Ron Pallas as Chairman, and a number of his supporting committee including International Controller Christine Brown (Tasmania), Rob Vincent (Carnival Controller) and Teams Liaison Manager Nick Dent, all met in Dubbo over the weekend to meet with the IOF’s Event Controller Urs Hofer (from Switzerland) for the first time. Joining the group were the various event course planners including former JWOC competitors Dave Shepherd, Julian Dent, Dave Meyer, and former Australian international representative Jock Davis who met with their respective controllers and spent two days on the proposed JWOC competition areas to assess the terrain and to begin the long process of course planning and vetting.

Two productive days were spent by all as it gave Urs Hofer the opportunity to both see the terrain first hand and to meet with all concerned with the event.
On seeing the almost completed maps, and having a chance to run over the terrain, Urs Hofer commented that the complexity of the terrain, with its’ variability of runnability, would test the world’s best junior orienteers and that the eventual winner would certainly earn the title of Junior World Champion.

With the event being held outside Europe for the first time, OANSW are anticipating up to 300 competitor from overseas. Team Liaison Manager Nick Dent has had positive responses from 20 countries, with a further 9 countries still to decide on making the journey “Down Under”.

Pictured Below: Various shots of the Terrain

In parallel with the JWOC competition, being staged from 7^th to the 13^th July 2007 in the Dubbo region, will be the Western Plains Carnival, which will include the NSW State Championships, the Australian Schools Championships and culminating in the Australian National and Relay Championships.