2010 Archive

In 2009 Australia staged twelve ranking events (8 Long Distance and 4 Middle Distance) over the states.

See the attached file for rankings: 2009NatRankOAOld.xls

The decision of the OA MTBO Committee confirmed at the Australian Championships was to base the rankings on the best two races for each rider who rode in more than one state or rode the two ranking races at the national championships. No short distance race results were used to rank riders as small differences in time distort the time-behind-the-winner calculations. This resulted in far fewer riders being ranked nationally in 2009, but the committee agreed this reflects the new status of National Ranking. Participation at three rounds of the National MTBO Series, selection trials for MTB WOC and JWOC, and increased interstate travel should see the number ranked increase in 2010. Some interesting notes from the 2009 rankings

• The number of riders ranked in the top three:VIC (17), SA (9), NSW (3), ACT (3), TAS (2), QLD (1) with the nationals staged on the SA/Vic border.
• Winners to repeat their top 2008 ranking were Adrian Jackson (M21-E), Robert Prentice (M50-A), Rick Armstrong (M60-A), John Sheahan (M70+A), Kathy Liley (W60-A) and Joyce Rowlands (W70+A). With the 2010 National MTBO Series including the Masters Series, as well as the Elite Series, the already keen Masters competition should be enhanced.
• The margins between first and second place was 0 to 5 points in 9 out of the 13 classes – showing the level of interstate competition is ramping up in many classes.
• No junior women are ranked in 2009 as they have not participated in sufficient events.

2009 Ranking Criteria

1. A rider must complete 2 championship races in 2009 – the finalranking calculated by averaging the best two results – that come from either the two national championship (Al, Am) races or two state championships (one counted race must come from an interstate race outside one’s home state).
2. The winner of a race earns 100 points with all other riders ranked higher (above 100) in comparison with the winner.
3. No sprint race results to be used in the calculation of national mtbo rankings in 2009.
4. Though international riders (NZL) participated in several championship races and raised the competitive standard of the events, they were not included in the National Ranking lists.

Blake Gordon, OA  MTBO Statistician

Former Orienteering Australia President Bob Mouatt (pictured) of Red Roos in the ACT has been honoured with an OAM in the Australia Day honours list for services to orienteering.

Bob’s contributions to orienteering over many years in administration, event management, media, technical development and Controller training are numerous and substantial. In recent years was President of Orienteering Australia before standing down to continue a national media role in publicising Australian national team performances and the National Orienteering League, and a strong event management role in the ACT.

Australian Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo of Bush Flyers in the ACT was also honoured, receiving an AO for service to public administration.

Orienteering Tasmania is hosting the orienteering competition for the Australian Police and Emergency Services Games (AP&ES Games) on Sunday 21 February.  The event will be held on arguably Australia’s most challenging map, Pittwater.  The technical sand dune terrain has bamboozled many a fine orienteer over the years.

The event will be held in conjunction with a local event, so open to all to take up the challenge.  You can test your navigation skills against police and emergency service workers. Pittwater is just a few kilometres from the airport and the centre of Hobart.  For interstate entrants, an easy place to travel for the weekend.

Enter is on the day for unofficial AP&ES Games competitors (ie most of us who will be treating the event as a local but challenging event).  BUT AP&ES Games competitors MUST enter through their on-line entry form found at http://www.apandesgames.com.au/  by 1 February. To find out more visit the OT website www.tasorienteering.asn.au or email Miriam atdevelopment@tasorienteering.net.au

You are invited to Eureka Challenge 2010 National Orienteering League and Public races.

Download Bulletin 1 – Invitation and Entry Details

Entry Closure Dates

SILVA NOL Competitors: Entries close on Friday 19 February 2010, two weeks prior to the events. Public Race and State League Competitors – Entries close on Friday 26 February 2010, one week prior to the event.

Event Enquiries

Darren Meeking – (M) 0417 567 369 darren.meeking@bigpond.com or Blake Gordon – (H) 5331 7937 eureka@tpg.com.au

Honours and weather conditions were shared in the just concluded Christmas Five Days in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Five Day organisational gurus Dick Ogilvie and Ron Pallas put together an interesting program of events in and around Mittagong and Belanglo and attracted visiting orienteers from as far away as Russia, Sweden and South Africa. Light rain on the first 2 days and overcast conditions for the remainder of the events provided good summertime orienteering conditions.

In men’s A, Simon Uppill had a blistering win in the sprint in Mittagong on day 1 but had to be content with second to Dave Shepherd over the next 3 events, with Shep also taking out day 5 in the technical granite and mining terrain of Soapy Flat in Jellore State Forest. At Soapy Flat Russell Blatchford (pictured chatting to Dave Shepherd) won plaudits as course setter of the week for clever and challenging loops that optimised use of the best areas on the map.

In women’s A, Aislinn Prendergast secured the overall win with 3 firsts and 2 seconds to Bridget Anderson’s 2 wins and 2 seconds. The Christmas Five Day format is a best 4 out of 5 for overall calculations.

Men’s B saw ACT junior star Oliver Poland too strong for Big Foot veteran Michael Burton and Russian Nikolay Sytov. A high quality women’s B field resulted in a win to Australia’s most capped female representative Jo Allison, on the comeback trail after motherhood, from Sweden’s Maria Brodin and Queensland’s Lillian Burrill.

Men’s C went to Malcolm Roberts, D to Steve Flick, E to John Hodsdon, F to Ashley Nankervis, G to Nicholas Burridge and Novice to Noah Poland. Women’s C was won by Paula Shingler, D by Lynda Rapkins, E by Heather Burridge, F by Georgia Jones and Novice by Sophie Jones.

Full results are at the Uringa Orienteers website.

This first week of January sees the National Junior Squad in camp at Belanglo while the Senior Squad is off to Fall’s Creek in the Victorian high country where they will be rubbing shoulders with Australia’s best long distance runners in altitude training.