In yesterday’s Wildfire Sports Australian Ultra Long Distance event held at Kooyoora State Park the big winner was the NZ Junior Nick Hann who flew to Victoria especially to run in this event with his ultimate aim being to win the $2,500 valued return air ticket to Europe. The overall winner would be the winner of one of the four elite classes who was closest to or under the winning km rate for their class. The “base km rate” for each of the classes was: M21E 6:13min/km, M17-20E 6:27min/km, W21E 7:24min/km, W17-20E 8:05min/km.

Nick Hann was the winner of the M17-20E class in a time of 1:38:33 for the 14km course which gave him a 7:00min/km rate. This gave him the fastest km rate of all the classes as the winner of the M21E Ian Lawford in a time of 2:24:40 for the 20km course, with a km rate of 7:13min/km.

Perhaps the most exciting class was the M21E class as the lead changed a number of times during this epic long distance event. Jim Russell the course setter had the M21E doing two “short” loops with the runners coming back through the arena to a map change after each loop, with a “long” loop to finish off the course. After the first loop Bryan Keely was in the lead with Ian Lawford in 2nd and Lachlan Dow in 3rd place. From control 17 to 32 Lachlan Dow was the leader before he unfortunately had to withdraw due to an ankle injury. From that point on it was a very close battle between Ian Lawford, David Shepherd and Bryan Keely who were only 16 seconds apart at control 45. However, Dave and Bryan both lost just over 3 minutes to Ian at control 36 which enabled Ian Lawford to come into the finish a winner by 4:12 from David Shepherd in second and a tiring Bryan Keely in third place. There were some epic performances in the M21E class with Ben Goonan, Simon Rouse, Glenn Meyer and Ian Dodd all completing the 20km course in times over the 4 hours.

In the W21E class the favourite and last year’s winner of the return air ticket, Lizzie Ingham had to withdraw due to health issues. Jasmine Neve who is soon to leave to spend a year studying in Slovenia, after a slow start to control 1 was in the lead at control 19 and finished off very strongly to maintain this lead and finish in a time of 2:13:31 for a 10:01min/km rate. Sarah Buckerfield making a comeback to NOL racing was second and Clare Brownridge, third.

In the junior elite classes, our JWOC representatives Matt Doyle and Brodie Nankervis were second and third behind Nick Hann. Matt had a 7:22min/km rate and Brodie a 7:41min/km rate. In the W17-20E class in a very small field the three JWOC team members Anna Dowling, Nicola Blatchford and Michele Dawson filled the first three placing’s.

A very big thank you to the course setter Jim Russell, the controller Neil Barr for all their efforts. These two men were also the controller and course setter for the Victorian Middle Distance Championships on Saturday. Great courses on a famous iconic map and the weather was ideal. To Geoff Lawford and Jenny Bourne along with the Eureka Orienteering Club and Bendigo Orienteering Club a big thank you for all the work that went into the organization of these two great events. Especially to Eureka Orienteers who have provided the major prize of the return air ticket for the last two years.

Results and splits are on our Results page

Mens Start

Written by Nick Dent for the OA website

Forty –six competitors ventured out to compete in Bush Classic 14 in mild and sunny conditions at Mt Ida last Saturday on 5 interesting courses set by Steve Doyle. The Mt. Ida map sheet was mapped in 1992 but has not been used for a number of years. As a result a number of minor tracks were over grown but these were identified on the course maps.

Course 1 was dominated by visitors with Kurt Neumann from Queensland winning from Roman Brogli from Austria. Ben Goonan was the first local, coming home in third place.

What followed was a triumph for the Cameron family with Louis and Andrew going 1 and 2 on course 2 followed closely by Nic Cherry.

Jimmy Cameron blitzed course 3 coming in well ahead of the experienced Terry Davidson and Harm Van Rees.

To round out the day, Solomon Cameron came home first on course 4 ahead of Rick McDonald. Newcomer, Andrew McCowan took out 3rd place

Eleanor Williams did well to be first home on course 5, not that far in front of John Steer

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

Dargile Camping area

Rob Clark

The forests around Bendigo proved popular for sport last weekend, with two groups competing in close proximity. Craig setup the Orienteers at the northern end of Wildflower Drive and the local University Running Club had their club event nearby, which made parking interesting! I also heard that another running club was competing near the south of the Wildflower Drive area.

The usual 5 orienteering courses were on offer attracting around 70 competitors including several out of towners. In Course 1, Swiss/Austrian visitor Roman Brogli set a cracking pace finishing well ahead of Matt Doyle and Jim Russell. Course 2 was again the most popular with 25 competitors, however the son V father battle continues between Louis and Andrew Cameron tying up 1st and 3rd places with Steve Bird slipping in between them at the finish to collect 2nd. A clear improvement in Michael Loughnan’s times too with him now pushing up the ranks.

Jimmy Cameron claimed 1st in Course 3, well clear of Lawrie Edwards and Glenn James. Matt Jackel, a relative newcomer to the sport is also showing promise finishing 4th. It was also good to see Steve Doyle return to running after time out with injury. Course 4 only attracted 4 competitors, however it was a tough battle between the boys and the girls. Amos Walz took 1st over Jack Wigney, by a little over a minute while Sarah Davies beat Karina Cherry to 3rd by just 3 seconds. In Course 5 Solomon Cameron won by a good 10 minutes over Joanne Cherry and then Solomon Cook another 4 minutes behind. The importance of the social side of the event is also highlighted by the numbers hanging around afterwards to catch up with friends.

As a reminder to all, we have electronic registration at most of our events now, which makes the compilation of results much easier. Please Register at the computer BEFORE YOU RUN and then download at the computer AFTER YOU RUN. You still fill in the card for the Results display and you can printout your splits as normal. If you’re not sure whether you did it correctly, those greyed out in the Winsplits results are the ones that forgot.

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

Don Cherry

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