Well done to Jim and team for organising and running the Bendigo Today double over the weekend. Every one appeared to enjoy the navigational challenges and the return to Bush orienteering for the year. The 2015 Season opener attracted a number of club and non-club orienteers, including several from interstate and there was a good spread of Bendigo club members across all categories. We also welcomed some new members!
Fifty eight competitors sprinted around Gateway Park at Kangaroo Flat in humid conditions on Saturday evening negotiating streetscapes, flattish park lands and the Bendigo creek with all competitors working up a sweat. Winners in the A course included Bryan Keely (BG) 1st followed by James Robertson (BG) and Simon Uphill (OH), with the first female Lanita Steer (DR) in 12th indicating the high standard of competition. The B course sprint was taken out by Eureka Orienteer Chris Norwood with Jimmy Cameron (BG) and Jensen Key (MFR) barely a minute behind. The Competition in the C course was no less impressive with a strong rivalry between cousins Henry and Solomon Cameron, split by new comer Tim Gentle. A strong rivalry also exists between the up and coming junior girls with Karina, Sarah, Serryn and Caitlyn finishing closely.
The cooler start in the beautiful bush setting at Crusoe Reservoir on Sunday morning had a return crowd of about 46 from the night before, with the addition of many who just came for the longer distance Hagaby swelling the numbers to 69. Navigation on the longer course played havoc with several who posted longer than expected times. Once again the competition was fierce with the mass starts in A and B where competitors had various route choices to the first control – cross the bush to jump the water channel or around the track to the bridge? The splits between common controls are pretty interesting. In A – Bryan Keely (BG) took first followed by Simon Uppill (OH) and Brodie Nankervis (EV) more than 8 minutes behind. The B course was a tighter affair with Chris Norwood clinching first by only 19 seconds over Louis Cameron (BG), followed by Rob Lewis (BK) in third. It is good to see some of the juniors finishing high in this category too. In category C, the competitors started with one minute gaps, and this allowed some to run down and overtake their rivals. Well done to Solomon in first, followed by Henry Cameron and Karina Cherry.
Overall winners in A- Bryan Keely (BG), Simon Uppill (OH) and David Brownridge (BG). B course – Chris Norwood (EU), Jimmy Cameron (BG) and Asha Steer (DR). C course – Henry Cameron, Solomon Cameron and Karina Cherry, all from Bendigo. Thanks also to Judy who has added a number of photos from the Sprint to the club Facebook account.
Results are Here Splits for Saturday, and Sunday
Don Cherry
