Category Archives: General

A big thank you to Ian Johnson and helpers for course setting and the cake on Saturday. The usual 5 courses were on offer, however with a twist. Course 1 had 16 controls but by doing all the odds first in order then the evens, or by the reverse, or…in fact there were 4 choices! Then Course 2 also had 16 controls to be done in increasing order or reverse. Course 3 was 16 controls in any order, Course 4 was any 12 controls and Course 5 – any 6 controls. The variety gave every one the opportunity to sprint around in otherwise flattish terrain in an almost unlimited number of options. The biggest competition being between several Juniors in Course 2! Full report on the web soon. See you next week at Wildflower Drive. BTW Happy Birthday Ian!

Don Cherry

RESULTS: 9/8/14
IAN’S 86th

Course 1:
Steve Bird: 45:47
Paul Leicester 51:50
Roch Prendergast 57:34
Ross Slater 57:55
Colin Walker 60:24
Andrew Wallace 68:13
Peter Forbes 73:00

Course 2
Louis Cameron 27:20
Leisha Maggs 29:14
Lachlan Cherry 29:25
Glenn James 32:16
Michael Loughnan 32:46
Don Cherry 34:03
Nic Cherry 39:51
Nigel McGuckian 42:13
Heather Jones 43:48
Bob Cameron 46:20
Steve Doyle 48:58
Lawrie Edward 49:29
Jenny Ball 55:29
Lorraine Leversha 69:59
Bob Leicester DNF

Course 3
Warwick Williams 19:53
Lanita Steer 20:08
Jimmy Cameron 22:40
Henry Cameron 24:42
Mark Hennessy 32:12
Reuben Cameron 33:25
Catherine McMillan 41:28
Viv McMillan 41:56
Terry Davidson 43:28
Brad Allan 68:26
Margaret Kertesz 70:37
Judy Prendergast 70:00

Course 4
Karina Cherry 25:53
Levi Frost 63:38

Course 5
Eleanor Williams 24:54
Isobel Byrne 27:00
Miffy Fisher 27:13
Caitlyn Steer 39:26
Fisher 43:28

COURSE 1, 5.7 km
A choice of 4 to give racing without following.
All controls either:
a) All odds then all evens in number order OR
b) c) d) Evens may be before odds & number order may be in reverse.

COURSE 2, 4.0 km
A choice of 2.
a) All controls in number order.
b) May be in reverse.

COURSE 3, 2.6 km (Optimum)
All controls in any order.

COURSE 4
12 controls in any order.

COURSE 5
6 controls in any order.

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

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

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

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

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 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

A week of wet weather preceded the Bendigo Orienteering Diamond Hill course with the day still being overcast but fortunately – no rain and ideal running weather. Course setter, John Wilkinson created 5 courses covering a variety of terrains.

Course 1 (7.1km) was sprinted in by Bryan Keely in a time of 38:59 with Richard Goonan (46:09) and Simon Rouse (46:52) coming in second and third respectively.

Louis Cameron (40:04) managed to beat Jim Russell (40:41) in Course 2 with Andrew Cameron (43:08) in third place. A good turn out for this course with 18 competitors.

Course 3 was blitzed in 24:54 by Jimmy Cameron. Lawrie Edward (37:37) and Solomon Cameron (49:03) came in second and third. This course also had a good number with 15 competitors.

Course 4 was led in by Rick McDonald (26:29) closely followed by Amos Walz (31:11) with Levi Frost (1.12:57) coming in third place.

Isobel Byrne (17:49) took the lead in Course 5 with Hugo Byrne (27:54) taking second place and Delene and Barbara (55:43) coming third.

Well done to all competitors. If you had a go, regardless of whether you finished or not, you are a winner.

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

Andrea Tozer

This weekend just gone saw the Bendigo Skins on Saturday, with the Jukola Relays in Finland on Sunday.

In fine weather, there was a good turn out at the skins: Results

While in Finland, 3 Bendigo members were running Jukola: Overall results

Toph ran the 3rd leg for OK Nolaskogsarna. 129th was their final position.

Leon ran the last leg for Sävedalens AIK. They finished 61st.

Evan ran the 3rd leg for Lidingö SOK 3. Evan’s team DNF’d, as they were too busy celebrating the great result of Lidingo SOK 1, who came 2nd.

Friday saw the 1st event of the (extended) weekend, Bendigo Primary Schools Orienteering Champs out at Mandurang, Results and Bendigo Advertiser write up

On Saturday, Bendigo held there 1st event of the ‘Rocks’ series, this event was at Maldon on Mt Tarrengower Results

Then on Sunday, there was a State Series event near Newstead Results

More results and splits on our Results page