (NZ)andfifth-placedGraceCrane(AUS).EmilySorensen (AUS)wassixth,recoveringfromherrelativelyslowstartafter shehadbeen12thattheseventhcontrol.

InM21EAstonKey(AUS)wasfirstin14:42,theonlyrunner deliveringtheaveragespeedofsub4min/km.PatrickJaffe (AUS)camesecond0:53behindAston,andjust4saheadof BrodyNankervis.AngusHaines(AUS)wasfourth,1sahead

ofTobyScott(NZ),andEwanShingler(AUS)took1:26longer thanAston.

Asimilargap,1:24,separatedthefirstandthesixthplacefinishersinM20A.AlvinCraig(AUS)wonin16:40,1:03ahead ofZefaFa’avae(NZ).CooperHorley(AUS)was3sbehind Zefa,1saheadofDavidStocks(AUS),and2sfasterthan SamWoolford(AUS)infifth.TobyLang(AUS)camesixth. W20Aalsodeliveredagreatrace.NeaShingler(AUS)wasthe fastestin16:42onthe3.4kmcourse,1:34fromMillaKey (AUS)whointurnwas22saheadofEszterKocsik(AUS resident).Mere12sseparatedthethirdandsixth,Erika Enderby(AUS)placedfourth6sbehindEszter,Anna Babington(NZ)was4sslowerthanErikabut2sfasterthan bothMikaelaGray(AUS)andJustineHobson(AUS)whotied forsixth.

Juniorclasses

InW18A,SophieBest(AUS)ledfromthestartandwon56s aheadofIngridSheltonAgar(AUS)and2:49fromSophie Arthur(AUS)whohadbeenseconduntiltheeighthcontrol.In M18ALiamDufty(AUS)tookandretainedhisleadatthesixth controlfromMarcusDegenaar(AUS).OliverFreeman(AUS)

2023Oceania ChampionshipsSprintUniversityofTasmania Launceston-W20AEszterKocsik’sroute.

OceaniaSprint-MikaylaCooper(AUS)and DanielGray(AUS).PhotobyPeterYeates

IsaacMadden (AUS)andToby Lang(AUS).

Photo:Peter Yeates

SophieBest (AUS).Photoby PeterYeates TideFa’avae(NZ) andKylaMoore (NZ).Photoby PeterYeates

camethird44sbehindthewinner,swappingplaceswith Marcusonthewaytothe20thcontrol.InM16A,EuanBest (AUS)won2:35and3:28aheadofMatthewGreenwood(NZ) andEckhartBossman(AUS),respectively.RebeccaCraig (AUS)wasfirstinW16A,by13s,aftertheraceleader,Meri YaufromHongKong,mispunchedthe13thcontrol.Amy Dufty(AUS)camesecondandYokiWongfromHongKong wasthird,1:01slowerthanAmy.

Inmoderate-navigationclassesthreeAustraliansandthree NewZealanderswonthepodium.AnnaWright(NZ)won W14A,hercompatriotTorunJoergensenwassecond,and KatieClauson(AUS)placedthird.InM14AAltonFreeman (AUS)finishedfirst,CallumDegenaar(AUS)secondandTahi Harris(NZ)third.

Veteranclasses

Amongtheveteranclasses,35andolder,theclosestracewas inM50A,inwhichCarstenJoergensen(NZ)andCraigDufty (AUS)werebothon14:35atthe20thcontrol.Carstenpulled awayandwonby5sfromCraig,whileJonathanMcComb (AUS)wasthird,45sbehindthewinner. Incontrast,thethreemostcomfortablevictoriesorthe biggestwinning-timemarginswereinW70AinwhichJanice Nisbet(GBR)outpacedJanHardy(AUS)by6:02,inM40A MatthewCrane(AUS)was4:48aheadofMatthewCohen (AUS),andinM80AAlexTarr(AUS)wonby4:33fromTerry Cavanagh(AUS).JaniceandMatthewledalltheway,while Alexlosttheleadearlyandquicklyregainedit.

OceaniaChampionships LongDistance

Sundaywasdevotedtotravellingtotheeastcoastof Tasmaniaandattendingthemodelevent.Thenight beforetheOceaniaChampionshipsLongDistancethe organiserswarnedparticipantstoallow2hoursfordriving fromStHelens,walking1kmtotheassemblyareaand1km tothestart.Sunnyandwarmconditionsmadethedrink controlshighlydesirable.Displeasingly,somecompetitors encounteredsnakes.Steephills,denseshrubcover,bracken, largelogsandmarshesconspiredtobeaphysically challengingterrain,withgraniteboulderstestingrunners’ navigationskills.84%oforienteerscompletedtheircourses. 70%ofM21Evisitedalltheircontrolsbutonlynineoutof33 clockedsub2h,and17achievedsub3h.AlsonineW21E competitorscompletedtheircourseinsub2h,outof21 starters.

EliteclassesW20A,M20A,W21EandM21E (EditedversionofOrienteeringAustraliaFacebookpost)

InW21ENewZealand'sLizzieInghamrepeatedhervictory fromSaturday'sSprintDistancewithaconvincing12min marginoverGraceCrane(AUS).Inghamtook84:35to completethe9.1kmcourse.Roundingoutthetopthreewas AnnaSheldon(AUS),afurther7minbehindCranetojustpip EmilySorenson(AUS).InM21Eitwasasomewhattighter race.AstonKey(AUS)alsorepeatedhisvictoryfromthe SprintDistancetotaketheLongDistancetitlebyatouch under6minfromBrodieNankervis(AUS)andPatJaffe(AUS) afurther2.5minadriftinthird.Keytook97:43forthe13km course.OutstandingNewZealandjuniorZefaFa'avaefinished averycrediblefourth.

InghamandKeybytakingouttheOceaniaRegional ChampionshiptitleinLongDistancenowhaveapersonal placeforthe2023WorldChampionshipsinSwitzerland. InM20Aitwasmuchtighterracewithjust6minseparating thetopsix.2022AustralianJuniorWorldOrienteering Championships’representativeSamWoolfordemerged victoriousinatimeof91:58forthe10.3kmcourse.Overin W20ABritishorienteerRachelDuckworthwasfastestonthe coursetojustpipAustralia'sMikaelaGray(AUS)by39s. GrayisthustheOceaniaRegionalChampion.

Theremainingpodium-finishersinM20AincludedDavid Stocks(AUS)insecondplace,only0:34behindthewinner, andTobyLang(AUS)comingthird.InW20ANatalieMiller (AUS)wasthird,3:10slowerthanRachelDuckworth’s winningtimeof82:58onthe6.8kmcourse,andJustine Hobsonwasfourth,soearnedbronze.

Juniorclasses

Amongjuniors,sixoftheeightwinnersoftheSprintalsowon theLongDistance.TheyincludedAustraliansNaomiPenton (W12A),AltonFreeman(M14A),RebeccaCraig(W16A),Euan Best(M16A),SophieBest(W18A)andLiamDufty(M18A).In M18Atheracewastight,BothLiamDuftyandJamie Woolfordmadeamistaketothe12thcontrol,withJamie losing5minmorethanLiamandthusdroppingtothesecond place.RebeccaCraiginW16Againedtheleadatthesixth controltaking5:56onthatsplit,1:47fasterthanAlice Radajewski,andChiaraMandoufromNewCaledoniawas third.Theremainingtwoclasses,M12AandW14A,werewon bythethird-placefinishersintheSprint,AngusHewitt(AUS) andKatieClauson(AUS),respectively.

Veteranclasses

Theonlyverytightraceamongveteranswasbetweenthetwo orienteersinW35A,MaceNeve(AUS)andThorleneEgerton (AUS)withMacefinishingthe7.2kmcoursein1:56:16just43

AstonKey(AUS)-M21E. PhotobyQuentinLang.

JennyBourne (AUS)-W65A. Photoby QuentinLang

saheadofThorlene.Otherrelativelycloseraces,withthe timedifference2–6min,occurredinM45AfeaturingBruce Arthur(AUS)vsAngusShedden(AUS),inW45ATracyMarsh (AUS)vsKirstenFairfax(AUS),inM75ADavidScott(NZ)vs JamesLaver(AUS),inM50ACarstenJoergensen(NZ)vs CraigDufty(AUS),andinM65AJeffDunn(AUS)vsDarryl Smith(AUS).

InW75ALibbyMeeking’s(AUS)leadof2:16atthethird-last controldramaticallyblewupto1:13:24atthefinish, deliveringtheday’slargestwinningmarginafterValHodsdon droppedoutofcontentionwithamispunch.Thenexttwo biggestwinning-timegapswereinM40AwithMatthewCrane comingfirstby31:12,andinM80AwithAlexTarrprevailing by29:51.

ShannonJones(AUS)andNatashaKey (AUS)tookabreakfromW21Eforone event,andwontheirrespectiveclasses.

ShannonwasfirstinW40Ain1:13:27,

8:19fromBriohnySeaman(AUS),aftergainingtheleadatthe eighthcontrol.Similarly,NatashawonW50Ain1:06:22,8:27 fromCathyMcComb(AUS),afterleadingfromthesecond controlonwards.

Aconsolation(orthe-most-interesting-mistake)awardwas giventotheoldestcompetitor,HelenAlexander(AUS)in W85,wholosthermaponthecourse.Sadlyandexpectedly, therewasnoperseveranceprizeforthesevenveteran orienteerstakingmorethan3htofinish.Itwasatoughday formany,sotherestdayonTuesdaywasmostwelcome.

2023Oceania ChampionshipsLong Distance-BellsMarsh -W21E-Lizzie Ingham’sroute

LizzieIngham(NZ)-W21E. PhotobyPeterYeates

CarstenJoergensen(NZ)M50A.PhotobyQuentinLang

JenniferEnderby(AUS)W55A.PhotobyQuentinLang

OceaniaChampionships MiddleDistance

TheMiddleDistanceeventonWednesdaywasincomplex tin-miningterrain.Therelativelysmallclimbofferedarelief formanyafterthegruellingMonday.96%ofpre-entered starterscompletedtheircourses.SusanneCasanova,aformer AustralianWOCrepresentative,whenasked“Howdidyou go?”,replied“Ilovedit”,andthussummedupmany orienteers’feelingsabouttheday.

EliteclassesW20A,M20A,W21EandM21E

(EditedversionofOrienteeringAustraliaFacebookpost)

ItwasathreepeatforbothNewZealand’sLizzieInghamin W21EandAustralia’sAstonKeyinM21E.Bothorienteersare nowthetitleholdersofallthreeindividualformatsbeing contestedattheseIOFRegionalChampionships.Onthenew HuntTinMinemapwithtwointensezonesofoldalluvial miningterrain,InghamwasdominantinW21E.Aftertrailing countrywomanKaiaJoergensenby1satthefirstcontrol, Inghamledallthewaytorecordacomfortable2:07victory fromAustralia’sGraceCranein31:39forthe4.6kmcourse. RoundingoutthetopthreewasAustralia’sAislinn Prendergast,afurther2:08adriftofCrane.

Key’svictoryinM21Ewasamuchtighteraffair,finishingthe 5.3kmcoursein29:04withvisitingUKorienteerJimBailey takingsecond46sbehindKey.BaileybrieflyledKeythrough controls3and4afterKeyhadasmalltimelossonthethird untilBaileylosttimeonthefifthlegtoKey,whereuponKey ledallthewaytotakethetitle.Roundingoutthetopthreein thisclasswasAustralia’sBrodieNankervisafurther30s behindBailey.

InW20theUK’sRachelDuckworthcontinuedhergoodform torecordfastesttimefromAustralianresidentEszterKocsik withNeaShinglerinthird.ShinglerbeingthefirstOceania regioncitizentookoutthetitleasOceaniaJuniorChampionin thisclass.InM20theracingcontinuedtobeverytightwith SamWoolfordjusthavingatouchmorespeedthanAlvin Craigfromthepre-warningtotakethetitleby18s,with DavidStockstakingoutthird47sadriftofWoolfordtomake itanAustraliantrifecta.NewZealand’sFelixHuntwasaclose fourthfinishing1:17behindWoolford.Ameasureofthe closenessoftheclasswasthatthetop13wereallwithin7 minofeachother.

Juniorclasses

Amongjuniorsonhard-andmoderate-navigationcoursesall raceswerecloseforthefirstplace.InW16AEllaMajaLang (AUS)wonbyjust15sfromAliceRadajewski(AUS)and2:03 aheadofMaggieMackay(AUS).InW14AsistersKatieandElla Clauson(AUS)werefirstandsecond,respectively,separated by21s,andSandaHalpin(AUS)camethird,2:54behind Katie.AtightraceforgoldunfoldedinW18Abetween AustraliansIngridSheltonAgarandGemmaBurley,with Ingridprevailingby40sin48:59.SophieBest(AUS)ended up6:02behindGemma.

AllthreewinningmarginsinJuniormen’scategorieswere sub2min.JamieWoolford(AUS)wonM18A,taking48:29to completethe5.2kmcourse,1:02aheadofIsaacMadden (AUS),andLiamDufty(AUS)camethird.InM16AJames Wright(NZ)in32:30outpacedAustraliansEuanBestand EckartBosman,by1:06and1:21,respectively.RoryShedden (AUS)comingfirstin16:51,AltonFreeman(AUS)secondby 1:44andWillEnkelaar(AUS)inthirdfilledtheM14Apodium.

PhotobyPeterYeates

Veteranclasses

Whomaybeconsideredanunluckiestsecond-placefinisher oftheday?LouiseFairfax(AUS)may,thankstocominga mere3sbehindValerieBaker(AUS)inW70.LyndaRapkins (AUS)was4:08behindLouise.Themostpopularveteran classes,M55AandM60Ahad27competitorseach.Mark Freeman(AUS)wonM55AaheadofGeoffLawford(AUS), withJeffGreenwood(NZ)andMarkWest(AUS)tyingfor third.InM60Athepodium-finisherswerelessthan1min apart,TonyWoolford(AUS)in30:59,RobertVincent(AUS) 31:09andWarrenKey(AUS)31:41.InW55A,37sseparated thewinnerJenniferEnderby(AUS)andthird-placedKaren Staudte(AUS),withNicolaDalheim(AUS)comingsecondjust 8sslowerthanJennifer.

Otherclassesinwhichwinnerswerelessthan1minaheadof runners-upincludedW45A(TracyMarshfirstin30:18,Kirsten Fairfaxsecond+0:25,andJodieFaavaethird+2:27),W50A (CathyMcCombin35:26,MartinaCraig+0:16,AlisonStubbs +3:24),M45A(BruceArthurin32:25,AngusShedden+0:31,

W20Aceremony:TideFa’avae(NZ), ZaraStewart(NZ),EszterKocsik(AUS resident),RachelDuckworth(GBR), NeaShingler(AUS), NatalieMiller(AUS).

PhotobyQuentinLang

OceaniaMiddleDistance -SimonUppill(AUS).

NickHarris+1:56)andM65A (JamesLithgowin34:14, DarrylSmith+0:57,Tedvan Geldermasen+1:22).In contrast,theM80Aclass deliveredthebiggestwinning marginwithAlexTarr(AUS) taking32:46andfinishing 15:40aheadofJohnHodsdon (AUS)whointurnwas3s fasterthanTerryCavanagh (AUS).

OceaniaMiddleDistance-KatieClauson(AUS). PhotobyQuentinLang

OceaniaMiddleDistanceCathyMcComb(AUS). PhotobyQuentinLang.

OceaniaMiddleDistance -AltonFreeman(AUS). PhotobyQuentinLang

2023Oceania ChampionshipsMiddle Distance-HuntTinMineM21E-AstonKey’sroute

OceaniaMiddleDistanceW16Aceremony-Amy Dufty(AUS),JessicaJarvis(AUS),AliceRadajewski (AUS),EllaMajaLang(AUS),MaggieMackay(AUS). PhotobyQuentinLang

OnThursdayatthebriefing,beforethemassstartof136 first-legrunnersintheRelay,thecoursesetterprovoked joybyadmittingthattheclimbwashalfofwhatithadbeen advertised.Theeventwasheldontheupdated Argonaut map coveringalluvialtinmining,granitebouldersandaforest recoveringfromabushfire.

Amap-flipatthespectatorcontrolconfusedafewpeople,the lastcontrolprovedtrickyformany,andsomecompetitors chosetheroutetakingthempastthefinish.Alloftheseadded muchexcitementforspectators.Theareasfeaturinghigh densityofdeepandsteepwatercoursesposedaphysicaland navigationaltest.93%ofcompetitorscompletedtheircourses withoutmispunches.

EliteclassesW20A,M20A,W21AandM21A (EditedversionofOrienteeringAustraliaFacebookpost)

TheRelayiscentredaroundtheintra-regionalcompetition betweenAustraliaandNewZealandaspartofthebroader ANZChallenge.IntheW21Aclass,theAustralianteamof AislinnPrendergast,LanitaSteerandGraceCrane,heldoffa latechargebyNewZealand’sLizzieInghamonthelastlegto

winbyacomfortablemarginof2:34.Cranestartedthethird justbehindthethenleadingteamfromTasmaniaafter MikaylaCooperranthebesttimeonleg2.However,Crane whohasranconsistentlywellthroughtheChampionships drewawayafteranearlychallengebySouthAustralia’sEmily Sorensen.SorensenranconsistentlytobringhometheSouth Australianteamintothirdposition.

IntheM21Aclass,theAustralianteamofPatJaffe,AstonKey andBrodieNankervishadacomfortablevictoryoverNew ZealandwiththeSouthAustralianstakingoutthirdplace againtobethebeststateteaminthe21classes.Australian WorldChampionshipsrepresentativeAngusHainesrunning thefirstlegforSouthAustraliawasfirstbackinatighttussle withNewZealand’sZefaFa'avaeandJaffe.However,itwas KeyonthesecondlegwhostretchedtheleadoverNew Zealand’sTobyScottwithanotherfineracetohandoverto Nankerviswhocontinuedtostretchtheleadforthe Australians.IntheW20andM20classestheAustralianteams ledateverychangetorecordcomfortablevictories.Inthe W20classtheAustralianteamofNeaShingler,MikaelaGray andErikaEnderbyallrecodedthefastesttimeontheir respectivelegs.

OceaniaRelay-medallistsinW21A, andEuan.PhotobyQuentinLang

OceaniaRelay-medallistsinM21A.PhotobyQuentinLang.

OceaniaRelaystart.PhotobyQuentinLang.

ThesecondplaceinW20wasachievedbytheNewZealand teamofAnnaBabington,PhoebeHuntandKatherine Babington,aheadofACT(NatalieMiller,IngridSheltonAgar andJustineHobson).InM20AtheAustralianteamofAlvin Craig,SamWoolfordandDavidStockswon8:31aheadof NewZealandersFelixHunt,RileyCroxfordandRyanMoore. NSW(OskarMella,CooperHorleyandJamieWoolford) completedthepodium.

Non-Eliteclasses

Amongthejuniorclasses,M/W12Ahadthemostentrants,i.e. fourteams,twoofwhichfinished.NSW(EuanShedden, BaxterPeelandRyderSeaman)won,andACTweresecond (ZafBluett-Jones,TessaRadajewskiandBanjoBluett-Jones). Otherclassesfeaturedoneortwoteams.InW16A,the combinedACT–NSWteamofAliceRadajewski,AmyDufty andMaggieMackaywerecomfortablyfirst,aheadofVictoria–HongKong(EllaMajaLang,YokiWongandMeriYau).In M16A,theAustralianandNewZealandteamsweretogether atthefirstchange,thenNewZealandpulledwellahead, resultingingoldforFinnVanKeulen,JamesWrightand

Thenumberofteamsintheveteranclassesrangedfromone (W35A,W75+)toeight(W45A)forwomen,andfromtwo (M50A)toten(M65A)formen.Fourorienteers,allAustralians, wonforthefourthtimeduringtheOceaniaChampionships: AstonKey,JennyBourne,BruceArthurandAlexTarr.M55A hadadramaticrace,theNewZealandteam,startingwithJeff Greenwood,ledatthefirstchangefromTasmaniabutJim RussellfromVictoriahadthefastesttimeonthesecondleg eliminatingthetimedeficittoNewZealand,andWarrenKey extendedVictoria’slead.NSW(MarkShingler,ShaneDoyleand SimonGeorge)claimedsecond,andNewZealandwerethird. SixofnineMixedteamscompletedtheircourses,theClub teamfromIrelandCorkOwasfirst,GBR–NewCaledoniateam camesecond,andtheConvergenceClubfromNewCaledonia placedthird,35saheadofNewZealand.

Australia-NewZealandChallenge2023

(ExtractsfromAustraliaTeamManager’sReport,TedvanGeldermalsen)

CompetitionClasses

TheChallengerulesspecifyaminimumsetofclassestobe contestedandalongerlistofclassesthatmaybecontested. Thevisitingnationadvisesthehostnationwhichofthe optionaladditionalclassesitwantsincludedandthenboth countriesselectteamsinalltheagreedclasses.

Duetohightravelcosts,fewerNewZealandersthanusual chosetoattendtheseOceaniaChampionships.Orienteering NewZealand(ONZ)proposedtoOAthatthe2023Challenge becontestedinareducednumberofclassesthatdidnot includesomeoftheminimum“mandatory”classes,andthe BoardofOAacceptedthis.TheclassesforSprint,Middle, LongandRelay,i.e.allraces,wereW20,W21E,W45,M16, M20,M21E,M50,M55,M65.Sprint,MiddleandLongonly, i.e.noRelay,wereW55,W65,M60.Minimum“mandatory” classesnotcontestedin2023wereW16,W40,W50,W60, M40.

ANZChallengeresults

Intheindividualcompetitions,foreachclass,thetimesofthe twohighestplacedteammembersareaddedtogetherand thenationwiththelowestcombinedtimeisthewinner.

InmostclassesAustralianswonallfourraces(Sprint,Long, MiddleandRelay).InM55Australiawonthreeoftheraces, andinW21EandM16Australiawontwooftheraces.

AustraliawonnineclassestoNewZealand’soneineachof thethreeindividualcompetitionsforatotalscoreof27–3.In therelaycompetitionAustralianwon7–2.Thecombined resultacrossallindividualandrelayraceswasAustralia34 classesversusNewZealand5classes.

AlthoughNewZealandhadproposed12classesforthe individualcompetitionitwasonlyabletofieldteamsin10 classes.TheNewZealandmanagerrequested,andthe Australianmanageragreed,nottoincludetheresultsofthe uncontestedclasses(M60andW65)inthepointstotals.In therelaycompetitionallofthenineproposedclasseswere contested.

MatthewGreenwood,andsilverforAustraliansEuanBest,Alex WoolfordandEckartBosman.

OceaniaRelay-AlvinCraig(AUS). PhotobyQuentinLang

OceaniaRelay-JuliaGannon(AUS). PhotobyQuentinLang

2023OCEANIACHAMPIONSHIPS

2023ANZChallenge–Long

Australia’steam managerTedvan Geldermalsen withtheANZ trophy.Photoby QuentinLang

2023ANZChallenge–Middle

OceaniaMiddleDistanceM21Eceremony-Jim Bailey(GBR),Brodie Nankervis(AUS),Aston Key(AUS),TobyScott (NZ),ZefaFa’avae(NZ). PhotobyQuentinLang

NathanFa’avae(NZ)-M50A. PhotobyQuentinLang

EuanBest(AUS)-M16A. PhotobyQuentinLang

2023ANZChallenge–Relay

2023ANZChallenge–Sprint

OceaniaMiddle Distance-W21E ceremony-Kaia Joergensen(NZ), NatashaKey(AUS), BridgetUppill(AUS), GraceCrane(AUS), LizzieIngham(NZ), AislinnPrendergast (AUS).Photoby QuentinLang

GroupchatatOceaniaMiddleDistance-LizzieIngham(NZ),Aislinn Prendergast(AUS),KaiaJoergensen(NZ).PhotobyPeterYeates

NicolaDalheim(AUS)-W55A.PhotobyQuentinLang.

XMAS5Days

AnotherhighlysuccessfulXmas5Daysin2022withclose to250competitorsonmostdays.Theeventwasbasedin theCentralTablelandsofNSWintheLithgowarea.Great orienteeringmapsfor5daysoforienteeringandthearea offeredsomespectacularplacestovisitforaprès-O. LocationswerejustashortdistancefromLithgow.

Day1-“Falnash”; Day2-“MtPiper”; Day3-“BaalBoneJunction”; Day4-“GardensofStone”; Day5-“BlueMountainsGrammar”.

Anoverallcompetitionwasrunduringthe5Daysbasedona competitor’sbest4outof5results.Cumulativepointswere awardedeachday,basedonacompetitor’splacinginthat class; (theuseofplacingsratherthanrelativetimesisfairer acrosstherangeofeventformats).Prizeswereawardedto dailywinnersforDays1to4.However,ifyouhadalready wonastageyouwerenotabletowinasecondprize(except fortheOverallClassprize,Day5).

Performancesweretopsyturvyacrosstheweekwithsome havinggoodandconsistentruns,andsomenot.Stand-out performanceswereJennyBourneinWomenD,Tate NeedhaminMenC,AltonFreemaninMenF,andMaxim KaravaevinM/WNovicewhoweredominantontheircourses witheachscoringthemaximumpossible400points.Andjust onepointdownon399wasAndrewHobsoninMenD.Baxter PeelinMenGwasalsoclosewith395points.

Butthehonoursonsomecourseswerecloselyfoughtover. InWomenA,EmilySorensenwontwoeventsbutdidn’t competeinenougheventstofeatureintheoverallresults, leavingErikaEnderby(381points)tohaveading-dongbattle withNeaShingler(378)andeventuallytriumphbyjust3 points.InWomenB,JustineHobson(391)foundshakingoff JennyEnderby(385)wasadifficulttaskwithbothwinning twoevents,andinWomenE,ElinSchulz(362)onlyjustheld offJessicaDun(360)fromNZ,whileLindaSesta(380points) wonWomenCandLaylaDentcomfortablywonWomenF with386points.

MICHAELHUBBERT

NeaShingler

Similarups-and-downswereseenamongstthemen.InMen A,MartinDent(379)finishedaheadofEwanShingler(369) butbothwerewelldefeatedduringtheweekbyAngus HainesandAlastairGeorge.Georgemayhavewonoverallif hehadn’tmissedaneventandmispunchedanother. OwenRadajewskicomfortablywonMenBwith379points fromGregBarbour,andTonyRadfordwasalsoa comfortablewinnerinMenE.

BlueMountains GrammarSchool

MENC–DylanBryantwasfast throughmostofthecourse finishingaclose2ndtoElyeDent.

Countingmispunches– through theweektherewasatotalof92 mispunchesreportedintheResults. The2023Xmas5Dayswillbeback ontheNSWCentralCoast.

ElyeDent.

2022Xmas5Dayswinners.

LaylaDent(ACT).

MENA–AlastairGeorgestruck troublelateinthe coursebutstillwon narrowly.

1.AlastairGeorge43:36

ErikaEnderby(NSW).

MartinDent(ACT).

EwanShingler(NSW).

JennyEnderby(NSW).

JustineHobson(ACT).

JennyBourne.

Owen Radajewski (ACT).

WOMENB–TracyMarshshowed hernavigation experiencetotake thewin.

Accomplishments

DAVIDHOGG

AlexTarr’scareerinorienteeringandrelatedbushnavigation competitionsgoesbackfurtherthanthatofanyothercurrent Australianorienteer.HewasinthewinningteamintheMelbourne UniversityMountaineeringClub24-HourWalk(theforerunnerof rogaining)in1960,1961and1962.Hebecameinvolvedin orienteeringin1970,andwasamemberofthefirstAustralianteam toparticipateinaninternationalorienteeringcompetition(the inauguralAustralia–NewZealandChallenge)inNovember1971. Whilestillcompetingatthetopofhisageclass(M80),Alexis knownparticularlyforhisdefiningroleinthedevelopmentof orienteeringmappinginAustralia.AsoneofAustralia’sfirst orienteeringfieldworkersandcartographers,hehasplayedamajor roleinsettingthebenchmarkforAustralianorienteeringmapping, particularlyduringtheleaduptothe1985WorldChampionships inBendigo,whenhewastheNationalControllerfortheevents.In hislateryears,heturnedhisskillsandcommitmenttomappingon aprofessionalbasis,producingmanymapsfornationalevents throughoutAustralia.Basedlargelyonhiscontributiontomapping andothertechnicalaspectsoforienteering,in2016hebecameone oftheinauguralinducteesintotheOrienteeringAustraliaHallof Fame.ThefollowingarefragmentsofthecitationforAlex.

“AlexTarrwasYarraValleyOrienteeringClub’sfoundingpresidentfrom 1972to1975.(…)Asacompetitor,heexperiencedearlysuccessandwas selectedintheAustralianteamtochallengeNewZealandin1971and 1972,aswellasonmanysubsequentoccasions,andintheWorld Championshipsteamin1974and1976.Hehasbeenaconsistenthigh performerattheAustralianChampionshipswinningM21Atwicein 1975and1976andwassecondin1977.(…)

Alex’scommitmenttotheproductionofahighstandardoforienteering mapshasbeenhisgreatestcontributiontoAustralianorienteering.When planningbeganfortheWorldOrienteeringChampionshipsin1985 (WOC85),Alextooktheroleofcoordinatingalloftheforest-based activities(…).WorkingwithSteveKey,whoproducedtheWOCmaps andotherVictorianmapsonprofessionalbasis,aswellaswithvolunteer mappers,Alexdevelopedmapsofaconsistenthighstandard.This broughtAustralianmapqualityandexpectationstoanewlevel.He continuestobeoneofAustralia’sforemostorienteeringmappers.

AsaLevel3ControllerandInternational OrienteeringFederation(IOF)EventAdvisor,hehas contributedtotheimprovementofthestandardof majoreventsinAustraliabyactivitiesincludingthe conductofLevel3Controllerworkshops. AlexwasmadealifememberofOrienteering Victoriain1984.In1986,withTom Andrews,hewasthesecondrecipientof theOFASilvaAwardforservicesto Orienteeringandwasawarded theAustralianSportsMedal in2000.”

AlexTarr’sRowdyFlat (VIC)map-afragmenthypertechnicalgold mining,hasdemonstrated thatcurrentIOFmapping specificationsare inadequate.

CommentsaboutAlexTarr’smapping HANIALADA

Alexretiredfromhisjobasalibrarianin1995,andbecameaprofessionalorienteeringmapper.In2017,in“Navigating45 years.AhistoryoftheYarraValleyOrienteeringClub1972–2017”,PeterBlackdescribedAlex’sproudestmapping achievements.

Kimbolton1977– intheearlydaysofAustralianorienteering,therewasmuchdebatebetweenAustralianstatesastohowto maprockyground-adistinctivefeatureofourterrains.(…)Kimboltonwasdraftedusinghanddrawndotstorepresentrocky ground.ThemapwasusedfortheAustralianRelayChampionshipsin1977andmetthegeneralapprovalofthecompetitors. Atthistime,theInternationalOrienteeringFederationwasformalisinginternationalmappingspecifications.TheKimboltonmap setthestandardforthemappingofrockygroundtothisday.

Castlemaine1981– anumberofmapshadbeenearliermadeofgoldminingareaswhichfailedtoshowenoughdetailwithin thecomplexminingterrainandassociatederosiongullies.AlexinstigatedaVOAprojectwhereasegmentoftheoriginal SailorsFallsmapwasre-mappedtoshowtheminingdetail.Thisdemonstratedthatthedetailcouldbemappedatthe1:15000 scale.Alexthenstartedonthelarge(16km2)Castlemainemap.Thistookmorethan300hoursinthefield.(…)Onthebasisof thismap,theIOFdecidedthatgoldminingwassuitabletobepartoftheWorldOrienteeringChampionshipsin1985in Australia.

InDecember2022,whenhearingabout TheAustralianOrienteer’s planstoacknowledgeAlex’sretirementfrommajormapping andtopaytribute,variousinsightfulsuggestionswereofferedbypeoplewhoknowAlexwell.PeterBlackmentionedAlex’s greatpatienceinmentoringothers.Peteralsoemphasisedthat“forsafetypurposesAlexseldomwentoutintothebushalone todohisfieldworkandsoJanetaccompaniedhiminmostoftheseoutings.GiventheamountofhourshespentinthebushI thinkJanet’sinvolvementistotallypraiseworthyandshouldberecordedwithacclaim.”Peteriscorrect,JanetTarr’sfacilitation ofAlex’smappingtrips,andsospendingapproximately17000honfieldworkand8000hdrawing,shouldbegreatly appreciatedbytheorienteeringcommunity.ThankyouJanet!

WhatareAlex’splans?Doeshehaveanyadvicefornewmappers?Whathasheobservedaboutthedevelopmentof orienteeringandmappinginAustralia?ThesequestionsareansweredinthefollowinginterviewconductedbyBlairTrewinin JanuaryattheOceaniaChampionships2023.

AlexTarr’sFrazelRock (WA)map-afragment-a goodexampleofgranite.

BlairTrewintalking withAlexTarr

You’vebeenaroundthroughprettymuchtheentirehistory oforienteeringinAustralia.Howdidyoufirstgetinto orienteering?

Isawtheadvertisementsforthefirsteventever,theTom Andrews’one,andIcouldn’tgettothat.ButthenIlookedat theresultsandthey’reallpeoplefromtheMUMC24-hour walks.SoIthought,“ohwell,itsoundslikethesortofthingI cando”.Soprobablyaboutsixmonths1 afterthat,Iwent downtoaneventatStudleyParkatFairfield.Iwentinand wonandthought“Icoulddothis”.AndI’vebeendoingitever since.

Becauseyou’dbeeninvolvedintheMUMC24-hourwalks, hadn’tyou?

Yes,I’ddoneanumberofthembefore,andJanethadtoo. Theearlydayswewereorienteeringitwasabitlikethe24hourwalks.Ifyouonlymadehalfanhourmistake,you’ve probablygotaplace.

I’veseenthemapfromthe1972NationalsatSteiglitz.Some interestingthingsthere2

Well,that’sright.Theywantedmapsthatshowedtheterrain. Theonlymapsthatreallyshowedtheterrainwereof mountainousareas.SothebackofWarburtoniswhereyou had50-footcontours.Mountainsofthem. Yes.Youcanhideanawfullotin50-footcontours.

That’sright.Andbetweenthecontrols,theremightbenew tracksandallsortsofstrangethings.Butthatwasalright. Everyonewasallveryforgiving.So,asthesportimproved technically,probablymyfitnessimprovedatthesamerate. Youcouldkeeponbeingcompetitive.Whereasnow,ifyou’re comingstraightintothesport,you’retwo,threeyearsbehind immediately.

Youwere,Ithink,theinauguralPresidentofYarraValley.Is thatright?

Yes.SothoseveryearlyeventsweresetupthroughTom Andrews,andthenVictoriastartedtodevelopabitofaclub system.Wewenttotheclubsystembecause,basically,you needanucleusofpeopletorunevents.Andyoucanonly leanonyourfriendsandrelationssomuch.

Now,in1974,youwenttoyourfirstWorldChampionships inDenmark.

That’sright,yes.

Andthatmusthavebeenquiteacultureshockgivenwhat Australianorienteeringwaslikeatthatmoment.Didwe haveanycolouredmapsinAustraliaatthatstage?

Yes,wewereontocolouredmapsatthatstage.Buttechnical maps,no.Wedidourtrainingsessionsinsandhillcountryin thesouthofSwedenatamapmadebyPeoBengtsson.Itwas terrificopenterrain,veryfastwithsandhills.Andthatsortof gotusintothemoodofit.

Wasthatthefirsttimeyouhaddoneanyorienteering outsideAustralia?

No,therewasanearlyNewZealandtrip.Werantheearly Australia-NewZealandChallengesonblackandwhitemaps. AndthatwasthefirstproperAustralianteam.We’dhad RodDominishin[WOC]1972,butthiswasthefirsttime we’dsentateam[toWOC].

That’sright.Andwewerenotreallycompetitive,althoughin therelaywebeatafewcountriesthatwewerenotexpected to.

Ithinkyouwereninthintherelay?

Yes,itwouldbesomethinglikethat.Wewerequitepleased withtherelay.

Thenextcoupleofyearswerethepeakofyourcareer. Makingthetop30in[WOC]1976andwinningacoupleof AustralianChampionships.

You’vegottodothesethingswhileyoucan.Itrainedinthose daysandwasprettyserious.Weusedtorunsteeplechase and5000metresinsummertokeepfit.TimDentandIused todothat.Andoccasionalracewalkingstill.

Soracewalkingwasyourthing.

Yes,thatwasmysportoriginally.Icameintoorienteeringin goodsteadbecausethere’salotofpeoplewhorunfaster thanme,butnotmanywalkfaster.Particularlyincountrylike this[theOceaniaLongDistance]you’regoinguphills.Yes,I walkfast.

ThefirstphotoofAlexTarrorienteering,whichappearedinthe programforthe1971Australia–NewZealandChallenge.

That[1976]wasyourlastWOC.Didyoumakeaconscious decisiontoretireordidyoujuststoptrainingseriously?

I’dbasicallyhadanultimatum,andthatwasfairenough.In thosedays,therewasn’tatraditionofpeoplerunningelite intotheirforties.Iwas37orsomethinglikethat.Andforthe 1978WOC,IwasselectedandIsaid“Iwon’tgo”,andGeoff Lawfordwentinstead.Ithinkthatwasabettermoveinterms oforienteeringforAustralia.

So,movingontomapping.Howdidyoufirststartgetting intomapping?

Well,somebodyhadtodoit,that’sthebasicthing.You mentionedtheSteiglitzmapbefore.Iran[organised]an eventthepreviousday[onthe MullersCreek map]asa warm-up,andthatwasthefirstonethatIactuallyplotted tracksfor.Ihadtheabilitytopacecountandtakebearings andputaplottedtrackin.Butthen,whenRolandOffrell cameacross,hetookalltheeliterunnersandsaid,“OK, you’reresponsibleforthesport.”Andthereprobablywas neveramemberoftheAustralianWOCteams,throughto about1980atleast,whohadn’tmademaps.Afterthat mappinggotbigger,buttherewerestillclubswhomade maps.Butthefactisthateverybodymademaps.Because howdoyougetthesportgoing?Thetraditionthenwasthat youcoursesetonceortwiceayear,youcontrolledonceor twiceayear,andyoumadeamapeveryyearandahalf. Theywereprobablysimplerareas.

Youmentionedthat[MullersCreek]wasyourfirstmap. Yes,thoseblackandwhiteones.Butthefirstrealoneswere the ReedyCreek and StrathCreek maps. ReedyCreek was supportedbythegiftfromSOFT.Andweallworkedonit, andthennobodywantedtodrawit,soIsaidthat,look,I’ll drawitfor$100.

$100wasabitofmoneyinthosedays.

That’sright.ButI’veneverenjoyeddrawingmaps.Bythe 90sIhadfingershakeandallthatsortofstuff.Theoldpen andink,ifwewerestilldoingthat,Iwouldhavegivenup25 yearsago.

Sothemovetonewtechnologyhasbeenarealboonto youinthatsense.

That’sright,yes.Andlook,itwasabitofashameforpeople likeSteveKeyandMikeMorffew.TheGoldenFleecemaps wereaworkofart.Itwasjustbeautifullydrawn.Andof course,wecanalldothatnow.

Inyourearlydays,mapswerefairlyroughandready.Were anyinternationalstandardsinexistencethen?

Therewasasetofstandards.Itwasabout1972or19733 whenitcameout.Prettywell,weconformedtothat,ortried to.ThebigargumentwasnotsomuchinVictoria,butin NewSouthWalesandtheACT,theywantedtohavedashes andeyebrowsforvariousflatrockandrockfeatures.In mapping,Ihaven’tdoneverymanyoriginalthings,butIset thestandardforrockygroundmapping.

ThatwasKimbolton?

Thatwasthe Kimbolton one.WeheldanAustralianRelays onit.Inthosedays,theAustralianRelaysattracted400 people,andvirtuallyeveryoneranthelongestclass.Andthe consensusafterthatwas,OK,thisisthewaytodoit.Soyou talkaboutlandmarkmaps,andthere’sonlytwothatI’veever made.Kimboltonfortherockygrounddots. Castlemaine Goldfields obviouslyforgoldmining,and RowdyFlat.

SomovingontoCastlemaineGoldfields,beforethat,had therebeenanyattemptstomapgoldminingterrainin Victoria?

KimboltonForest(VIC)-Alex’smapthatsetthestandardforrockyground.

TheoriginalSlatyCreekmapwasaVictorianChampionship. TheoriginalSailorsDiggingsmapwasaVictorian Championship.Bothofthemdidn’tshowanygoldmining really.Infact,aftertheSailorsDiggingsVictorian Championship,wehadalittlecompetition.OK,weshouldbe abletomapthisgoldminingindetail.AndIthinkitwas about15differentpeoplefromVictoriawentoutandhada littlepracticeonaparticulararea,andweallwentbackand presentedit.KeithWadejudgedit,andIthinkitwasSteve KeyandIwhohadthemostsuccessfulapproach,weeach mappedindetailwithadifferentemphasisoncontoursand embankments.

It[CastlemaineGoldfields]wascertainlyprettywidely recognisedasalandmarkmap.Irememberrunningonit maybein1984,1985,sowouldhavejustbeenstartingtorun hardnavigationcourses,anditwasdefinitelyaneye-opener forsomeonewhohadgrownupintheACT.

That’sright.And,youknow,it’sstillagoodarea,anditwas thenmappedstrictlyfor15,000.Ourfirstmaps,ofcourse, ReedyCreek,StrathCreek,allthoseoneswere20,000.

NottoomanyyearsafterCastlemaineGoldfields,wewere hostingtheWorldChampionships.Youwereveryheavily involvedintheWorldChampionships.

Therewasastorybehindthat.Therewasmeanttobean Australia-NewZealandmatch,Ithinkthisisprobablyinthe late70s.Therewasanairlinestrikeandwecouldn’tgetthere.

Sowespenttheweekjustinvestigatingareasaround Victoria,toseewhat’scapableofhostingaWorld Championships.Andthat’swhereKooyoorabasicallycame from.Andawholelotofotherareaswerediscarded.

ObviouslyWOC isabigjob,butyouprobablydidn’trealise quitewhatyouwerelettingyourselfinfor.

Well,it’samuchsmallerjobthenthanitisnow.Becausethe standardsandthedemandsarejustimmensenow.And that’swhyAustraliaisnowreluctanttogointoit.

IscopeditacoupleoftimeswhenIwasPresidentofOAand ourconclusionwas,tomakeithappen–thiswasbeforethe splitintoforestandurban–we’dprobablyneedsomewhere betweenhalfamillionandamillioninexternalmoney. Technicalcapabilitieswefeltwehadundercontrol,butwe couldn’tfindawaytomakethenumbersworkfinancially.

That’sright.Andtheargumentoftenwasitwillbuildthe sportinAustralia.

Didn’treallyhappen.

Itdidn’thappen.Andallthatreallyhappenedisthatitwore peopleout.Soitwasbasicallycountertowhatyouwanted. Whichisashame.

Wetouchedonbeforehowthechangetocomputer mappingtechnologyyoufoundveryhelpfulonthedrafting side.Whatotherperspectivesdoyouhaveonhowmapping haschangedsincethe1985period?

Ithinkit’samatterofrefinementandrefinementand refinementratherthannewdevelopment.Imean,basically themapsimprovedonceyou’vegotthecomputerdrawing andyou’vegotridofLetraset.Whichchangesthepictureof themapaltogether.

Itmeantyoucouldshapethingsmuchbetter.

Andwewereallprettylowtech.Wedidn’tevenknowhowto getnewLetraset.Sothetrianglesusedforboulderfields werealigned,andthatjustdidn’tgivetherightpictureatall. ButthebigthingthathappenedaftertheWorld Championshipswasthatforthefiveyearsafterwardsat Easter,wehadathree-daymappingworkshop.Andthat reallymadeadifferenceineachstate,workingtothesame standards.Andtherewerenewmapperswhocameintothe field,likeEricAndrews,whocuthisteethonthat,andthen wentontomapalloverAustralia.AndEricmappingallover Australiaprobablydidmoretosetastandard,particularlyfor granitemapping.Sothatpeoplehadexamplestoworkwith. Anditreallydidthesportatremendousamountofgood. Ithinkthat’sarealchangeprobablyfromtheearly90s onwards,thatincreasedprofessionalisation.

Yes,theprofessionalisation.Buttherewasneverachancein Australiaofpeoplemakingalivingoutofit.Ericworkedon hisarmypension,Iworkedonsuperannuation.Neitherofus neededtomap,itwasjustaverynicelifestyle.

Icertainlyappreciatedit.Oneofmyrelativelyearlymajor carnivalsasasetterwasEaster1994,whichwasonEric’s HoneysuckleCreekmap.Growingupasacoursesetterin the1980syourusualruleofthumbwasthatyou’dhaveto discardone-thirdofyourcontrolsiteswhenyougotintothe field.Anditwasquiteashocktothesystemtoseethatwe didn’tneedtodothatanymore.

Coningham(TAS)map,AlexTarr’sfirstmapinTasmania. TobyScott’srouteatHobartShortsinJanuary2023

AlexTarrwithhisreliablemappingequipment.PhotobyQuentinLang

GregHawthornewasjusttellingmeoneoftheirHobart Shortsisat Coningham.Now,ConinghamisthefirstmapI evermadeforTasmania.AndGregsaidthateveryfeature youmappedisinexactlytherightplaceaccordingtoLiDAR. Sowe,Ericandmyself,weworkedtoastandardwhichwas probablynotappreciatedverymuchatallexcept,youknow, bythesensethatthecontrolsareintherightplace.

That’salwaysthenumberonefundamental.Theevent whereweworkedmostcloselytogetherwasthe2002World Masters.Wetalkedabitearlieraboutthenewpossibilities thatcomputermappinggavetoshapesymbols.Ithinkone ofthethingsthatstruckmeaboutthecomparisonbetween the2002and1985Kooyooramapswasthatitgaveyouso muchmorepossibilitytorepresenttheterrain.

That’sright.Ofcourse,mostofthesesymbolsthatshowthe shapesarenowillegalunderthenewISOM,andtheISOMs sincetheyear2000havemaderepresentationofAustralian terrainmuchmoreproblematic.Upuntiltheyear2000,we hada25%leewayinsizeofsymbols,andthatmeansyou couldmapgoldminingwithconformity.Andsincetheyear 2000,there’shardlybeenasinglemapthatmeetsthe standardingoldminingortinmining.

Whatthatreflectsisthatiforienteeringisgoingtobea genuineworldsport,theworld’svoiceneedstobeheardon the[IOF]MapCommission.

Yes,itdoes.Butitalsoneedstobeaverytechnicalperson withastrongmappingbackground.

Ithinkalotof,particularlyScandinavian,mappingcultureis thatifyouhavetoomuch,youjustleavestuffoffuntilyou canfititon.Alotofplacesintheworldthatdoesn’treally work,somewhereliketheWorldCupMiddleDistancein China,wherewewantedtomapat7,500andtheywouldn’t letus.Andyoucan’tleaveoffhalfthetracks.

That’sright.There’sjustnoroom.Ithinkthatthespecscan bemadetoworkforthiscountry.Notthattheydidtoday necessarily,butthemapwasfine.Itwasusable.Itdidn’t quiteconformtotheIOFspecs.Toobad.

Sonow,doyouhaveanyparticularadvicefornewmappers lookingtogetintothefield?

Ithinkthey’vegottoacceptthatthefirstthreemapsarenot goingtobeasgoodastheywouldlike.Themostdifficult

thingisthatinmapping,youdon’tgetyourfeedbackuntil youhaveputinyour100,150hoursofwork.Andthatcanbe prettysoul-destroying.Soifyouarewantingtojuststartto map,workwithsomebodywho’smoreexperienced,andjust getoutthereandmakeprintsofyourmapandrunonit.You can’ttellfromacomputerscreenhowgoodamapis,you’ve gottohaveapieceofpaperinthebush.

You’vementionedsomeofyourlandmarkmaps,butdoyou haveanyparticularfavouritetypesofterraintomapin? DependshowfitIam.Easygullyspur,you’rewalkingupto 35kilometresaday,andthat’sexhausting,you’rejust walkingthewholetime.Whereasatechnicalarea,Imight onlydo15kilometresadaybecauseI’mstandingarounda lot.Youhavetobecarefulofpickinganareathatyou’re physicallyandtechnicallycapableofdoing.Ithinkthey’re alwaysachallenge.Whatyoureallywantisagoodbase map.

You’veobviouslycontinuedtobeaveryactivecompetitor. Doyouhaveanyparticularfavouriteterraintocompetein? Somethingtechnical.Somethingmiddledistanceisoften quitenice.You’vestillgottofindthecontrolsandthere’sstill funinfindingthecontrols.Yougothroughthebushanddo everythingrightandexpectthatyougooverthisnextlittle spurandI’llbecertainthenthatitworks.Sothatkeepsyou comingbackandback.I’mtheonlyonenowwho’sbeento everyAustralianEasterandeveryAustralianLongDistance Championship.AndIsuspectI’llkeepdoingitforafewmore years.Aslongasit’spossible.It’sjusttooniceasport.

Sonowthatyou’llnolongerbemappingactively,doyou haveanyparticularplansfor “retirement”?

Thesolvingoftheproblemsinmappingisintellectually interesting.SmallerjobsI’llkeepdoing,butIcan’tseemyself doingabigone,say,afullAustralianChampionship.

Doyouhaveanymorebigwalksonthehorizon?Youhad thebig80th birthdaywalkwithyourextendedfamily.

Well,wedecidedwehadbetterkeeponwalkingwhilewe can.Sowe’redoingtheThreeCapeswalkafterthis,andthen justbeforeEasterwearedoingthelighthousetolighthouse walksouthofEden.

Thanksalotforyourtime.

AlexTarr’sTransitFlat(TAS)map-afragment-wildernessgraniteusedforWorldCup.

Clarifications

byDavidHogg (HistoryCorrespondent for TheAustralianOrienteer)

1.TheStudleyParkeventreferred totookplaceabout13months afterTom’sfirstevent.

2.The‘interestingthings’onthat mapwerethatitcontainedtwo differentcontourintervals(30footand50-foot)indifferentpartsofthemapduetotwo differentbasemapsbeingusedtoprepareitandthatthe watercourseswerenotdrawn,makingitratherdifficultto workoutwhatwasupandwhatwasdownintherepetitive spur-gullyterrain.Thelatterissuewasaddressedby competitorsdrawingthegullylinesinblueontheirmaps beforetheeventstarted(mapswerehandedoutin advance).ManyotherearlyVictorianblack-and-whiteOmapswerebasedon1:50,000topographicalmapswith50footcontoursandnotmuchotherdetail.

3.IOFdrawingspecificationswerepublishedin1975,the sameyearthatOFApublisheditsown.Therehadbeen previousIOFspecificationsin1969.

Alex’sencore

Regrets–thenumberofAustralian ChampionshipsandEasterevents thatIcouldnotcompeteinasIhad madethemap. Everymappermusthaveavery supportivepartneriftheyareto continuetomap.Australian orienteeringowesabigdebttomy wifeJanet.

DecemberSpottheDifferenceSolution

WiththeSprintseasonuponusitwastimeinDecembertogiveyouaChampionshipSprintmap containing25changes.Someofthechangeswereeasytofindandsomewerenot. DIDYOUFINDALL25???

JanetTarr

PhotobySandraHogg

BoundaryCreek.

SpottheDifference

WithEasterfastapproachingit’stimetobrushuponyourgraniteterrainmapreading. Herearetwoalmostidenticalmapsectionswithjust25differences.Theoriginalmapwas1:15,000 butwehaveenlargedthesemapsectionsto1:10,000foreasierreading.

CANYOUFINDALL25???

MAP2

MAP1

Mapping advicefor Easter 2023

HUGHMOORE(REDROOS–ACT)

Mappingisnotjustascience.A goodmapshouldshowthe competitorwhattheyexpecttoseeand helpthemfindtheirwaythroughandto thefeaturestheyarelookingfor.This willfeedintotheimaginationofthe competitor,sothereisanelementofart requiredtoproduceamapthat competitorswillfindeasytoread.

EricAndrewswasamasterofthisart andhasproducedsomeofAustralia’s bestbushmaps,ashasAlexTarr.But theirapproachtoshowingtherelative sizesofrockdetailcannotbeused undertheIOF’snewISOMmapping ruleswhichmandateandcontrolsizes andshapestobeusedforrock mapping.

The Highlands mapthatIhavebeen preparingforEaster2023isin absolutelytop-qualitygraniteterrain withmanyareasoflargedenserock features.Thechallengeishowto produceamapthatmustusetheISOM rulesthatnowrestricthowrockfeatures canbedrawn.Mappingrockrequires interpretationwhichcanvarybetween mappers.Allcanproducemapsthat showrockfeaturesintheircorrect positionsbuteachcanusetheavailable symbolsindifferentways.

AtamappingworkshopIattendedrun byEricAndrewshedemonstratedthe keyissueforrockmappingis interpretation.Heshowedonascreen, asIrememberit,fourphotographsofa rockfeatureandaskedtheaudienceto drawthesymboltheywoulduseto showeach.Theresultwasthatthe symbolsusedwerealldifferent,even betweenmembersoftheaudience.Eric thenexplainedthatthephotographs wereallofthesamerockfeaturebut takenfromdifferentsides!

Eachmapperwillhavetheirown approachtomapping.When approachingamapthatisbeingused forthefirsttimeinacompetitionitis importanttolearnhowthemapperhas interpretedtheterrain.Foragoodmap

thisinterpretationwillbeconsistent acrossthewholemap.

For Highlands Ihavetriedtobe consistentinhowIusethelimited numberofrocksymbols.Becausethere arenowonlyafewsymbolsavailable theseneedtobeusedforavarietyof rocksituations.Theboulderfield symbolisthemostusedsymbolused onthemap.Astheymovethroughthe mapcompetitorswillbecomefamiliar withthesituationswherethissymbolis used.

IhavepreparedthefollowingMapping Notestohelpcompetitorsunderstand thewaytheISOMruleshaveaffected the Highlands map.

Highlands hasbeenmappedtomeet ISOMrequirementsthatconstrain mappingcomplexrocktotheuseofa symbolsetofthreedifferentsizeblack dotsandtwotriangleshapesinrespect ofrockdetail.Minimumsizesforcliffs aremandatedandrequiredseparation distancesbetweensymbolsare specified.Theseconstraintsrequire greatergeneralisationsothatitis difficulttomapthedetailindenserock areas.Asaresult,manydistinct individualboulderscannotbeshown separatelyindenserockareas.

Theapproachtomappingrockonthe Highlands maphasbeentomakesure thatallthemostsignificantrockfeatures aremappedsothattheystandout.This canleadtotheomissionofadjacent smallersizedrockswherethereis insufficientspace.Theboulderfield symbolhasbeenusedtoshowareas containingnumbersofindividual boulders.Thisapproachhasbeen appliedasconsistentlyaspossible acrossthemap.

Forvegetationmappingat Highlands, becauseitoftenhasinconsistent density,thevegetationcannotalways bereadilyshownwithdistinct boundaries.Theapproachhasbeento mapvegetationtoshowrunnability throughareasgenerallysothiscanbe takenintoaccountwhendecidingon routechoice.Thevegetationisalso affectedbyseasonalityandrecent weather,asarethewaterfeatures. Becauseoftheseparationdistance requirementsandthenumerousblack mappedfeaturesunderornearthe overheadpowerlines,nopowerlines havebeenshownonthemap.The powerpoleshavebeenmappedusinga blackcrossdesignatingaman-made feature.

Highlands:Mapper’sNotes

The Highlands mapsnippetisenlargedtoshow readerssomedetailthattheymayencounter.

PolishingYourSkills

Welcometothepagepredominantlyaimingtohelp beginnerandmoderate-navigationorienteers,and carersofchildrenbeingintroducedtothesportof orienteering.Everyoneisdifferent,sosomeactivitiesmay appealandsomemaynot.The“UniversalMapGamefor Children”isareversalofwhatweusuallydo.Hereinsteadof makingamap,wecreatetheterrainbasedonthemap.The goalistoentertainandteachaboutmapfeaturesandtheir use.Thisactivitywas“tested”indoorsandoutdoorson28 four-andfive-yearoldchildrenintotal.Mostwerejusthappy tomovebetweencontrols,especiallythroughthetunnel, whileacouplepaidcloserattentiontothemap.

Quiz

1.Thecontroldescriptionindicatesthat

A.TheeighthcontrolisonNorth-Westerntopof0.6m-highcliff

B.TheeighthcontrolisatthefootofNorth-Western0.6m-highcliff

C.TheeighthcontrolisattheSouth-Easternendofthe0.6m-deepditch

D.TheeighthcontrolisattheSouth-Westernfootof0.6m-highcliff

LinktoQuiz/Survey/Post-printCorrections

Thisisthelinktoanewregularfeature, Quiz, SurveyandPost-printCorrections onone form.Feelfreetoattemptsomeorall questions,providedatabycompletingthe surveyandcheckoutwhatmistakesinthe currenteditionhavebeendiscoveredtoolate. https://forms.gle/TthQbqavw7FDHNEK6

OrienteeringCrosswordPuzzle

Usethecluestosolvethepuzzle.Thenumbersinbrackets indicatethattheanswersrequiremorethanoneword,with thenumberoflettersineachwordspecified.

ACROSS

2.AnameofaSouthAustralianeventattheendofOctober 2022(7,1)

3.AnAppusedforstreetandparkevents

6.AnameofanorienteeringclubfromQueensland(4,5)

7.ThelogoforEaster2023(10,4)

10.Atitleofasongaboutorienteering(3,3,2)

11.Locationof2023OceaniaChampionshipsSprint

DOWN

1.The2023AustralianChampionshipswillbeheldthere(7,9)

4.Ablackequilateraltriangleincontroldescriptions

5.Brownlinesonamap

8.Anumberofmetresrepresentedby1cmonamapwith 1:10000scale(3,7)

9.BinMTBO

CelebrationofAchievements

“CongratulationstoRobbiefortryinghisfirstmoderatenavigationcourse”.Ifsuchrecognitionappealsand contributionsarereceived,itwillcontinue,otherwiseitwould beclassifiedasafailedexperiment.

RACING inSprint Orienteering

Manypreferthishighcontrolnumbercoursetotheearlierexample, andithasperhapsbecomethenorminAustralianSprintOover theyears.Tricky,mapfeatureexploitative,shortanddemocratic! Thisis realsprintorienteering.

Orisit?

RecenteventsinEurope,includingtheSprintWorld ChampionshipsinDenmarklastJune,haveseeneliteSprintracing ataspectacularlycompetitivelevel,includinggreatresultsfrom AustralianathletesatbothWOCandJWOCevents.Severalthings standout:fewercontrolnumberspercourse,longlegswithseveral routeoptions,arenapassages,routeblockages,travellegs,mapflips andobviouscontrolsitesthatfacilitaterapidrun-pastpunching.

ToallorienteerslookingforwardtoanewSprintOevent,the length,climbandnumberofcontrolsforyourcourseisalways ofspecialinterest–especiallytheratioofcourselengthtocontrol numbers.Thiskeyratiocansignalquitedifferentcourseplanning intentionsandcaneitherexciteorpuzzlethecompetitor.

Ontheonehand,alowcontrolnumberratio: Haveyouoftenreacted(ondiscoverythatyourcoursedoesn’thave manycontrols)-withthat‘Ohno,toomuchrunning’thought?Not enough‘cunning’seeminglybeingthesubtext,wheretheplodders willjusthavetomakedo–out-runbytheFlashHarry’sspeedover theinevitablelongerlegs.Tentotwelvecontrolsina2+kmcourse wouldbeagoodexamplewhereyoumighthaveexpected15-20.

Ontheotherhand,ahighcontrolnumberratio: Thehighernumberofcontrols,the15-20etc,helpsthe comfortableideaofleggingitwiththefastrunnerstotakehold. Everycontrolvisithasatimelag,themorecontrolsthemorethe lag,andthelevellingoftheplayingfield.Thisisespeciallytrueif thereisasurfeitofdeadend,in/outcontrols–or,intheAustralian way,controlsthatspecificallyexploitacomplexandnuancedmap area.Thefastandfuriousarenotquiteasadvantagedinthis constantmind-bogglingfeedofshortlegdecisionmakingandmap sitediscovery.

I’lllookatallthisindetail,butfirstlyanewishone.Travellegs: IhavebeenaconverttotheUK’sDavidMaySprintOcourseplan thinking,whereheallocateda‘quality’toeachleg,andwhereno routechoiceequalledazeroscore,andwherethehigherthefinal score,thebetterthecoursewaspresumedtobe.The‘zero’leg contrastedwitha‘three’forcomplexdecisionmaking,oftenonly possibleoverlongerleglengths,andwherebuildingcomplexity allowedsuchplanning(beforeIgoon,IshouldaddthatDavid’s scoringsystemisagnosticwhenitcomestothenumberofcontrols andcanapplyanywhere).The‘zero’legfromtheDavidMay scoringsystemisineffectthe‘travel’leg.

Once,the‘noroutechoice’legwasfrowneduponhereashaving noneofthecunning(proper)flavourofSprintO,butinEurope lastyearitwascommonlyusedatthemajorSprintevents. Increasinglyusedaccordingtoracecommentary,sowhatgives? Lookingdeeperatthecourseplanning,thetravellegscontrastwith theroutechoicelegs(oftenlongones,fewerinnumber-perhaps onlytwoorthreepercourse),andprovideforrunningspeed,and competitivemindgames(thinkKyburzintheWOCKnockout Semi,holdingbackearly).Insomeeventsthereseemedmore‘no option’legsthantheotherwayaround,withthecommonlylengthy andspeedystartlegs,beingoneofthese.Thisisofteninhuge contrasttoourstartoptions-roundacornerandoutofsightfrom thebeginning!

ForresEastexamplelongleg andtravellegs.

ROSSBARR

WhatI’mseeinginthetravelleg,andtheotherpointsnotedfrom recentEuropeexperience,istheword‘racing’.

Whilemanyintheolderfieldswouldn’tconsiderthenotion,I’m suretheworld’selitethinkofSprintorienteeringas‘racing’. Perhapstheonlyaspectoforienteeringwheresheerspeedcanplay aroleintheoutcome,andwherethebestorienteeringathletescan rankalongsidestartrackandfieldperformers(thinkDenmark’s MajaAlmforonesuch).Racingindeed.Buttobeabletooffera ‘race’inSprintO,andfollowEuropeinenablingspeedieroutcomes, courseplannersneedtoconsiderthepointsmentioned(fewer controls,majorroutechoiceoptions,controlsitesthatenablerapid run-pastpunching,etc).Also,anawarenessthatfasttravellegscan bealegitimatepartofacourse–especiallylatecourseones(often inpublicview).

Theseaspectshaveinfusedrecentelitelevelofferingsoverseas. Howmanyofushavetunedinandthoughtthatmanyofthe controlsiteslookpuzzlinglystraightforward,areonobviousopen mapareas(asopposedtodetail‘features’aswehavecometoknow), andthatmanyoftheroutechoicesseem‘quality1’stuff(left/right). LongerEuropeanroutescanoftenofferchoicesthatarequite differentinlength.Perhapsthekeytotheselonglegofferings workingwellintheplan,isthatthespeedencouragedbythe precedingfasttravellegs(ifshortones)reducesthetimeforany planningpause.Iunderstandthatthisaspectmightbetterapplyto KnockOutSprinting,buttheEuroraceexperiencedoesn’tappear todifferentiate.

OneaspectworthalookwhencomparingAustralianexperienceto EuropeisthelargelycampusstyleSprintorienteeringhere(andin theUK),andthecontrasttothefantasticoldhistorictownscape offersinEurope.There,wonderfulandcomplexstreetpatterns (oftencrazy),andgreatercontourinvolvement,makeforalmosta differentevent.TheJWOChillsidevillageandolivegrovesin Portugallastyearcometomind,asdoestheCzechmilitaryfort eventatStaréSplavyinJuly2021whichwasthevenueforthe WOCSprintevents.

Mid-city,mid-town,stadia,canalside,formalgardens,lido’s,castles, ruins–thelistgoeson.Butinalmosteverycase,weneversee

anything‘hidden’,oracontrollocatedinaconfusingmapareaandwhereInotemanyofthese‘obvious’controlsitesarespectator viewingones,doublingtheopennatureofthembynecessity. Racingisthegame,withtheheadscratchpauseararesight.

It'sfairtosaythatourAussiecampusmapsencourageapeppering ofcontrolsiteopportunities,anditisoftenhardtoresistthat sneakywallcorner(inside)orthemiddlestairhandrail.Longerlegs acrossamorerectangularbuiltenvironmentoffernoneofthemany andconfusingroad/pathoptionsseeninPortugalinJuly,henceI suspect,thecommonhighernumberofcontrolpointsarea counterpointhereinOz-andthedemocraticlevellermentioned earlier.Butifwearesayingweneedmorefastracingattheelite level(andshorterwinningtimes)tobetterpreparefortheworld stage,howdoweachievethisasSprintorienteers–andnotjustas runners?

We’velookedattravellegs,controlnumbersandopencontrolsites. NextuphastobeanothercommondeviceinEurope.Blockages. Thishasapparentlybecomeabigthingoverseas,wherecompetitors willoftencreateamapbeforetheracetotheoreticallytestavariety ofroutes,withtheracedayblocksbecomingthesurpriseelement (DuncanCurriecreatedamapofthiskindat2019JWOCin Lyseng,Denmark).

Notquitesosurehowfarcompetitorsarelookinginlikethishere inAustralia,butoldOmapsandGooglearenodoubtfrequently accessed.Anyway,thekeytoovercominganymapfamiliarityisto interferewiththeroadandpathwaylayoutbyusingOOB blockages.Thesealsoworkwellifthebuiltenvironmentistoo simple.RouteblocksareverycommoninEuropeanSprint orienteeringasImentioned(WOCMen’sSprintinVejlewith11, JWOCinDonelaswith8,etc,etc)andareagreatwayto encouragewiderroutechoicesonlongerlegsthatarenotionally simpleonesotherwise.Inmanycasesitcanrenderawell-known mapalmostasa‘new’one,andatleastgosomewaytonotoverly favouringthelocals.Passageblockusageaddstothecunning aspects(thethinkingtime)andmayalsoovercomethetendency downundertobreakintothisthinkingtimewithlotsofcontrols.

ForresEastexampleshortlegs.

Tofinish,run-pastpunchingandmapflips:

SiAirenablestherun-pastofcourse,althoughourSportIDENT systemisperhapsnotquiteasfastastheslaponthelargeEmit padsseenatWOC.Nevertheless,whencoupledwithasawhorse stylecontrolstand,controlpunchingontheflyispartofthespeed deal-asisthecontrolsite,whereclearspacearounditis encouraged.

AndI’mnotingquitealotofmapflipstuffgoingon.Agreatway toburytheabilitytothinktoofarahead,andsomethingreasonably commoninAustraliaforthelongercourses.Averyfaircourse planningtactic.

So,insummary,ifwewanttopushuptheracingdialinSprint orienteeringtobetterprepareforEuropeancompetition,andto produceSprintracesthathavemanyofthestrongerrunnerswell withinthe12-15minutewinningtimeenvelope(notjustthefew fallingoverthelineat14:50,etc),weneedtoembraceasmuch recentSprintthinkingaswecan.Getintoafast-runningmindset, gofly-byoncontrolsitelocations,addblocks,throwinwideand longroutechoicelegs,andcontrastthesewithshortspeedytravel connections.

AsapostscriptIshouldaddthatIhavealwaysbeenaslower runner(increasingly)whoreallyhasnoidea.Neveranathlete,and withaterriblebentoverrunningstylethatmyQueenslandJunior Squadgranddaughterdubbed‘thequestionmark’!Assuch,and despitesomeSprintsuccess,I’vealwaysbeenhappiestinthemany controlscamp(butlovinga‘quality3’longleg)–fearingthespeed ofmythesisabovewouldbemyundoing-asI’msureitwould trying-ononeoftheWOCeliteraces.Nevertheless,ifafocuson bestpractice,andmatchingitwiththeworld’sbestisagoal,we needtoconsiderthecourseplanningpointsthatreducethetricks andincreasethespeed.Ouryounggunswillappreciateit–and maybeevenmyownagerivalsfinishingonthewrongsideofa twentyplusminuteflog.

Aboveall,thinkofSprintOasarace,andnotatreasurehunt. Rosscoe–01/23

SprintOasarace.Nowthat’sanidea!

CourseoftheYear2022

PomeranianSprintCupStage4

Forthesecondtimeinthehistoryofthe“Orienteering CourseoftheYear”,averyspecialurbansprintcourse takesthehonours!Backin2013theMonsantoeveningsprint inPortugalwonthe“CourseoftheYear”title–thistimethe 4thstageofthePomeranianSprintCupinPolandwasthe people’sfavourite!

Althoughthisyear’swinnerwasnotaWorldChampionships course,thecoursewasdefinitelyatruemasterpiece,giving thecompetitorsverydemandingchallengesandalotoffun orienteering.Andalthoughnotallold-schoolorienteersmay bethebiggestfansofthistypeoforienteeringcourses,it definitelyresonateswithmanyorienteersoutthere.Haveyou everbeenrunningthrough1-metrewideand1.8-metrehigh undergrounddarktunnelsandcorridorswithlotsofbranches goingincompletelycrazydirections?

LongandMiddlecourseoftheyear

The“LongdistanceCourseoftheYear2022”wasalsoahigh levelcourse–the JWOClongdistanceinPortugal inhighly technicalterrainwithmanyinterestingroutechoices(overall 3rd).“MiddledistanceCourseoftheYear2022”(overall 4th)wasthe stage4ofO-Ringenthissummer.

PomeranianSprintCup2022Stage4

Interviewwiththecoursesetter: RafałPodziński.

Q:Ihavegoodnewsforyou:The4thstageofthe PomeranianSprintCupisthewinnerinthe“Courseof Year2022”–actuallyaclearwinner.Big congratulations!

Greatnews!Thanksalot!

Q:Thisisaveryspecialareaandrace–canyoutell moreaboutthebackgroundoftherace?

GrudziądzCitadelisamilitaryarea,soitwasreallydifficultto getpermissionforthecompetitionthere.However,Tomasz Muller–eventdirectorofPomeranianSprintCup–didagreat jobandafterweeksoftalksitwasmadepossible.Wewere

notallowedtousetheareaofthemilitaryunit,onlythepart arounditpresentedonthemap.Duringourworksinthe terrain,thestaffwasreallyfriendlyandhelpfulandopeneda lotofnormallyclosedtunnelsforus.Ifyouareavisitor,you canonlybookaguidedtourthroughonetunnel–theone underthefinishareaonthemap.Sowecansaythatthe competitorsgotareallyuniquechancetoexploreallofthem.

Q:Canyoutellmoreabouttheareawherethiscourse isset?Willtherebemoreraceshere?

ForthoseinterestedinhistoryIcanaddthatGrudziądzCitadel isasystemoffortsfromXVIIIandXIXcenturies,whichgot destroyedin1945andrebuiltinthethreefollowingyears.As forthesecondpartofthequestion,Ithinkthatthisracewas suchablastforthecompetitorsthatinsomeyearswewill simplyhavetomakeasequel!

Q:Whatwasyouroverallplanbehindhowyou wantedtochallengetheathletesonthiscourse?

WhenIplancourses,IusuallytrytomaketheminawaythatI personally–asarunner–wouldliketorun.Firstly,Idecided thatanormalsprintwinningtimeof12-15wasnotenoughfor suchaterrain.That’swhyIdecidedtoprolongthecoursesup to20-25minutes.However,Istillgot‘complaints’justafter theracefromsomeofthepeopleaskingwhytheircoursewas soshort:‘Wewantmore’!Iwantedtomakethemostofthe multilevelstructuresandaswellgivepeopleenoughtime simplyinsidethetunnelstomakethemlivethatunique moment.Ontheotherhand,Iwasverycarefulregardingthe youngestcompetitors.Ididn’twantthemtospendtoomuch timeinthetunnelswithoutany‘openairinterruption’, becauseIthoughttheymightgetabittooscared.Allinall, settingthecoursesforthisstagewassimplyoutstandingandI lovedeverymomentofit!

Q:Didyouhaveanyspecialworriesaboutthecourses ontheraceday?

Ohyes,Idid.Iwassureeverythingwasbuttonedupthelast button,butIcouldn’tbeincontroloftwothings.The1stone –bats.Insomeofthetunnelstherewerelittlefamiliesof sleepingbats.However,whentheygotawakened,they startedtoflylikecrazy.Iwasreallyanxiousthatsomeofthe youngercompetitorsmightgettooscaredtopunchacontrol attheendofthetunnelinsuchasituation.Tobehonest,

COURTESYOFWORLDOFO:

GrudziądzCitadelinPoland.

duringmycartographyworkIalsogotscaredonceandran awayinahurry.My2ndworrywasaboutthesizeofthe tunnels–1mwideandonlyabout1.8mhigh.Iwasreally afraidthatsomepeoplemightgethurt–that’swhyI recommendedrunninginahelmetinaneventbulletinand someofthetallestrunnersfollowedthisadvice!Iwasalsoa littlebitanxiousaboutthecapacityofthetunnels.Butnoneof thesecaseseverhappened,phew!

Q:Whatisyourfavouriteleginthecourse–andwhy? Ichoseonemyselffor“RoutetoChristmas”,butthat mightnothavebeenyourfavourite.

Myfavouriteleginthenominatedcourseissurely6-7.Iput the7thcontroldeliberatelyasmuchtothewestaspossibleto maketheleftroutechoicelookmoretempting.However,it makesyourunthroughthetunnelalmost75%ofthewhole leg,whichisveryadventurousforsure,butnottoofast.The rightisnotonlymuchfasterinrunningspeed,butalso… shorterby30metres!However,tofindit,itiscompulsoryfor therunnerstoperfectlyunderstandtheareaeastofthe7th controlandthat’swhatIreallylikeinaproperlysetsprint race:ifyouarenotpreparedbeforehand,youlosetime.I thinkIcanevencallitoneofmyownmainprincipleswhen settingasprintcourse.

Q:Didyougetanysurpriseswithrespecttowhich routechoiceswerefastest,whichroutesweretaken, orweretheathletesmademistakes?

Theonethingthatsurprisedmeabitwasthefactthatpeople toldmethatitwasnotasincrediblydifficultastheyhad thoughtbefore.Don’tgetitwrong–itwasaverypositive surprise,becausebeforetheracealotofpeoplehadbeen talkingthatitwasgoingtobean“orienteeringwalk” competition,butitturnedoutthattheywereabletomove quitesmoothlyinthisterrain.EventheracewinnerinM21–

Michał Olejnik–whousuallydoesn’tliketoostrange(thesocalledfun)courses,toldmestraightafterhisracethathe almostfeltlikeduringanormalsprintraceandhewasn’t overwhelmedbuthappywiththechallenge.Finally,Iwould liketoaddthatthatdayIsawsomethingfortheveryfirst timeinmylife.Ihadneverseensomanygrateful,happyand smilingfromeartoearfacesafteranyraceinmylifebefore. ThiswassurelythebestgiftIcouldhavegotforallthework involved!

Q:Youwerebothmapmakerandcourseplanner–howmuchtimedidyouspendonthisprojectoverall? Usually,whenIpreparemapsandcoursesforacompetition,I dothreevisitsintotheterrain.Thefirstoneisofcourseabout cartographyworksintheterrain.Thisonewentsurprisingly wellandsmoothlyandtookonlyabout6hours.Ihadhadno templatesofthetunnelsbefore,sothiswasquiteachallenge, butfortunatelytheanglesofthecurveswerequiteobvious. Thesecondoneisaboutcheckingthemapandlookingfor goodplacesforcontrols.Thisonetookabout4hours.Igotto knowthatIsomehow‘gotlost’duringthe1stvisitandmissed oneofthetunnelsatall!OneveryinterestingthingisthatI drewallofthetunnelsbyhandandallofthemappearedto betwiceaslongonthemapthaninreality.That’swhyI decidedtocountmystepsineachofthetunnelsandmake thelengthsofthemappropriate.Thesetunnelsare completelydark,soyouhavetouseyourheadlampallthe timeandit’sreallyfunnyhowdifferentyoufeelthedistance whenindarkcomparedtowheninopenspace!

Thethirdoneisthelastcheckabout1-2weeksbeforethe competition.It’susuallyquiteshort,ifthereareanymajor changestothemap.Let’ssay–2hours.

Sprintcartographyandcoursesettingismainlyabout computerworks.Summingitup,IthinkIspentabout25 hoursinfrontofthescreenmakingthemap(mybiggest issuewastomakethemapasreadableaspossible)and aboutthesameamountoftimepreparingthecourses.Ihad knownitwasgoingtobeauniquecompetition,soItriplecheckedallofthelineandcirclecuttings,nottomakeany mistake.Intotal,ifmyMathsiscorrect,itmakesaround62 hours.

AttheendIwouldalsoliketoinviteallofthereadersfor PomeranianSprintCup2023whichisgoingtotakeplaceon 26-28May.Iamalsothemaincartographerandcoursesetter forthiseventandIcanreassureyouwe’lldoourbestto makethiseventalong-livedmemoryforthecompetitors.I thinkIcanalsoaddthatwearepreparingaspecialsurprise racefortheeliteclasses.Thanksalotforallthevotesandsee youinMay,then!

CourseoftheYear2022map-leg7.

Oneofthetunnelentrances.

Aheadlampisrecommended

Somewildlifeinthetunnels.

CourseoftheYear2022map.

O-SPY

NSWlocalchampionnavigatesherway toWorldChampionships

(fromONSWwebnews)

TheWorldOrienteeringChampionships(WOC)havebeen onNeaShingler’smapfromthemomentshebegan orienteering.

Whilejugglingschoolcommitmentsandarigoroustraining schedule,Neatookoutthe2022JuniorWomen’sNational OrienteeringLeagueforthesecondyearinarowand achievedherdreamofqualifyingfortheWOC.

“Therearen’tanyOlympicsorCommonwealthGamesfor Orienteering,sotheWorldChampionshipsisthehighestlevel thatyoucangetto.IneverthoughtthatIwouldgetthereso quickly,”Neasaid.

NeareceivedagrantthroughtheAustralianGovernment’s LocalSportingChampions(LSC)program,whichsupports manyyoungathletestoparticipateinchampionships.

“Thegranthelpedpayformyentryfeesandtravelcoststo gettotheChampionships,”Neasaid.

At17yearsofage,NeatravelledtoDenmarktocompetein theWOC,whereshebecametheyoungestAustraliantoever competeintheChampionships.

“Itwassocooltoseethebestandfittestorienteersinthe worldperformingatthehighestlevel.”

“Iwasn'treallynervousbecauseIknewthatIwasthereforthe experienceandtogetatasteforthefuture,”Neaadded.

TheLSCprogramprovidesfinancialassistanceforcoaches, officialsandcompetitorsaged12to18yearstoparticipatein State,NationalorInternationalchampionships.Successful applicantsreceivebetween$500and$750towardthecostof attendingtheirchampionships.

HonoraryLifeMembership toTerryBluett

BennelongNorthside Orienteershas awardedlongserving President,TerryBluett, withanHonoraryLife Membership.Ata GeneralMeetingon11 Decembertheclubfirst hadtoamendthe constitutiontocreate thecategoryandthen membersvoted unanimouslyinfavour. Inacceptingtheaward Terrysaidthathehad alwaysbeenactivein sportsandwhenhe discoveredorienteering helikedeverything aboutit–thefitness required,strategy,theoutdoorenvironmentandespecially thepeopleandfriendships.Forhimvolunteeringandtakinga leadershiprolehadalwaysbeenapleasure.

Wenotethathealsomentoredbothhischildren,Grantand Tracy,tobecomeeliteorienteersrepresentingAustralia. ThemeetingwascombinedwithaXmaspoolpartyandafun pairseventwith25 controlsaround Killaraandnearby nationalpark.The pairswerebasedon handicaps(fastest runnerwithslowest, etc)andatthemass starteachpairof runnershadtodivvy upthecontrolsbased ontheirability.The controlswereset usingtheMapRun app.Finishtimes wereallremarkably close.Thankswentto coursesetter,Richard Pattison,whoasclub statisticianalso calculatedthe handicaps.

NeaatWOC

BennelongNorthsideAGM

TerryBluett.

ONSWPresident'sJuniorAward (fromONSWe-news)

ErikaEnderby(NewcastleOrienteers)at15wasthe youngestmemberoftheAustralian2022JuniorWorld OrienteeringChampionshipsTeamcompetinginPortugal. ErikahascompetedineveryAustralianChampionships andEaster3-DaycompetitionsinceherW10debutin 2014andwasselectedinthe2022AustralianSchools HonourTeaminherfirstyearasaseniorgirl.Erikahelps juniorsofherclubonthenovice course,wasvetterfor2022 Newcastle’sOrienteerofthe Yeareventandhelpsatevents. ThePresident’sJuniorAwardis presentedtoayoungorienteer (age20orless)foroutstanding servicetothesportbeyond competition.

SpottheDifferenceSolution

Erikainthe EYOCSprint.

ErikaEnderby.

2022 National Rankings–non-Elite

DARRYLERBACHER–OASTATISTICIAN

ThefollowingarerankingsinnonEliteclassesforthefirst10 orienteersineachclass.The2022 rankingshavebeendeterminedbased onresultsintheAustralian3-Days Championships(31,32,33),Australian Championships(AS,AM,AL)andthe VictorianMiddleDistance Championships(VM).Thetablesinclude theranking,name,club,points,event codesandaveragewinningmargin.

W80

1DaleAnnGordonEUV100ALVMAM

2HelenAlexanderBKV59.27ASBVMAM

W75

1JennyHawkinsNTN100ALAMAS

2LibbyMeekingYVV94.1ALASVM

3AnnBaylisYVV89.7AL33AM

4RobinSpriggsUGQ82.62VM33AM

5JanetBushALT73.24AMVMAS

6RosemaryKullmannLOW72.83VMAMAS

7JanetFletcherLOW65.68VMAMAS

8PennyDuftyBOW63.81VMAMAL

9HelenaGriggsALT53.68ALVMAM

W70

1AlisonRadfordBGV100AMALAS

2LyndaRapkinsENQ99.56333132

3CarolBrownlieWOW96.53VM3231

4ValerieBarkerBSA93.81VM32AS

5ValHodsdonSHN84.43ALVMAM

6JacquieRandUGQ83.54VMAS32

7KerryneJonesRRA80.1VM3231

8CarolJacobsonGON79.89ASVMAL

9JudyAllisonRRA70.27VM32AS

10PamelaKingDRV63.47VMASAL

W65

1JennyBourneAOA100ALAMAS0.12

2DebbieDaveyWRN1003331320.08

3SueKeyMFV84.853231VM

4HilaryWoodCCN82.8231AS32

5JuliaPrudhoeCCN77.71AS32AL

6RobinUppillOHS71.0232ASAL

7HelenEdmondsNEV67.75AMVMAL

8KathyPetrieSOQ66.8732ALVM

9MaryMcDonaldAOA65.77ALVMAS

10RobynPallasCCN61.78323133

W60

1ToniBrownBSA10033VMAM

2GayleQuantockNCN99.213132AM

3ChrisBrownEVT98.7632AMAL

4CarolynJacksonBKV92.87ALVMAS

5CarolynMatthewsNCN92.77ASVM31

6AnaHercegPOA88.84ASAL31

7JoParrBFN87.38AMVM32

8VanessaSmithKOW84.78ASALAM

9FelicityCrosatoRRQ83.27323133

10SallyWayteALT67.09ASAL31

W55

1NicolaDalheimMFV98.813331AL

2PaulaShinglerBFN98.23ASAM32

3SueHancockALT97.8732ALAM

4AlisonInglisBSA97.59AL3132

5WendyReadUGQ95.15VMALAS

6SuYanTayUGQ80.03323133

7KristineCairns-TraceyUGQ75.69323331

8LizCanningALT67.88VMASAL

9ChristineMarshallALT64.8231AL32

10SueGarrPOA60.323132AL

W50

1JenniferEnderbyNCN1003233VM0.13

2CathyMcCombALT100AM31AL0.11

3ClareHawthorneALT90.26ALASVM

4SheraleeBaileyBNN71.7933AM32

5AlisonStubbsALT70.3633VMAS

6JoMitchellALT56.573332AL

7GeorginaMackenYVV55.96ALVMAM

W45

1AllisonJonesRRA100AM3332

2TracyMarshBFN97.11313233

3RachelWestBOW95.72ASVM31

4MeredithGrayUGQ94.02VM3132

5JennyCasanovaWAS91.02VMAS32

6CeriPassKOW88.17ASVM32

7SussanBestEVT76.75AS31VM

8SusanneCasanovaTES76.08323133

9MichelleSchulzUGQ74.3632ASAL

10RuthSheddenSHN69.55VMASAL

W40

1MarinaIskhakovaRRA10033AMVM

2KathieDentRRA96.48ASAL31

3SamanthaHoweNCN70.82ALASAM

4PhoebeDentRRA66.61AMAS33

5VickieSayeAOA62.71VMALAM

6FernHillyardWAS60.71ASALVM

7LiisaHirvonenLOW52.3ALASAM

W35

1MoiraKufferYVV85.24AMVMAL

W18

1EszterKocsikGON1003133AL

2ZaliMcCombALT89.0332ASAM

3TaraPowellALT78.98AMASAL

4ZoeCarterTJS73.42ASALAM

5SophieBestEVT69.3232AS33

6JemimaLloydTTS66.44ASAMAL

7EveTagueRRQ61.94ASAMAL

8JuliaBarbourBFN60.11ASAMAL

9SaraGarbelliniENQ57.99ASAMAL

W16

1LiljaLehtonenGON100323133

2LianaStubbsALT97.11ALVM33

3KateBraidKOW96.37AMASAL

4GemmaBurleyYAS93.46ASAMAL

5KatherineMaundrellBSA91.23ASAMVM

6RubyPhillipsBOW88.56ALASAM

7AoifeRotheryRRA87.57ASVMAM

8MaggieMackayURN87.11AMASVM

9IngridSheltonAgarAOA77.35ASALVM

10MayaBennetteYVV76.23ASALAM

W14

1AliceRadajewskiPOA1003331AS

2KatieClausonALT97.5VMAMAL

3AriadnaIskhakovaRRA97.3632AS31

4AmyDuftyBOW95.13ALAS31

5SavannaSweeneyWHN91.71AS3331

6XantheSchubertRRQ90.85ASALVM

7MargotMarcantALT87.77AMVMAS

8SandaHalpinPOA83.86ASALAM

9EllaMajaLangYVV68.03VMASAM

10AlexandraEdwardsRRQ67.63ASAMVM

W12

1VeronikaIskhakovaRRA96.12VMALAS

2LisaRichardsRRQ92.13323331

3AngelinaKozmaBKV91.02ALVMAS

4AlaraWilliamsRRQ88.19333132

5AlmaWalterRRA84.84AL3233

6MayaLhoteUGQ80.11313233

7GretelYoungRRQ79.75ALVMAS

W10

1LaylaDentRRA96.91VMAMAS

2LucindaBarnesRRQ90.44ALAMVM

3TessaRadajewskiPOA88.58ASVMAL

4BeatrixLouisALT81.36ALASAM

M80

1TrevorSauerSOQ100AMVM31

2AlexTarrYVV10033AL32

3JohnHodsdonSHN82.23AS3133

M75

1SteveFlickBNN10033AL32

2RossBarrGON92.47AMASVM

3TonySimpkinsLOW88.37VMASAL

4TerryBluettBNN86.47AMASVM

5KenBrownlieWOW84.433231AS

6GregChatfieldUGQ84.03VMASAL

7ReidMoranTFQ78.8VMAM32

8IanFletcherLOW76.01ALVM32

9DennisTrewinYVV75.57VMALAM

10LeighPrivettAWV74323331

M70

1DavidMarshallALT100313332

2GordonWilsonBNN99.37AMVM32

3AdrianUppillOHS98.08AL32VM

4PaulHoopmannTJS95.06AS32AL

5NickDentCCN90.32ASAL32

6RobertRapkinsENQ88.32VM3233

7BillJonesRRA86.83VMASAL

8BruceBowenPOA83.36VMALAS

9TonyRadfordBGV80.78AL33VM

10RobertPrestonNCN78.3432AMAS

M65

1EoinRotheryRRA98.77VMASAM

2TedvanGeldermalsenYVV97.733231AM

3JeffDunnALT97.58AL33AM

4JamesLithgowGON90.433ASVM

5ChrisNorwoodEUV79.04ALVMAS

6WarwickDavisTKV73.61313332

7AlexDaveyWRN71.81AM32AL

8PaulPrudhoeCCN71.33ASAM31

9TimAshmanLIS70.73ASAMAL

10TonyGarrPOA7031AS32

M60

1RobertVincentNCN99.4232AMVM

2GregBarbourBFN98.43ALVMAM

3WarrenKeyMFV96.38333132

4TimHatleyBKV91.94AS32VM

5BjornMellaNCN86.34ASAMVM

6TonyWoolfordBBN84.04ASALAM

7SebastianBurgessALT82.57ASAMAL

8GlennBurgessNCN72.91323331

9ArnoldSimsonAOA67.65333231

10JonGlanvillePOA63.41AS32AL

M55

1GeoffLawfordAOA10032AMVM

2SteveCooperYAS96.633331AS

3MarkFreemanBFN93.62ALASVM

4RuhiAfnanYAS87.42ASVMAM

5TimMcIntyreUGQ84.43ASALVM

6AndySimpsonBFN81.8331AL33

7CormacMcCarthyYVV81.493133AS

8MichaelWarltersURN78.7ALVMAS

9AndrewBrennanRRQ67.432AS31

10NeilSimsonTFQ66.19333132

M50

1GrantBluettAOA100323133

2CraigDuftyBOW94.99ASAMVM

3JonathanMcCombALT91.8VMAL33

4ScottSimsonNCN82.74ASAMVM

5AnthonyStonerALT81.68ASVMAM

6BlairTrewinYVV75.29ASVMAM

7GregMorcomTJS74.92AMASAL

8MatthewStocksBSA74.28ASAMAL

9GrahamBraidKOW66.23ASVMAL

10ShaneDoyleURN64.49ASAL31

M45

1RobWalterRRA100VMAM31

2BruceArthurMFV99.7633ASAL

3RickyThackrayBKV93.94ASAMAL

4SimonRouseDRV90.84AL3133

5AndyHoggPOA87.43AMASAL

6RichardGoonanCHV78.02AMALVM

7ReubenSmithTTS72.59323331

8AngusSheddenSHN69.58AMASVM

9DamienEnderbyNCN64.28AM32AL

10TateNeedhamRRA60.67ASALVM

M40

1MatthewCraneAOA100323331

2DionMcKenzieALT96.51VMALAS

3MatthewCohenALT93.53AMVMAS

4SimonLouisALT90.14ALASAM

5TysonHillyardWAS76.72VMAMAS

6FedorIskhakovRRA71.47ASVMAL

7KlaasHartmannALT59.45VMALAS

8GavinBennetteYVV54.69ASVMAM

9MarkLommersLOW53.21ASALAM

M35

1AndrewSlatteryRRA99.68AMVMAL

2DanielStottYVV99.67ALASVM

3EricSmythSOQ97.78ASAMAL

4IstvanKerteszGON73.47ALVMAS

M18

1TorrenArthurMFV100AM3331

2JamieWoolfordSTN97.09AL32AS

3LochlannHoganBBQ92.46ASAL31

4JoshuaNewnesENQ75.04AS3132

5AldoBosmanSWW73.29313233

6OliverFreemanBFN64.99ASAL33

7CharlieYoungRRQ63.7AS3233

M16

1CooperHorleyGON100AMVMAS

2OwenRadajewskiPOA99.78AL3132

3EuanBestEVT99.0133ASAL

4DylanBryantENQ89.86ASAMAL

5HenrySmythSOQ88.0831ALAS

6NickStanleyGON81.7333AS32

7MarcusDegenaarALT81.07AMASVM

8WilliamBarnesRRQ78.98ALVMAS

9LiamDuftyBOW76.36ASVM33

10EckartBosmanSWW75.49AMAS31

M14

1ElyeDentRRA100AL32AM

2MilesBryantENQ96.5331VMAS

3LachlanBraidKOW93.133VM31

4BenMarschallTTS83.01VMAMAL

5AltonFreemanBFN82.3633VMAS

6DuncanStillTJS77.15AMVMAS

7MarcusCazzolatoTJS72.5233VM31

8MatthewLaytonNEV67.05VMAMAS

9AlejandroFisherALT65.7AMASAL

10AdrianGarbelliniENQ64.88VMASAL

M12

1HaydenDentRRA100313332

2ConnorDentRRA92.17VMAM32

3RohanBraidKOW88.21VMASAM

4ShaySweeneyWHN73.96ASVMAM

5AchillesBarnettTJS69.16ASALAM

6BaxterPeelNCN68.08ALAS32

7ThomasCaristoENQ57.6333231

8PatrickMaundrellBSA52.59ASAMAL

M10

1EuanSheddenSHN100ALVMAM

2LucaSchulzUGQ89.95ASAMVM

3JoshuaLaytonNEV83.29VMAMAL

4SeanCarrollALT59.52AMVMAL

5RyderSeamanWRN53.97ASAMAL

6NeoKozmaBKV53.73VMAMAS

TorrenArthur(VIC).PhotoByTom.com.au

HaydenDent(ACT).PhotoByTom.com.au

RonFrederick OAM

CongratulationstoRon Frederickforreceiving the OrderofAustralia Medal

Thecitationfromthe AustraliaDayHonours website https://www.gg.gov.au

MEDAL(OAM)OFTHEORDEROFAUSTRALIAINTHE GENERALDIVISION

MrRonaldJamesFREDERICK,MontAlbertVIC3127 Forservicetoorienteeringandrogaining.

OrienteeringandRogaining

•President,NillumbikEmusOrienteeringClub,since1998.

•MemberandformerTreasurer,OrienteeringVictoriaand OrienteeringAustralia,since1969.

•FormerCommitteeMemberandformerVice-President, VictorianRogainingAssociation,andMember,current.

•OrienteeringCompetitor,eventorganiserandcoursesetter, since1969.

Sport-Other

•Ledandsupervisedparticipants,VictorianBushcraftand MountaincraftLeadershipCourses.

•President,LangrennSkiClub,20years.

•FormerMember,BushSearchandRescueVictoria.

•FormerTripsSecretary,MelbourneUniversity MountaineeringClub.

RotaryClubofMitcham

•President,twice.

•Secretary,current.

•Secretary,RotaryDistrict9810,1990.

•RegularVolunteer,includingMitchamOpShop,since1990.

•Member,over40years.

Other

•SchoolCouncilPresident,SouthwoodPrimarySchool, 1980s.

•FormerAccreditedWillsandEstatesSpecialist,LawInstitute ofVictoria

CrosswordandQuizSolutions

NationalSquads

FromHighPerformanceManagementGroupReport January2023

TheHighPerformance(HP)Squad’scoaches-Julian Dent,GrantBluettandNatashaKey.

TheNationalDevelopment(ND)Squad’scoaches-Paula Shingler,TracyBluettandJockDavis.

HPSquad- AngusHaines,AlistairGeorge,AstonKey, BrodieNankervis,EwanShingler,MattDoyle,PatJaffe, HenryMcNulty,GraceCrane,CaitlinYoung,Emily Sorensen,NeaShingler,AshaSteer,OliviaSprodand AislinnPrendergast.

NDsquad- ErikaEnderby,MikaelaGray,JuliaGannon, JoannaGeorge,ZoeCarter,NatalieMiller,SophieTaverna, MillaKey,RyanGray,SamWoolford,OskarMella,Leith Sodden,TobyLang,DavidStocks,EthanPenckandAlvin Craig.

VICTORINOXAWARD

Thisissue’sVictorinoxAwardgoesto PeterYeates for providing TheAustralianOrienteer withhisphotographs. PeterwillreceiveaVictorinoxHandymanwhichincludes 24toolsandfeatures–retailvalue$139.

MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY KNIFE | ESTABLISHED 1884

TopEvents

2023

March11-12 2023SydneySprintWeekend

NSW

April7-10

AUS3DaysCarnival, ACT SnowyMonaro

May13-16 WorldMastersMTBOChamps

May26-28

SlovenjGradec,Slovenia

PomorzeSprintCup2023 (3days)

Tczew,Pelplin,Gniew,Poland bno@umkskwidzyn.pl

June17-18 2023JukolaRelays

Porvoo,SEFinland.

July2-7 KainuuOrienteeringWeek

Jämäsvaara,Kuhmo,Finland

July2-9 JWOC2023, BaiaMare,Romania

July11-16

ForestWOC2023

FlimsLaax,Switzerland

July15-22

SwissOWeek2023

FlimsLaaxFalera,Switzerland

July23-29 O-Ringen2023, Åre,Sweden

July30Aug4 Scottish6Days (actually5days) Moray,Scotland

August11-18 WorldMastersOrienteering Championships, Kosice, Slovakia

August18-27 WMTBOC&JWMTBOC Jicin,Czechia

Sept9-10 AUSMTBOChampionships Brisbane,Queensland

September AUSChampionships, WesternAustralia

Dec27-31

Xmas5Days

CentralCoast,NSW(venuetba) www.onsw.asn.au/xmas-5-days

Mar29-Apr1 Easter AUS3DaysCarnival

June15-16

SouthAustralia

JukolaRelays

Lakia,Finland

June27-30 2024EuropeanYouthOrienteering Championships, Poland

June28-30

WorldMastersMTBOChamps

Viborg,Denmark

July12-16 2024SprintWOC

Edinburgh,Scotland

July21-27 O-Ringen2024 Smålandskusten,Sweden

August3-9 WorldMastersOrienteering Championships

Turku,Finland

August15-20 EuropeanOrienteering Championships, Mór,Hungary

Sept9-16 WMTBOC&JWMTBOC

Bulgaria

Sep28-Oct6 AUSChampsCarnival Armidale,NSW

May17-30 2025WorldMastersGames

Taipei,Taiwan

June30 -July6 2025JWOC Bormio,Italy

July23-29 ForestWOC2025

Kuopio,Finland

Aug8-15 2025WMOC

Spain

Aug20-24 2025EOC Antwerp,Belgium

July15-21

2024JWOC

Czechia

2024

2025