Victoria’s Aston Key wins Gold in JWOC Sprint Champs

Starting in the last third of the field, Victoria’s Aston Key led from start to finish to win the 2019 Junior World Orienteering Sprint Championships in Denmark overnight.

Aston completed the 3.3Km course over 23 controls in Lyseng, Denmark in 12m20s to win by 13 seconds.

Men’s and Women’s results can be found here and the splits here

The men’s course can be found here and the women’s course can be found here

The JWOC competition website can be found here

Orienteering Australia congratulates Aston on his victory. Well done Aston!!!

OA Head Coach Decision Postponed

With the 1st two National League events looming next weekend, processes already underway for athletes competing in the first two rounds, and after giving consideration to not causing any disruption to athletes who are now in preparation, OA has decided not to continue with the Head Coach selection process at this time until after this year’s WOC in Norway (12th ~ 17th August). By delaying the decision Orienteering Australia hopes to avoid possible confusion and instability for the season ahead.

Orienteering Australia will re-commence the selection process after the World Champs with the intention of making an announcement at the Oceania Championships in October.

As a result of the postponement the current period of existing Head Coach Jim Russell will be extended until this year’s World Championships have concluded.

Any enquiries on this matter should be addressed to the Orienteering Australia Executive Officer.

Orienteering Australia appoints Director, High Performance

Orienteering Australia is pleased to announce that at its March Board meeting, Stephen Craig was appointed as Director, High Performance.

Steve started orienteering in Sydney in 1982, did orienteering as a school sport at Knox Grammar School in Sydney with the late Mike Isbell as teacher, and joined Big Foot after leaving school.

Steve ran in three WOC teams in the 90’s and then moved to Stockholm representing Tullinge SK and then OK Ravinen, competing in all of the big relays for over a decade. He met his wife, Martina, on the Jukola ferry on the way back to Stockholm in 2002.

While in Sweden Steve obtained his Level 2 coaching accreditation and organised weekly coaching sessions, trips to events, etc for 150+ 7-16 year olds together with Martina and the other coaches in OK Ravinen.

Steve has been back in Australia since 2015 and now lives in Newcastle. He has an Australian Level 2 coaching accreditation and is also the Newcastle club coach. Steve and Martina have two children, Alvin (15) and Rebecca (12), who both orienteer. Steve is a fresh M50 in 2019.

Junior Bushrangers have taken out the 2nd leg of the ANZ Test Match

The Aussie Junior Bushrangers have taken out the 2nd leg of the ANZ Test Match after the Australian Long Champs was held in South Australia.

Middle.
M20E  Aus 41. NZ 14  (Aus)
W20E  Aus 28. NZ 28 (Draw)

Relay.
M20E  Aus 30. NZ 15  (Aus)
W20E Aus 30. NZ 20 (Aus)

Sprint.
M20E  Aus 37. NZ 18  (Aus)
W20E  Aus 33. NZ 22 (Aus)

Long.
M20E  Aus 27. NZ 28  (NZ)
W20E  Aus 27. NZ 28  (NZ)

The overall score after the 4 Aus Champs events was AUS 253 NZL 173.

OA High Performance Vacancies; Head Coach, Administrator, Manager Coach Development.

Application Are Sought for High Performance Officer Positions

After 5 years of service to Orienteering Australia, Nick Dent is retiring as Head Coach and HP Administrator. Orienteering Australia thanks Nick for his outstanding service and is now seeking applicant/s to lead the National High Performance program. We are also seeking to fill a related role to assist the development of coaching. These positions will be appointed initially for a one year term only, to be reviewed (particularly in the light of available funding) and extended if possible for an additional one year term. There are 3 interrelated positions:

  1. Orienteering Australia Head Coach ($22,500 /annum)
  2.  Orienteering Australia High Performance Administrator ($12,300 /annum)
  3. Manager Coaching Development ($6,000 / annum)

More detailed position descriptions are available in the links above.

As an overview, the Orienteering Australia Head Coach has been restructured to enhance the effectiveness of the role. To strengthen the authority and effectiveness of the Head Coach (at the top of the structure) this position will include the role of being the coach of one of the traveling national teams. This is our preferred structure. The Head Coach will have first preference in being the coach of one of the travelling national teams; WOC, WUOC, Bushrangers or JWOC on the understanding that this role will be fulfilled in the traditional volunteer capacity.

Applications for these other national touring coach and manager positions; WOC, WUOC and JWOC for 2016 and 2017, will be called for in the coming months after the appointment of the Head Coach.

The Manager of Coaching Development role will focus on the development of coaches across national and state systems. To strengthen the capacity to achieve this, the Manager of Coach Development will not have an administrative or development role in the controlling and officiating area (as has traditionally been the case). The Manager of Coach Development will work closely with the National Coaching Committee and the OA National Sporting Schools Manager. There is scope, if mutually agreed, for this role to take on additionally funded project work; an update of the Level 1 Coach Manual and the development of club coaching resource material. This will be negotiated, if appropriate, after appointment to the Manager of Coaching Development role.

It is anticipated that the dates for the one-year term for all the positions will be from 31st of July 2016 to 31st of July 2017

Candidate/s for the advertised positions above may wish to apply for one or more positions and it may be desirable to consolidate positions depending on the skills, goals and experience of candidates. Applicants (or group applications) are requested to clearly outline the position/s applied for.

HOURLY RATE OF PAY: $34.50 plus the superannuation contribution guarantee of 9.5% (SGC) The quoted per annum amounts above are a total package of wages plus super.
REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES:
i. Mileage incurred travelling on OA business will be reimbursed at a rate of 30 cents per km;
ii. Other personal expenses incurred on OA business (such as postage, phone calls, train and bus travel to meetings, and stationery) will be reimbursed on submission of records and receipts.

Applicants are requested to outlining experience and background on no more than 2 A4 pages and forward to John Harding at orienteering@netspeed.com.au

Applications close: 15th July 2016.

Gold for Angus Robinson at MTBO World Championships

Victoria’s Angus Robinson (BK) made history to become Australia’s first JWOC MTBO gold medallist by winning the sprint at Turnov (Czech Republic) today. He had a 21 second victory margin and earnt himself a World Championship jersey as well as the IOF gold medal. Angus rode really consistently throughout the race and nailed several crucial route choice legs. Some of this action was captured on live Czech television! Chris Firman (Qld) placed 23rd in the elite class of 109 riders, less than 2 minutes behind the winner and was pretty pleased with his ride also. Rest day tomorrow followed by the long and relay on Friday & Saturday.

Angus_SprintAngus-Sprint-podium