Oscar Phillips of Tasmania won the 2011 men’s Australian Universities Championship at Frazzle Rock on Saturday, with Oliver Crosatto of QLD second and Rory McComb of South Australia third.
The women’s title went to Aislinn Prendergast of Victoria, from Sarah Buckerfield and Belinda Lawford of the ANU in the ACT.
Orienteering Australia major award winners were announced by OA President Bill Jones at the awards ceremony today concluding the Frazzle Rock Three Days Easter Carnival in Western Australia.
The Silva Award for Services to Orienteering was awarded to Bob Mouatt from the ACT for his many years of outstanding service to orienteering in Australia. Bob, who is currently OA media officer and 2011 Australian Championships meet manager, has served in many capacities including OA President, major meet director on many occasions, writer of operational rules and plans, media and promotions and results officer, photographer. Last year Bob was awarded an OAM for his services to orienteering.
The 2010 Athlete of the Year was World Mountain Bike Orienteering champion Adrian Jackson of Victoria. The Silva Orienteer of the Year based on age-sex rankings was M55 Geoff Lawford of the ACT.
The David Hogg Award for Event Management went to outstanding long serving South Australian organiser and administrator Peter Cutten who was the meet manager for the very successful 2010 Australian Championships carnival in South Australia. Peter has been a member of the Wallaringa Orienteering Club since its inception 32 years ago and held every position in the club at one time or other, as well as being President of OASA in 1985 and 1986.
The Silva Coach of the Year was South Australian and Darwin elite orienteer Susanne Casanova who has a long track record in coaching and motivating juniors and older orienteers alike and has been doing an excellent job in Darwin in passing on her coaching tips to a wide audience in the Top End newsletter and in running coaching workshops. Prior to moving to Darwin Susanne was her club coach for a number of years, OASA joint coaching coordinator from 2006-2008 and a coaching assistant at a number of national training camps.
The 2011 Australian Champion Club, decided from the results of Days 1 and 2 of the Australian Three Days carnival was Garingal from NSW with 34 points, with WOW from WA second with 32 and Ugly Gully from QLD third with 31 points.
The Easter 2011 Orienteering Carnival continued today with Day One proper. The non-elite classes got their first competitive race after yesterdays warm-up and the elite classes had a Middle Distance race.
In the Junior Men’s class Lachlan Dow had the best time of the day (25.50) but it was 2nd placed Josh Blatchford (26.03) that moved into the overall lead after two days. Kurt Neumann was 3rd (26.39) but yesterdays winner Ian Lawford still sits in 2nd overall. The top 7 places are still within 2mins over each other so still plenty of room to move over the next few days.
Belinda Lawford took her 2nd straight win to reinforce her #1 ranking. Krystal Neumann wasn’t far behind and moved into a comfortable 2nd place ahead of fellow Qld Cyclone Lillian Burrill.
Jasmine Neve also won her 2nd day in a row with scorching run. Mace Neve also ran error free to finish 2nd with the SA Arrows duo of Susanne Casanova and Vanessa Round talking 3rd and 4th. Bridget Anderson and Rachel Effeney also had good runs to move up through the field.
Grant Bluett had perhaps the run of the day (31.54) taking a 2min win over Simon Uppill (33.35). Grant has been training well recently for the upcoming North Face 100km Ultra run in the Blue Mountains of NSW, and his younger rivals will have a hard job beating him in tomorrow’s Long distance race. Rob Preston (34.11) also continued his good recent form to finish 3rd and also sits in 3rd place overall behind Bluett and Uppill. Murray Scown (37.42) dropped some time to the top 3 but still holds 4th ahead of Bruce Arthur.
The Australian 3 Days competition made a successful start today with the Senior and Junior Elite Prologue races as well as a public prologue.
Results are available as follows:
Jasmine Neve has got off to another good start at Easter, winning the Elite Women’s Prologue race for the second year in a row. Her older sister Mace Neve was just 14secs behind in 2nd place, her best ever National League result. Current Australian Middle Distance Champion Anna Sheldon finished 3rd in a closely placed Top 8.
Men’s Elite hot favourite Simon Uppill won his first race of 2011 ahead of Canberra Cockatoo Murray Scown, just 8secs behind in what is a great break through result. NSW Stinger Rob Preston, better know as a long distance athlete suprised the field to take 3rd place.
But Uppill’s victory was shadowed by ACT junior and Australian JWOC representative Ian Lawford, who completed the same course 9 secs faster. Lawford’s clean and fast run was almost a minute ahead of his nearest junior rival Oliver Poland. WA’s local hope Oscar McNulty picked up 3rd place and it will be interesting to see how he fares over the next few days in his local terrain.
In the Junior Women’s class Belinda Lawford continued her good start to 2011, winning from QLD Cyclone Krystal Neumann and Tasmania’s Clare Butler in 3rd.
The elite classes have a World Ranking Event over Middle Distance tomorrow on the Frazzle Rock map. All other classes begin the traditional Easter 3-day Carnival.
After a long wait since the story was filmed in Brisbane last August, orienteering will feature on an episode of the kid’s TV program Totally Wild on Network Ten on Wednesday 27th April at 8:00 am.
The segment was filmed at Anzac Park in Toowong and involved eight Queensland juniors – Lilian Burrill (BB), Jack, Winnie and Dan Oakhill (UG), Aidan and David Tay (UG) and Matt and Jacqui Doyle (EN). It took the form of a mock orienteering event with Lilian explaining the finer points about orienteering to the presenter, Adam, while the others demonstrated how to run through the bush, read maps and punch controls.
Even if you are in the wilds of Western Australia or holidaying elsewhere, try and make it to a TV to see our junior stars in action promoting the sport. Alternatively, you can also check out the episode online at www.totallywild.com.au and click on the ‘video’ tab.
(Please note the episode is longer available to watch)
After the recent 2 days of selection trials held in rugged conditions at Korweinguboora, near Daylesford, the following 7 person Australian team has been ratified by Eric Morris, OA’s director of High Performance.
Elite team – Steven Cusworth, (Vic); Alex Randall (Vic); Melanie Simpson (NSW / Norway)
Alex’s selection is subject to a fitness test as he couldn’t race the trials due to a severe cut just below his knee attained whilst training.
Melanie’s selection is based on her displaying relevant form in nominated races overseas as she is now residing in Norway.
Junior team – Chris Firman (Qld); Marc Gluskie (Tas); Tom Goddard; (Tas) and Oscar Phillips (Tas).
Tom will represent Australia for the very first time, while Oscar has already worn the green and gold at the past two foot orienteering JWOC’s. Chris and Marc were part of our inaugural MTBO junior team last year.
The highlight of the trials was the outstanding form of these juniors, and some of the other junior nominees, in riding significantly faster than previous years, although they are still a relatively young group.
The World Championships will be held in Italy near Vicenza (between Venice and Trento) from August 20-28th. Situated in the foothills of the Dolomites the terrain is generally described as hilly to very hilly with demanding technical skills. The exception is the sprint which is based largely in an urban area narrow streets and lanes.
Congratulations to Jenny Casanova (SA) who has been appointed as the new chair of the Senior selection panel.
Jenny has been orienteering since age 10 and been running competitively in elites for many years.
She has represented Southern Arrows since their inception.
Jenny brings much experience to the selection panel, with her current roles including:
-Vice president of Wallaringa Orienteering Club
-Orienteering SA Technical Officer
-Southern Arrows NOL Team Manager
-OA Technical Chair
We thank retiring chair Paul Liggins for his tremendous contribution over the past years.
Kay Haarsma (HP Manager)
The Victorian Nuggets made a great start to the 2011 National MTBO League after Round 1 races at Korweinguboora, just south of Daylesford, Victoria.
The area, famous for the 1981 foot-o Australian Championship when it snowed, rained, hailed and showed patches of sunshine, lived up to its reputation with a windy Saturday. Storms and heavy rain over Saturday night turning some tracks to marshes and slowing down riders on Sunday.
The standings after Round One see Victoria on top with 64 points, a surging Tasmania lead by the Junior Boys in second on 18, with NSW and Qld deadlocked on 14 for 3rd and WA 5th with 10 points. Round 2 will be in Queensland in late July.
After considering a number of applications for vacant panel positions the following people have been appointed to the Junior Selection Panel:
Bridget Anderson (Qld/SA); Susanne Casanova (NT/SA); Jan Hardy (Tas).
Roch Prendergast (Vic) and Blair Trewin – chair (Vic) are continuing members of the panel.
Orienteering Australia would like to thank the previous junior selectors for their time and effort- Julian Dent, Kathryn Ewels and Paul Liggins.
Orienteering Australia is seeking expressions of interest to produce an organiser’s manual for street and park orienteering. This project is being funded by the ASC grant to increase participation in orienteering.
The manual will assist in a planned major expansion of street and park orienteering across Australia in new and existing areas and should include all the information needed for a person who has never organised a street orienteering program or event to successfully do so. Expressions of interest are invited from contributors from different states to reflect both different methods of conducting such events and other possible considerations around mapping, terrain and safety. The manual will include information on:
· Brief overview of orienteering and background of street – park orienteering in each state and territory
· Course formats for street – park orienteering
· Assembly area selection, control types, course planning, safety and risk management issues for both day and night events
· Producing maps for street – park orienteering (area selection, base map and photography sourcing, OCAD, assistance available in producing maps, sample maps, printing)
· Event equipment (including sample control card and control types)
· Target participants (walkers and runners, individuals and groups, wheelchairs and prams) and courses offered
· On the day organisation, labour required, briefing of participants, and options for recording, timing and processing results (including spreadsheets and event management software systems as applicable)
· Marketing, publicity, sponsorship
· Links to state association website information and calendars on street and park orienteering
· Supporting resources available from state associations
The manual will include illustrative photos. It will be in PDF format for ease of download and printing. Copyright will allow download and use by individuals, schools or clubs but not for reproduction for sale. An Orienteering Australia reference group will assist authors by reviewing drafts. The target for completion of the project is December 2011.
Expressions of interest should include information on the street and park orienteering background of the applicant, writing experience, and which street and park programs in which states the applicant will be documenting. Applicants should provide quotes firstly to complete a draft and secondly to finalise after feedback from the reference group.
Expressions of interest should be forwarded to John Harding, Executive Officer, Orienteering Australia (ph 0427 107 033) email orienteering@netspeed.com.au by 19 April 2011.