Author Archives: Bendigo Orienteers

Bendigo Night Champs

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Wow, what a chilly night! About 40 competitors braved the cold, clear conditions to run in the dark on Saturday night. Toph set up 5 courses with loops, butterflies and long legs and along with the addition of a video feed and radio controls from some locations, a lot of discussion still revolved around who was going to beat whom…

Meanwhile the rest of us used the warming camp fire to defrost our fronts and backs in between cups of hot milo. Still the technology present was a fascination, watching people come into controls with their headlamps, pause then stumble off into the darkness. When the competitors began to finish, discussion changed to route choice and the inevitable thoughts of who belongs to that lone headlamp traversing the ridge above.

Well done to Toph and helpers for setting up an interesting and innovative trial of these technologies and the championship for Bendigo, and well done to the competitors on some great running. Can’t wait to see some of the GPS tracks!

Results and splits are on our Results page Some maps with GPS tracks are on QuickRoute (Scroll down to latest maps)

Here are a few: Jim | Nigel | Bruce | Dave | Laurina


Don Cherry

Issue 28/14

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The weekly e-newsletter of

Bendigo Orienteers Inc.

Issue 28/14: 30 July, 2014

Contact (for this publication): Peter J. Creely: luddcreely@impulse.net.au (Ph. 5443 1975)

Web site: www.bendigo-orienteers.com.au

If you wish to unsubscribe from this bulletin, please click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this email. If you would like this Bulletin to be emailed directly to you, please email bendigo.orienteers@gmail.com

Map Walk. Saturday 2 August. This week we will explore a course on Diamond Hill, trying to illustrate the relationship between where the control marker is shown on the map and how it actually appears on the ground. Diamond Hill has some extreme erosion as well as some very interesting old gold mining — the course will take about an hour. Wear clothing suitable for the weather and comfy shoes. Everyone is welcome, particularly children and adults who are just starting to enjoy Bush Orienteering. I will hand out the maps at 10.00 am and we will leave shortly after that.

From Castlemaine travel to Bendigo via Harcourt North. Travel through Sedgwick and Mandurang and as you come into Spring Gully continue past the One Tree Hill Hotel (roundabout). A little further on you will pass the Spring Gully General Store on the left: just past that turn left into Burns Street. Travel along Burns Street for approx two kms and look for the little silver Corolla with the pink ribbon on the arial. If you come to a tee intersection with Diamond Hill Road you have gone too far. From Bendigo, travel out Carpenter Street, at the Cemetery swing left into Spring Gully Road and continue for about a kilometer or so. Turn right into Burns Street, then as above.

Brown(ridge)s Reef

The summary and results can be found on our web site

Here they are! The Bendigo Night Champs 2nd of August.

Charge your torches because Bendigo Orienteers would like to invite all to come and compete in the first Bendigo Night Champs to be held on the high quality spur gully terrain of Sedgwick. This night event will be one of the event of the year not to miss.

There will be warm campfires to go along with the full use of the O-lynx radio controls and results system.

Organiser: Christopher Naunton/Jim Russell

Course Setter: Christopher Naunton

Format: Mass start with splitting for course 1 & 2. Normal start for course 3-5

Map: Sedgwick 1:10,000

Terrain Notes: Remapped for the 2003 Oceania Championships it quickly gained a status of being the most challenging spur gully map near Bendigo. The map has it all; moderate size hills, as well as flatter areas, areas with some rock detail, all this while still remaining terrain that is easy to run in. The map will have some slight reworking before the event to correct tracks but other than that the vegetation has not changed.

Courses: The standard 5 Bendigo courses will be on offer as follows:

1: Hard, 9km, 55-60min

2: Hard, 5.5-6km, 40-45min

3: Hard, 3.5-4km, 35-40min

4: Moderate, 3km, 30min

5: Easy, 2km, 20min

Start: The sun is due to set at 5:38pm so this dictates the start. Mass start for course 1 and 2 will be at 6:15pm with a briefing at 6:05pm Course 3 to 5 must start between 5:30pm and 6pm

Spectators. The event is being staged from the course setters front yard so along with campfires and the use of the O-lynx radio control system it is planned to have video production coming from the forest that will displayed on a TV screen. This will happen if I can secure the use of cameras from my old school, which I am in the process of doing. So if you aren’t going to run or are running a short course keep, you’re ears posted for further information closer to the event.

Pre Entry is required through Eventor for Course 1 & 2. Courses 3 to 5 are strongly encouraged to pre enter as well and will get a discount off normal fees if this is done. Pre Entry system on Eventor will be open until the day before the event and all fees must be paid when you pre-enter. No payment, No map!

Directions: travel out Spring Gully Road, through Spring Gully, through Mandurang towards Sedgwick. Turn left into Story’s Road and after approx. 800 metres turn right into Cavagna Road and look for the start after approx 750 metres.

Next Bulletin 6 August, 2014

The Challenge of Brown[ridge]’s Reef

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The courses at Brown[ridge]’s Reef today presented different challenges from those at Korong last week. The fifty-eight competitors were treated to some fast spur-gully terrain, but had to keep their minds switched on to deal with the route choice and some tricky legs. Clare Brownridge set the courses from Melbourne, and left the hard work of the event organisation to her father, Charles. Ben Goonan was the only person to take advantage of the free entry available to those arriving at the event by bike. Look out for the next time this is on offer.

Bryan Keely had a swift run on course 1 (7.5 km) to come in four minutes ahead of David Brownridge. There was a good contingent of out-of-towners, with Simon Rouse, Paul Liggins (making a rare appearance at a Bendigo event) and Ted van Geldermalsen taking the next places. Laurina Neumann and Leisha Maggs both had solid runs. Richard Goonan decided the course wasn’t difficult enough and covered the map with a blank piece of paper, leaving only small circles of map visible around the control circles.

On course 2 (5.8 km), young guns Louis Cameron and Lachlan Cherry finished in first and third, with Louis winning every split bar the first control. Steve Bird finished in second between the juniors, after taking a long track route to the south on the long leg. The long leg was shared between courses 1 and 2, and Louis took fifth place out of all competitors. It was good to see the Gavens/Shaw family making the trip to their first Bendigo event. Margi Freemantle was the quickest of the women, in front of Jenny Ball and Rebecca Shaw.

Tavish Eenjes and Andrew Cameron had clean runs to place first and second on course 3 (3.4 km), only 7 seconds apart. Phil Robertson recovered from a mistake on the second control to finish third. Serryn Eenjes blitzed the course to take out fourth place overall and be the first female. The results then took on a particular pattern, with Cameron-McMillan-Cameron-McMillan-Cameron filling the next places.

Solomon Cameron raced around course 4 (3.3 km) for the win, while Fergus Selkirk-Bell beat his father by almost five minutes for second place. Caitlyn Steer and Rick McDonald weren’t far behind Cameron Bell. Newcomer Nick Otten enjoyed his first Bendigo event. The Claxtons were the only competitors on course 5 (2.5 km), with young Annie having a good run by herself.

Thanks to everyone who participated on the day or helped with the running of the event – either by manning the computers or collecting controls.

Results and splits are on our Results page Check how you are going in the overall standings. Best 10 of 19 scores to count

C(lare) Brownridge

Issue 27/14

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The weekly e-newsletter of

Bendigo Orienteers Inc.

Issue 27/14: 23 July, 2014

Contact (for this publication): Peter J. Creely: luddcreely@impulse.net.au (Ph. 5443 1975)

Web site: www.bendigo-orienteers.com.au

If you wish to unsubscribe from this bulletin, please click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this email. If you would like this Bulletin to be emailed directly to you, please email bendigo.orienteers@gmail.com

Space Racing. The formal presentation of trophy and medals to the winners of the 2014 Space Racing series was made last Monday to the team from Castlemaine North Primary School, at the school assembly. Four representatives of the Bendigo JSquad, looking like the elite athletes that are, accompanied me and helped in the ‘ceremony’. I would hope that these people served as an example to the children assembled that there is a future in the sport of orienteering, it is not just a recreational sport for little kids and oldies.

Space Racing is a really great point of entry to orienteering – and it works! I would hope that this is seen as important in any future decisions made by the club.

Congratulations to the Castlemaine North team: Isobel Byrne (already competing in Bush Orienteering), Abi Brockett and Maybel Krasner.

Thank you to my support group: Jack Wigney, Leisha Maggs, Michael Loughnan and Tavish Eenjes – I really enjoyed spending time with you, you are a credit to your families, to your club and to the sport.

Map Walk. As a follow up to our first Space Racing series for 2014, we had a successful map walk at Castlemaine last Saturday. The Kalimna Park map hosted a short, exploratory wander for about sixteen people, eight (I think) of whom were children. We followed Course 5 that was set for the Bush Classic event there some weeks ago (without the markers). It was an interesting exercise, made more so by several tracks that have appeared since the area was originally mapped – this was a good illustration of the fact that in orienteering we cannot assume that the orienteering map shows everything that is actually on the ground. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves – the next map walk is planned for Saturday 2 August – confirmation and details later.

Mt. Korong. Full report and results on the web site

Preview of forthcoming attractions

Love orienteering – take this challenge! – Bendigo Night Champs 2nd of August.

If you love orienteering then there is no better place to test out your skills than at night. That is why Bendigo is putting on the Bendigo Night Champs this year. This race will be something special and you do not want to miss it!! The terrain will be spectacular at Sedgwick, the course’s will not disappoint and the atmosphere of the event around some camp fires will make you want to stay out all night!

More details and Pre-entry on Eventor.  Also don’t forget to check out the Facebook event.

Coming Events.

Saturday 26 July. Bush Classic 12.

Map: Brownridge’s Reef.

Organiser: Charles Brownridge

Course Setter: Clare Brownridge

Start: 12.30 pm to 2.00 pm

Comment: Classic spur/gully with a good track network. This is a good map and good course setting will make it a suitable event for those relatively new to orienteering to try a harder course. This also applies to JSquad people!

Courses: Courses 1, 2 and 3 difficult navigation, 4 moderate navigation and 5, easy.

Free entry! Special Entry. For this event we are trying a new idea. There will be a FREE entry given to everyone who arrives at the event by bike. It’s not too far from town so why not give it a go?

Directions:From Bendigo turn right (towards Maryborough) at the Aldi traffic lights in Kangaroo Flat. After 500metres, turn right into Olympic Parade at the roundabout. After a further 500 metres turn left into Collins St. After the factories this becomes gravel. Continue on for about 3 km to the assembly area. From the south, turn left at the traffic lights at Aldi in Kangaroo Flat, then as above. Entry fee: $8 Adult, $4 Junior, enter on day.

Next Bulletin 30 July

Glorious midwinter conditions

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Glorious midwinter conditions welcomed orienteers to Mt Korong for the second event in the Bendigo Rocks series. Competitors were rewarded for their trip out to Korong with excellent run-ability through the spectacular rocky landscape, and technical courses crafted by course setter Richard Goonan to test a variety of navigation skills. Appearances can be deceptive, despite the small size of the map, courses offered good length, direction changes, route choice, a variety of leg lengths, and a full swag of controls to find.

Mapping of granite terrains often stimulates vigorous discussion about control placement and map interpretation and Mt Korong didn’t disappoint! As competitors finished their courses the enjoyment of their run was heightened by recounting the day’s experiences out on course among the friendly atmosphere and warm afternoon sunshine.

Orienteers were also treated to a special environmental interpretation table prepared by event organiser Ben Goonan, the ecological significance of the landscape was highlighted, and in particular the sensitive moss matts that are endemic to granite landscapes were noted, including the need to avoid disturbing these areas. Rock pools are also found in the area and were identified for their special aquatic life and indigenous heritage.

Out on course five, youngsters had all the running with Melbourne based junior Torren Arthur (MFRV) coming in ahead of local club members Charlotte Wigney (BGV), and brother Thomas Wigney (BGV), with a relative new comer to Australian orienteering Magnus Fossum (BKV) also completing the course. Course four again saw the younger runners doing well with Mason Arthur (MFRV) wining from local club juniors Jack Wigney (BGV) and Karrina Cherry (BGV). Our apologies to course four competitors for an unfortunate mix up on their first control.

On the hard short course three (3.2km), Bendigo Orienteering club members held out against a strong field of regional orienteers with young Jimmy Cameron again showing talent to win ahead of Daryl Fleay and Charles Brownridge. The challenging navigation required concentration and technique ahead of running speed but the younger legs still won the day. Other standout performances included local juniors Ruben and Henry Cameron and Zac McDonald who also completed a harder than usual course three in unfamiliar terrain.

The hard medium distance course two (5.3km), provided some strong competition between placegetters with local club members again doing well. Louis Cameron held on to win over Nigel McGuckian and John Wilkinson, with Andrew Cameron finishing ahead of Rock Prendergast (EUV). Young competitors Tavish Eenjes (BGV), Evan Fossum (BKV), Michael Loughnan (BGV), and Lisha Maggs (BGV) also showed excellent results to complete the difficult course and claim some good leg split times from the top placegetters.

Course one provided competitors a relatively long (9.4km) and technically challenging course with strong competition between placegetters. Laurina Newman (BGV) was the top women’s placegetter ahead of Clare Brownride (BGV) and Jenny Casonova (Sth Aus), with all showing consistent form across the difficult course. After a careful start, consistency also rewarded Norwegian orienteer Jim Nybraten (IL Tyrving) coming in first ahead of good runs by local Bryan Keely (BGV) and experienced regional orienteer Bruce Arthur (MFRV). Local club member Craig Feuerherdt also ran consistently throughout the course to be just off the main pace. The weekend’s event provided course one runner’s preparation for the upcoming Victorian championship and Ultralong National Orienteering League event at nearby Mount Kooyoora.

Thank you to all competitors for their attendance. Results and splits are on our Results page

Richard Goonan

Issue 26/14

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The weekly e-newsletter of

Bendigo Orienteers Inc.

Issue 26/14: 16 July, 2014

Contact (for this publication): Peter J. Creely: luddcreely@impulse.net.au (Ph. 5443 1975)

Web site: www.bendigo-orienteers.com.au

If you wish to unsubscribe from this bulletin, please click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this email. If you would like this Bulletin to be emailed directly to you, please email bendigo.orienteers@gmail.com

Mandurang. Details on the website.

Map Walk. There will be a map walk at Castlemaine next Saturday 19 July The exercise is aimed primarily at young people who competed in the last Space Racing series but everyone will be welcome. We will walk Course 5 (about 2 kms) from the last event at Kalimna Park and look at how the rocks, tracks and stuff on the ground is shown on the map; I have enlarged the map so that it will be easier to work out. It should only take about an hour or so and it will be a gentle walk! The only weather conditions that will prevent the walk will be thunder and lightning – wear clothes suitable for the weather and comfy walking shoes. Assemble at 10.00 am for a start a bit later.

Directions: From the centre of Castlemaine travel towards Bendigo. Turn right into Myring Street (if you come to the railway bridge you have gone too far) and follow it and Lawson Parade, past the Secondary College just into the forest; the start will be indicated by our Space Racing sign. If you are coming from Bendigo come into Castlemaine under the railway bridge and look for Myring Street a bit further along on the left, then as above.

Preview of forthcoming attractions

Love orienteering – take this challenge! – Bendigo Night Champs 2nd of August.

If you love orienteering then there is no better place to test out your skills than at night. That is why Bendigo is putting on the Bendigo Night Champs this year. This race will be something special and you do not want to miss it!! The terrain will be spectacular at Sedgwick, the course’s will not disappoint and the atmosphere of the event around some camp fires will make you want to stay out all night!

More details and Pre-entry on Eventor.  Also don’t forget to check out the Facebook event.

Bendigo Rocks 2 – Mt Korong: Saturday 19th July

Come and enjoy the challenge of complex granite terrain with areas of fast open running (or walking) and courses that will provide maximum value. This event will be a great chance to test your technical navigation skills before the upcoming Victorian Championships.

Please enter and pay via Eventor to guarantee your pre-printed map. Enter on the day is also available but pre-printed map not guaranteed.

Pre-entry closes Wednesday 16th at 11:59pm TONIGHT – So go online and enter now!

The BOM weather forecast is for cool but clear conditions – perfect for orienteering.

Courses available:

Hard technical navigation – 1 (9km, 28 controls), 2 (5km 18 controls) and 3 (3km, 15 controls)

Medium and Easy navigation – 4 (3km, 15 controls) and 5 (2km, 15 controls)

Additional information: Ben Goonan bengoonan@hotmail.com.au

Entry fee: $8 Adults and $4 Juniors, enter on day.

Directions: From Bendigo Travel to Inglewood. From Inglewood take the Calder Hwy (A79) 7km and turn right onto Kurting-Boort Rd. Travel for 8km and turn left onto Wedderburn-Serpentine Rd. Travel for 6km and turn right (O-sign) at the entrance to the Mt Korong Scenic Reserve and follow O-signs form here. Please watch out for runners along this road. From Melbourne, take the Calder and Calder Alternate to Inglewood, then as above.

Next Bulletin 23 July

Highest number of entries for the year

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The 11th race of Bendigo Orienteers Bush Classic saw 77 entrants competing near Tannery Lane in Mandurang. The highest number of competitors in a classic for the year saw a shortage of maps on some courses.

Weather conditions were spectacular and the great courses set out by Heather Jones provided challenges at all levels. Once again, groups of newcomers took advantage of the expert help on the day before completing their own course.

Another great run from Bryan Keely saw him take the fastest time on the 7km course with David Brownridge and James Robertson coming second and third. The 5.9km course was more closely contested with Louis Cameron only 72 seconds in front of Lachlan Cherry and 3rd place taken by Nic Cherry.

Twenty three people completed the 4.2km course, but in the end there was less than a minute between Phil Robertson in first and Don Cherry with Jimmy Cameron in third. The 3.7km course was completed fastest by Rick McDonald and Isobel Byrne was fastest in the 1.8km course.

Next week will see orienteering back in the granite at Mt Korong near Inglewood, with Ben and Richard Goonan setting the courses. This is a Enter on the Day event, but Pre entry and payment can be completed on Eventor before the event, if you want to book yourself a map before you arrive. This will help the organisers, work out how many people to cater for.

Results can be found on our results page, where you can use Eventor, WinSplits

Jason Carter

Issue 25/14

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The weekly e-newsletter of

Bendigo Orienteers Inc.

Issue 25/14: 9 July, 2014

Contact (for this publication): Peter J. Creely: luddcreely@impulse.net.au (Ph. 5443 1975)

Web site: www.bendigo-orienteers.com.au

If you wish to unsubscribe from this bulletin, please click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this email. If you would like this Bulletin to be emailed directly to you, please email bendigo.orienteers@gmail.com

Mosquito Creek. Full details are on the web.

Black Crow. Another nomination – probably just a nomination but they seem scarce lately so we’ll go with it! This one has to do with picking up controls on Mosquito Creek. It seems someone went out to collect four controls and took much longer than seemed necessary. He said that he didn’t get lost but – – – !

Under the same subject matter, whilst not deserving a BC nomination, it must be mentioned: someone else (a very highly ranked orienteer of long experience in the sport) went out to pick up two controls and seemed to take a very long time (for two controls); insisted, on his return that he didn’t have any problems, but he seemed rather sheepish about it!

Preview of forthcoming attractions

Bendigo Rocks 2 – Mt Korong: Saturday 19th July

Come and enjoy the challenge of complex granite terrain with areas of fast open running and courses that will provide maximum value. This event will be a great chance to test your technical navigation skills before the upcoming Victorian Championships.

Please enter via Eventor to guarantee your pre-printed map. Enter on the day also available (pre-printed map not guaranteed).

Courses available:

Hard technical navigation – 1 (9km, 28 controls), 2 (5km 18 controls) and 3 (3km, 15 controls)

Medium and easy navigation – 4 (3km, 15 controls) and 5 (2km, 10 controls)

Pre enter and pay on EVENTOR to be guaranteed a map/course of your choice

Love orienteering – take this challenge! – Bendigo Night Champs 2nd of August.

If you love orienteering then there is no better place to test out your skills than at night. That is why Bendigo is putting on the Bendigo Night Champs this year. This race will be something special and you do not want to miss it!! The terrain will be spectacular at Sedgwick, the course’s will not disappoint and the atmosphere of the event around some camp fires will make you want to stay out all night!

More details and Pre-entry on Eventor.  Also don’t forget to check out the Facebook event.

Coming Events

Saturday 12 July. Bendigo Bush Classic 11. Mandurang

Course setter/Organiser: Heather Jones

Map: Mandurang

Time: 12.30 pm – 2.00 pm

Courses: Five: 3 hard 1 moderate, 1 easy.

Terrain: Rocks and Route choice in traditional spur/gully terrain.

Entry fee: $8 Adult, $4 Junior, enter on day.

Directions: From Bendigo travel toward Mandurang. Turn left into Tannery Lane (O sign) then after about 3km turn right into James Cook Drive.

From Melbourne turn off freeway towards Sutton Grange then thru Sedgwick. Before Bendigo turn Right into Tannery Lane. (O sign). After approx 3km turn right into James Cook Drive (O Sign)

Next Bulletin 16 July

Drizzly rain at Mozzie Creek

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Race 10 of the Bendigo Orienteers Bush Classic Series was held on Saturday 5th of July. Chris Creely was the event organiser and he did a great job of setting the courses at Mosquito Creek. It was definitely a wintery day with drizzly rain and low temperatures, but competitors were not deterred, coming from all reaches of Victoria and some interstate.

Bryan Keely showed consistency to win the 7.5km Course 1 ahead of Bruce Arthur and Ted Van Geldermalsen with Laurina Neumann taking out 5th place overall as the fastest female on the course.

Close competition in course 2 between brothers as Nic Cherry took the win over Lachlan, followed closely by Stephen Bird. Michael Loughnan placed a convincing 1st in Course 3, with Matt Jackel and Bob Cameron coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Course 4 provided Rick McDonald with a six-second win over Sarah Davies, followed not too far behind by increasingly competitive Mason Arthur. Course 5 was won by Torren Arthur, ahead of Sophie Arthur and Ginger McKenzie.

Overall a great turn out to Mosquito Creek and an excellent event. See you all at Mandurang next week.

Results can be found on our results page, where you can use Eventor, WinSplits

Nic & Lachlan Cherry

Winter has arrived

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Winter finally arrived for the latest Bendigo Orienteers event, held on Saturday at Castlemaine.

In wet, cold and windy conditions, Bryan Keely had another win, but Matt Doyle and David Brownridge weren’t that far behind. Louis Cameron once again showed that the young lads certainly know how to orienteer, taking out 1st place, with John (the Local) Wilkinson and Tavish Eenjes rounding out the top 3

Glenn James, said, whatever you can do Louis, I can too, relegating Lawrie Edward and Derek Morris to the minor places, while on course 4, Amos Walz cleaned up, holding out the fast finishing Rick McDonald, while Jan Baxter had a clean run to finish in 3rd place

On the Novice course, it was good to see a lot of Locals, coming out to give Orienteering a try for the 1st time, fastest time went to Alice Oconnor, with the Garry Crew and Philip Schier taking out the final places

Thanks to first time course setters, Isobel Bryne and Jacqui Knee, ably assisted by Nigel McGuckian

Results can be found on our results page, where you can use Eventor, WinSplits

Course setter, Nigel, with the entry/results system

Jim Russell