Category Archives: General

Bendigo Orienteers held their third Bush Classic for the year on a beautiful sunny Saturday in Mandurang. The event attracted more than seventy competitors, with a mix of newcomers and regular orienteers tackling the excellent courses set by Bryan Keely.

Simon Rouse won the 7.7 km Course 1, with local Louis Cameron coming in a few minutes later to claim second place, and Ted van Geldermalsen placing third. The 6.0 km Course 2 had the largest field of competitors. Nine competitors completed the course in under an hour, with Glenn James running strongly to win in 41 minutes from Lachlan and Don Cherry. Leisha Maggs was the fastest finishing female runner.

Course 3 was closely contested, with Henry Cameron coming in just ahead of Phil Robertson and Bert Elson. A challenging Course 4 saw Karina Cherry winning in 41.58 minutes from Tim Gentle’s 43.49 minutes. Course 5 was won by Torren Arthur ahead of Sophie Arthur and Lillian Maher.

Results and HERE Splits are HERE Check how you are going in the overall standings. Best 11 of 20 scores to count

Viv McMillan

The second event of the Bendigo Orienteers Bush Classic season took place on Saturday on the popular Newer St Mungo map. The weather was spectacular as were the courses set by Daryl Fleay. Competitors took advantage of the slightly shorter distances with 19 electing for a course 1 and few competitors choosing the 1.4km or 1.9km courses.

With some many competitors choosing the longer courses it meant lots of people got controls in the south west of the map and with thick vegetation there were plenty of battle scars, mispunches and dnfs.

Places 2 through 5 were close on course 1, but Bryan Keely was a clear winner 6 minutes ahead of Richard Goonan with Ben Goonan coming third. The big spread in times for course one showed how important it was to be spot on with technique with so much vegetation.

The fastest runner on course 2 was Glenn James in just over 40 minutes with Lachlan Cherry and Jenny Bourne close together for second and third. Course 3 had a big field of competitors, but only 3 seconds separated Rueben Cameron in first and Peter Prime in second.

Runners on course four were few, but there was no lack of competition between first and second with Karina Cherry getting the goods on Caitlyn Steer in the end. The fastest time on course 5 was Lil & Jan Baxter.

Good luck to all the teams competing in the relays at Eppalock on 29th of March and in South Australia over Easter. The Bush Classic continues on the 11th of April in Mandurang.

Results and HERE Splits are HERE Check how you are going in the overall standings. Best 11 of 20 scores to count

Glenn and Lachlan at last years Australian Schools Champs

Jason Carter

Bendigo Orienteers took to the bush and streets at Guys Hill on Saturday for the Club’s annual Golden Sandshoe Trophy. This is an aged based handicapped event – orienteering’s equivalent to horse racing’s weight for age events.
In orienteering, younger and older competitors are given a weighting.

12 year old Jack Wigney took out the Trophy for 2015. Glenn James was runner-up after a countback from Henry Cameron.

Course setter Andrew Cameron awarded bonus points to competitors who completed the course by alternating between odd and even numbered control points. Only three were able to do it – Jim Russell, Craig Feuerherdt and Derek Morris.

With more than 60 competitors the event is growing every year. Results are HERE, Number in the Club area, is your points

For details on next week’s event, go HERE. Newcomers are welcome to come and have a try at the beginner’s courses.

To get the ‘Bonus’ 20% extra, you had to go odd, even, odd even, etc. How would you do it?

Bob Cameron

Bendigo Orienteers kicked off their Bush Classic season on Saturday. Despite the warm weather 67 competitors took to courses of the ever growing club. Course setter Andrew Cameron used the terrain at Diamond Hill as the scene for the opening event.

Ben Goonan took out top honours in the 7.0 km Course 1. His normally competitive twin brother, Richard, was evidently weighed down with administrate responsibilities as new club president. Laurina Neumann showed her strong form as the winning female to Lanita Steer.

The scene is set for a competitive year with a group of young guns moving to the top course, including Louis Cameron, Glenn James and brothers Nic and Lachie Cherry.

Meanwhile Martin Steer took out the 5.3 km course 2 from Stephen Bird.

After a two year absence Peter Hill returned to competition winning the 3.1 km Course 3, with Lawrie Edwards and Jack Wigney not far behind.

Newest Club member Tim Gentle didn’t waste any time making his mark, taking out the 2.8 km Course 4 from Zac MacDonald and Serryn Eenjes.

Jacob Storey won the 1.6 km Course 5.

Results and splits are on our Results page Check how you are going in the overall standings. Best 11 of 20 scores to count

Bendigo Juniors at last years Australian Schools Champs

Bob Cameron

The Bendigo Orienteers second newcomers and training event was again well attended with both novice and experienced orienteers challenging themselves to try something new. The mix of courses and training activities which included key hole and corridor courses, beginners courses, model area and a scatter ‘O’ format, meant that people were able to find something suited to their preference. As a low key pre-season event, people enjoyed trying the novel course formats that they may not have done before and some may have even discovered interesting new ways to get (momentarily) geographically embarrassed – but that’s all part of the fun! It was also great to see new club member Tim Gentle out with his children, see this fun short video about their orienteering map adventure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n6QYdRQjkk&feature=youtu.be

Richard Goonan

Around forty people turned out for the Bendigo Orienteers first pre-season event held at Brown’s Reef near Kangaroo Flat. A selection of courses and training activities were available. Several budding orienteers were able to try their first ‘bush’ course and navigate their way around a range of different map features.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to their develop skills, many of the club’s junior members also come out to try some training activities. The model map area set up for newcomer map familiarisation provided a micro sprint warm-up race, and other options included keyhole and corridor courses. Activities also catered for experienced orienteers and several people completed a 1hr scatter O course or longer more difficult keyhole and corridor options.

The newcomers/training event runs again next week (March 7th) from the same location (start between 9am and 1pm) with a variety of activities available to suit (challenge) all skill levels.

Richard Goonan

photos by Judy Fitt

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

2015 is now upon us, and so are the next round of Meetings

January Club Meeting

On the 27th Jan, there will be a Club Meeting at the Aths Track, starting at 1930 (7:30).
Main items on the agenda are the the 2015 Calendar, and discussion re fees for the coming year.
We cant set them at this meeting, but can take a recommendation forward to the AGM on the 1st Feb

2015 AGM

This will be on the 1st Feb with the season opening Chicken and Champagne, information on Eventor.
Notice of Meeting, and last years Minutes will be emailed to all members

2015 Membership are due

Already, in 2015, we welcome back pass members, Matt Schepisi, and Judy & Peter Hill. Also new members, Tony & Alison Radford

Please renew your membership on Eventor

And finally

Good to see one of our Club members, helping out another sporting event with a photo shoot.

Wonder if there was a fee involved

Jim Russell

Warm up for Tassie results

Day 1, Green Gully, Results, Splits, by Class, by Course

Day 2, Mt Beckworth, Results, Splits, by Class, by Course

Day 3, Mt Tarrengower, Results, Splits, by Class, by Course

Overall Results

Please note that because of a misplaced control on day 2, which affected the men on course 1 only, we have posting revised results which exclude the leg leading in to the misplaced control, and the leg leading out of the misplaced control. This control was relocated to its correct position before the women on course 1 were affected and hence no alteration to the women’s results will be required.

The year is nearly over, and the New Year isn’t that far away, so while we enjoy the end of the year – and another Orienteering season – I want you to help Peter Galvin out, he is organising the Rockhopper points for the club.

The claim form is on the VOA website, and can be found here Please go to page 3, and send any relevant claims to Peter at pmg41@bigpond.com

While we are recovering from the last years Orienteering, we are also getting ready for next year, both in planning events, and getting fit to do the best we can. The calendar is here Please take some time to see what event you are going to help out at.

On the fitness side of things, you may want to work on your core. Here is a Video showing you the benefits of core strength and orienteering, thanks to Andrew Cameron of N8 Health

And another video about base core strengthening exercises for Orienteering

See you all in the New Year

Bendigo Orienteers