Melbourne City Race Weekend

The first Melbourne City Race was a huge success, with plenty of local stars pitted against international competitors from the UK, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand, as well as interstaters from NSW, ACT, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Course planner Jayne Sales is well credentialled as a former London City Race planner, and she brought her experience to show us what City Racing is all about.  Peter Dalwood, assisted by Pam King, gave us a wonderful map – no easy task given the complexity of the Docklands area.

Early legs took out of Docklands Park and on a tour of Victoria Harbour.  Longer courses ran past Marvel Stadium to Waterfront, and up to the Star Observation Wheel via the confusing two level District shopping mall. We all converged in Batman Hill, where we tackled multiple stairs and ramps, coming to grips with the varying street levels. Then it was south to the river and across a bridge (take your pick) to Southbank.  Around Polly Woodside and the Convention Centre was urban racing European-style as we mingled with, and entertained the crowds.  Back across the river and a bit of Commonwealth Games nostalgia at the Fish (remember when there were 50 magical, shimmering fish floating in the Yarra, back in 2006), before a final lap, then up the grassy slope and into the Finish!

Congratulations to the winners – results and split times below. You can also see the competition maps.

RESULTS

SPLITS

Maps:

Course 1

Course 2

Course 3

Course 4

Course 5

Our thanks to Jayne Sales, James Robertson, Peter Dalwood, Pam King, Jim Russell, Ian Dodd, and the Dandenong Ranges Orienteering Club crew; thanks also to our supporters Orienteering Victoria, Orienteering Australia, City of Melbourne, and Yarra Valley Vans.

Look out for the 2020 MELBOURNE CITY RACE!