Author: craigf

The Canberra Cockatoos retained the National League title today for the 11th time in the last 12 years after the final event of the season, the Australian Relay Championships. A win in the M21A event and a second place in W21A saw them to their victory, as their tenuous six-point lead at the start of the day was stretched to a comfortable 18 by the end.

Canberra looked in a solid position after two legs. Tasmania had a comfortable lead in the women’s race through Grace Elson and Danielle Winslow, but a solid second leg by junior Heather Harding saw the Cockatoos in second place, four minutes ahead of the Victorians. Meanwhile, amongst the men, Blair Trewin had come through from fifth on the second leg to give the Victorians the lead, but Canberra were only forty seconds behind with Grant Bluett to chase Rune Olsen on the last leg.

Any faint hope the Victorians had disappeared at that changeover. Clare Hawthorne took the Victorian men’s map by mistake, disqualifying her own team and delaying Olsen by seven minutes. Although he received a time credit, the wait dropped him from the pack and destroyed his concentration; he lost substantial time at the first control and was never a factor. Bluett would have been very hard to hold anyway, running the fastest time of the day by three minutes, whilst Rob Preston brought New South Wales through for second and the Victorian second team was third.

A flying last leg by Hanny Allston (pictured right) completed an emphatic victory for Tasmania in W21A. The interest was in what happened behind, and Nicki Taws brought Canberra through in second to make absolutely sure of the National League title. South Australia were a surprising third. The Victorian second team came in sixth, giving them enough points to hold off New South Wales for second in the League.

Western Australia won the Junior National League for the first time (team photo of Sarah Dunnage, Cody Whitfield, Kellie Whitfield, Ivan Komyshan, Erin Post and Rhys Challen below). They took a useful lead into the day, and made sure of it with a second in the M20 event, their greatest concern going into today. Tasmania looked as if they could challenge, crossing the line first in both relays; WA’s second in W20 was enough to win them the title anyway, but Tasmania mispunched which made absolutely sure of it.

Western Australian Long Distance Championships at Umuna on 17, 18 September 2005

Craig Dufty retrieved the WA Men’s Championship trophy from second place-getter John Toomey with two days of slick orienteering across the granite strewn slopes of Umuna (scene of the two rounds of the National Orienteering League in May). Long time M21 stalwart Terry Farrell completed the top three.

Dufty had a comfortable 4 minute lead after the first day, run in uncharacteristically bleak conditions for Western Australian spring time. The second day’s fine and sunny conditions saw him add another seven and a half minutes to the margin over the underdone Toomey.

Just back from her JWOC jaunt, Erin Post maintained the pace through the two days and finished ahead of another stalwart in Anthea Feaver and last year’s title holder Rachel West.

The women’s race was a much more open affair. Cath Chalmers led by almost a minute after the first day, with Feaver second and then Post less than a minute further back. West was another minute or so further back.

Post then ran a faster time on the second day, one of the few competitors to manage this feat in the hillier terrain, and beat Feaver by four minutes on the day, enough to take the lead by three minutes overall. West ran another steady time to move into third, a minute behind Feaver, while Chalmers found the second day harder going and was a further minute away overall in fourth.

In the race of the Presidents, Eoin Rothery (the current office holder) had a blazing run on the first day in M45 and led the previous officer holder, Noel Schoknecht, by ten minutes. No doubt unsettled on the first day by a late start after attending a funeral in the city before the event, Schoknecht was more focused on the second day and was able to retrieve a minute and a half but Rothery really only had to finish to take the prize.

We have new Australian Orienteering Champions in both the men’s and women’s elite class. For Hanny Allston it was success at the first attempt. The Tasmanian junior is still eligible for the junior world championships next year, but has been performing well at elite level, with a 6th place at the recent world championships in Japan. Allston won comfortably in 69 minutes 14 seconds from another young Tasmanian, Grace Elson (pictured) who also got on the podium for the first time after running 74.10. Defending champion Clare Hawthorne completed the podium after a good 81.09.

The championships were held just outside St Helens with a range of courses for all age groups. The terrain was tough Tasmanian bush with granite outcrops set on hills between marshy hollows with impenetrable thickets, making many of the creeks exceptionally tough going. One encounter with a branch made things difficult for men’s champion Grant Bluett (ACT, pictured) as it tore his map at one of the control points. Luckily, an accurate compass bearing yielded the control flag without the need for detailed reading! Unlike Allston this was success for Bluett at the 19th attempt; despite all the success this leading Australian orienteer has had here and overseas, this was his first Australian Championship. The tough terrain lengthened all the time gaps and Robbie Preston (NSW) was nearly 10 minutes back in second place with 102.38. Consistent performer Eric Morris (NSW) was third in 104.22, just edging out Ben Rattray (SA) by 36 seconds.

In the junior (17-20) Elite races, Dave Meyer (NSW) cemented his lead at the top of the junior National Orienteering League with a solid win in the biggest event. Meyer, 76.41, was nearly four minutes ahead of rivals Chris Naunton (NSW) 80.25, Simon Uppill (SA) 80.26, and Louis Elson (TAS) 80.49. Jasmine Neve (Vic) was also a clear winner of the women’s with 61.57 ahead of Western Australians Kellie Whitfield 68.06 and Sarah Dunnage 72.18.

Long Orienteering Results 2005

A cold shower blew through windswept St Helens today and when it passed Danish and Swedish internationals Rune Olsen and Anna Danielsson had blown away their Australasian rivals. The Australian Sprint Championships featured a mix of town and parkland orienteering through this picturesque town tucked away in the northeast corner of Tasmania. The Juniors started first in this time trial event and soon two Kiwis were on top of the ladder, with Tom Reynolds in 14.55 and Kate Rea in 16.02. Australia had to wait until near the end of the Junior list before Erin Post (WA), current leader of the Junior League, got within 6 seconds of Rea’s time. It was a similar story in the Junior Men, but here late starter and Tasmanian hope Ryan Smyth got up, posting 14.53.

Now it was the elites turn and the women’s race was decided first. The one minute start interval meant a quick succession of finishers but none better than the Kiwi Junior Rea, until well into the last “Red” group of seeded elite runners. And it was a Tasmanian, Danielle Winslow, who got there, posting 15.43 for a big lead. Within a minute she was deposed by Tracy Bluett (NSW) who ran 15.40. Then it was Danielsson’s turn (pictured right) to grab the lead with 15.34. Tasmania had one last go with Grace Elson, but it wasn’t enough, with Grace just 4 seconds down in 15.38.

We had to wait till the 14th male starter for a challenge to Smyth’s time from Adrian Jackson (VIC), recent medallist at the World Mountain Bike Championships in Slovakia. Jackson fell just short with 14.56 – it was looking like a very tight race. Things changed quickly though with the appearance of the South Australian speedsters the Rattray brothers. Kerrin was first, with 14.36 to take a 20 second lead. Then, after a 15 minute wait he was deposed by brother Ben, who ran 14.10. Then it was Rune Olsen’s turn (pictured) to post the leading time, the first under 14 minutes – 13.50, leaving just the seeded Australian’s with a chance. Eric Morris (NSW) was the first challenger, but fell just short with 13.53. Leading Australian hope Grant Bluett (ACT) held a one second lead at the bridge on the way back into town, but faded imperceptibly to tie with Morris. It was a Scandinavian day!

Sprint Orienteering Results 2005

Queensland won the Australian Schools Championships outright for the first time today, backing up from their individual performance with an equally impressive set of relays. They won both boys’ classes, senior and junior, to set them on the way to a comfortable seven-point victory. Victoria, equal fourth overnight, also had a good day at the relays with consistent performances across the board, moving them up to second ahead of the hosts, Tasmania. Queensland’s only previous taste of victory had been a share of the 1991 title, against much thinner opposition than they faced here.

New Zealand were equally commanding in the Southern Cross Junior Challenge. As was the case yesterday, they were first or second in all four classes, taking out the two girls’ event. They looked set to make it three out of four again before a late mistake on the last leg of the senior boys let Queensland through for the win there. By then, though, New Zealand were so far in front overall that even a disqualification could not have stopped them.

Final scores:

Australian Schools Championships: Qld 46, Vic 39, Tas 36, NSW 35, ACT 34, SA 19, WA 11.
Southern Cross Junior Challenge: NZ 61, Qld 49, Vic 39, Tas 36, NSW 35, ACT 34, SA 19, WA 11.

Australian Schools Honour Team:

Senior boys: James Sheldon, Rob Fell, Daniel Stott, Nick Andrewartha
Senior girls: Heather Harding, Clare Brownridge, Bridget Anderson, Sarah Dunnage
Junior boys: Lachlan Dow, Oliver Crosato, Oscar Phillips, Leon Keely
Junior girls: Krystal Neumann, Claire Darvodelsky, Catherine Hewitt, Belinda Lawford

The Canberra Cockatoos limited the damage in today’s National League round, managing to keep all but three points of their lead over the Victorian Nuggets, which is now down to 18 with three rounds to go. Victoria have consolidated second place over the NSW Stingers and now lead them by four points.

The individual results were dominated by two World Championship team members, Grant Bluett and Hanny Allston. Both were well below par at Pittwater on Sunday, but returned to form with comfortable victories over the middle distance at Sandstone Valleys. Bluett was two minutes ahead of Ben Rattray (pictured, right) and Rob Preston, while Allston was even further ahead, four minutes up. Julia Davies achieved her best National League result with second, whilst Tracy Bluett was third. The results make it more likely that the two issues in doubt – Jo Allison’s lead over Tracy Bluett for the title and Dave Shepherd’s second over Rob Preston – will be resolved in favour of the incumbents; both Bluett and Preston still have a chance but will need two top-two results at least.

Erin Post secured the junior women’s title with a comfortable win, whilst her nearest challenger in the League, Ainsley Cavanagh, finished seventh. Kellie Whitfield made it a one-two for the Western Australians, who consolidated their lead in the team competition, whilst Lizzie Ingham completed the placings. Louis Elson took advantage of home ground to win the boys’ event from Simon Uppill, whilst Ryan Smyth made it a trifecta for the JWOC team.

NOL Orienteering Results Sept 2005

Queensland look in a strong position to win the Australian Schools Championships for the first time since 1991, taking a four-point lead into Wednesday’s relays. They performed consistently across the board, coming in the first three in all four age groups.

New Zealand dominated the Southern Cross Junior Challenge and are all but certain to take it out for the third successive year. In the last two years it has only been close because their senior boys have been weak; this year their senior boys are as strong as every other age group. Queensland, in the junior girls, were the only state to take a point off them.

New Zealand went one-two in two of the individual events. Scott McDonald took out the junior boys ahead of Toby Scott, whilst Lizzie Ingham led Kate Rea by just under a minute in the senior girls. Heather Harding and Lachlan Dow, both of the ACT, were the leading Australians.

The other two classes both changed hands late. Rob Fell, an early starter, led the senior boys for most of the day, and saw off all but one challenger. That last challenger, James Sheldon, snatched the lead at the last possible moment, 50 seconds ahead, whilst Simon Jager also came in late to give the New Zealanders third place. New Zealand looked like they might take out a third age group for most of the day through Rachel Goodwin in the junior girls, but Krystal Neumann came in late to give the Queenslanders a second win, with Claire Darvodelsky completing the placings.

Points after individual: Qld 24, NSW 20, ACT 19, Vic 17, Tas 17, SA 9, WA 6.
Southern Cross Junior Challenge: NZ 31, Qld 25, ACT 19, Vic 17, Tas 17, SA 9, WA 6.

NSW Stingers’ Rob Preston and Canberra Cockatoos’ Anna Danielsson took out today’s National League Round 11, at the Tasmanian Long Distance Championships on the sand dunes of Pittwater. Although they took individual honours, the best team on the day was the Victorian Nuggets, who moved into second place overall and whittled the Canberra Cockatoos’ lead to 21 points with four rounds remaining.

Preston was two minutes ahead in a closely contested mens’ race, with five minutes covering the top eight. The battle for second was especially close, with Ben Rattray finishing just two seconds ahead of Bruce Arthur, a season-best performances for both. The biggest surprise was the performance of Grant Bluett, who had to settle for sixth after two significant errors.

The pre-race womens’ favourite, Hanny Allston, was also unplaced (she was fifth after a late five-minute error). Danielle Winslow, on home ground, looked the winner for much of the day, but in the end she was squeezed out by Danielsson, who has moved to Australia this year. Her National League form has been patchy – she has only been in the top six twice, but both were wins. Tracy Bluett completed the placings.

In the junior division, the most impressive performance was that of Ainsley Cavanagh, who was six minutes clear in a field containing two other members of the national team (as well as both reserves). Zebedy Hallett was second and Heather Harding third. Timo Sild, son of Estonian WOC medallist Sixten, made an impressive Australian debut with a three-minute win. Nick Andrewartha also impressed in his first year in this division, and Louis Elson’s third place gave Tasmania two placegetters.

In the individual standings, Rob Preston has moved into third, which he maintain, although others still have a mathematical chance. Preston has an outside chance of displacing the injured Dave Shepherd from second spot, but Grant Bluett is too far ahead to be challenged. The only significant move amongst the women was that Hanny Allston has lost her last chance of overtaking Jo Allison; Tracy Bluett could still do so, but she would need to run very well for the rest of the week. Amongst the juniors, David Meyer remains in control. Simon Uppill missed an opportunity to close the gap when he mispunched, an event of similar rarity to a Swans AFL premiership, and the junior women’s division looks to be a race in two: Erin Post still leads Ainsley Cavanagh by 25 points, but Cavanagh is in excellent form and cannot be counted out.

NSW Stingers’ Rob Preston and Canberra Cockatoos’ Anna Danielsson took out today’s National League Round 11, at the Tasmanian Long Distance Championships on the sand dunes of Pittwater. Although they took individual honours, the best team on the day was the Victorian Nuggets, who moved into second place overall and whittled the Canberra Cockatoos’ lead to 21 points with four rounds remaining.

Preston was two minutes ahead in a closely contested mens’ race, with five minutes covering the top eight. The battle for second was especially close, with Ben Rattray finishing just two seconds ahead of Bruce Arthur, a season-best performances for both. The biggest surprise was the performance of Grant Bluett, who had to settle for sixth after two significant errors.

The pre-race womens’ favourite, Hanny Allston, was also unplaced (she was fifth after a late five-minute error). Danielle Winslow, on home ground, looked the winner for much of the day, but in the end she was squeezed out by Danielsson, who has moved to Australia this year. Her National League form has been patchy – she has only been in the top six twice, but both were wins. Tracy Bluett completed the placings.

In the junior division, the most impressive performance was that of Ainsley Cavanagh, who was six minutes clear in a field containing two other members of the national team (as well as both reserves). Zebedy Hallett was second and Heather Harding third. Timo Sild, son of Estonian WOC medallist Sixten, made an impressive Australian debut with a three-minute win. Nick Andrewartha also impressed in his first year in this division, and Louis Elson’s third place gave Tasmania two placegetters.

In the individual standings, Rob Preston has moved into third, which he maintain, although others still have a mathematical chance. Preston has an outside chance of displacing the injured Dave Shepherd from second spot, but Grant Bluett is too far ahead to be challenged. The only significant move amongst the women was that Hanny Allston has lost her last chance of overtaking Jo Allison; Tracy Bluett could still do so, but she would need to run very well for the rest of the week. Amongst the juniors, David Meyer remains in control. Simon Uppill missed an opportunity to close the gap when he mispunched, an event of similar rarity to a Swans AFL premiership, and the junior women’s division looks to be a race in two: Erin Post still leads Ainsley Cavanagh by 25 points, but Cavanagh is in excellent form and cannot be counted out.

The IOF has decided to include ‘MicrO’ as part fo the Middle Distance race at next year’s WOC. Below is some info that might help elites to understand what MicrO is. OA HP is currently endeavouring to have some MicrO races organised next year as part of NOL.

Here is a Grant Bluett translation of what Bjorna Valstad wrote about Micro-O on his web site http://www.staff-valstad.com/

The question I’ve asked myself is, “what is the difference between micro and regular orienteering?” Looking at the maps from the middle distance champs shows the course in three loops, one of them is micro. You have to race a course on a map. The course includes a certain number of controls. You had to visit the controls in the right order and punch at the right controls. Do you recognize the idea? What is the main difference between micro and a “regular” O’ race? Seen from this point of view, isn’t micro just a short O’ course on a large scale map. That isn’t something new. What is new with micro? 1. We are forced to adapt to a different scale during the middle of the race. 2. We have to actually orienteer all the way to the feature and not just run to the circle and look for the marker. Both of these things mean that the orienteer is stressed and it increases the demands on orienteering technique. It is tough. Micro…is demanding. I have no doubt that the concept favors the best orienteers. The legs are short and that puts a huge demand on map reading and concentration. A second’s lapse or running at the wrong speed can cause significant time loss. Forget about the name micro. It is orienteering and so the name should remain “orienteering.”…