Australian Orienteering Championships 2022

CARNIVAL NEWS

 

OLD HEADS AND YOUNG LEGS
October 2, 2022

The Australian relays was blessed with another gorgeous spring day with Wattle blooming and the paddocks a verdant green!  The Yarra Valley club had worked with carnival director Warren Key to use a fantastic erosion gulley as a finish chute along with a great spectator run through and some top gold mining terrain. The cream rose to the top today with some of Australia’s best orienteers leading their states to relay wins.  For example Greg Barbour, Jock Davis and Steve Craig, all multi time champions combined to win M45, narrowly, from Victoria. Jo Allison, Shannon Jones and Cath Chalmers did the same in W45.

All the elite races had lead changes.  NZ led the junior boys until Alvin Craig ran them down and Ewan Shingler secured the win.  The women’s junior elite was perhaps the closest race with NZ and NSW neck and neck after two legs but Nea Shindler ran a great anchor for the win. Victoria were having none of that in  the open classes. Queensland and Victoria were close on leg 1 with Krystal Neumann and Aislinn Prendergast only a second apart but Natasha Key extended the lead (threatened by ACT who mispunched) and Asha Steer brought them home.

In the men’s ACT seemed like a threat to Victoria with three top ten finishers from the Long.  Marty Dent brought ACT back first but James Robertson had kept Victoria in touch and Patrick Jaffe caught Matt Doyle on leg two and gave Aston Key a lead that he extended for a home triumph.

New Zealand cleaned up all the 14 and 16 classes.  Victoria had good wins in W35s with Clare Brownridge, Melissa Gangemi and Lillia Gluscenko winning by ten minutes. Perhaps an even more impressive win came in the very competitive M65s where Roch Prendergast, Chris Norwood and Ted van Geldermalsen came over the top of well credentialed ACT and NSW teams.

The crowd broke their ice cream record again and the nine races in nine days came to and end! Well done to all.

 

 

THE CLASSIC WAS A CLASSIC
October 2, 2022

The Australian Long Distance championships was blessed with amazing weather and the excitement of a new Neil Barr map that combined some great granite and gold mining complexity. Master course setter Roch Prendergast took us into the granite first and then set complex closing legs through the mining when everyone was tired but needed to hold their concentration. This complexity and the physicality of courses with lots of climb brought the cream to the top with wins from known legends of the sport like Grant Bluett, Greg Barbour, Marina Iskhakova, Jo Allison, Cathy McComb, Rob Walter and Jenny Bourne.

The M20E was decided first.  Ewan Shindler led early but a mistake at control 19 put Sam Woolford ahead which he held till a small mistake at 23 gave Ewan back the lead which he held through the last 6 gold mining controls to win by only 44 seconds in an 87 minute race.  Nea Shindler and Mikayla Cooper had a great race in W20E.  The lead alternated between them but Nea had a great long leg at 13 and got back the lead by a minute which she was able to hold through the mining.

The Men’s open elite looked like a race between Aston Key, Patrick Jaffe and Angus Haines .  Patrick led early but Aston reeled him in and then ran an almost perfect race. Patrick had two small mistakes and Aston cleared out seven minutes ahead.  Patrick was a clear second  nearly nine minutes clear of Angus in third.  The Women’s Elite was a closer and more open affair. Caitlin Young posted a great time for the “clubhouse lead” but Grace Crane seems to relish this type of complexity. She took the lead at number five and extended it to over two minutes at times. Aislinn Prendergast was in second in the middle of the race but held third, a minute behind Caitlin, to grab third.

Victoria had other wins through Daniel Stott in M35, Alison Radford in W70, Alex Tarr in M80 and Dale Ann Gordon in W80.

 

 

FUN IN THE SUN
1 October, 2022

A glorious day and setting for the Australian Sprint championships – day 6 and race 7 of the 8 day carnival. The lawns of Salesian College in front of the magnificent Rupertswood mansion provided a fitting back drop to some great racing.  Mapper Geoff Adams and co-course setter Clare Brownridge predicted that “young fast legs” would beat old heads and they were right.  Alvin Craig was an early favourite on the course and the first to break 14 minutes and it looked like the time to beat.  Ewan Shingler started much later and had a three second lead at 14 but Alvin had five strong finishing legs to win by eight seconds – one of the tightest races with Sam Woolford third.  The W20E looked like Nea Shingler’s as she led by twenty-five seconds with only three minutes running left, but a mistake at 15 opened the door to NZ’s Zara Stewart, Molly McGowan and Kaia Joergensen to get a kiwi trifector!  Millay Key finished fourth to be leading Australian.

In the women’s elite, Maria Prieto from Spain led from the second control and was never headed.  Her time beat all the junior elites and she was 16 seconds clear of a strong Caitlin Young who was half a minute clear of local Asha Steer. In the Men’s Elite Aston Key was a hot favourite. He and Patrick Jaffe were over thirty seconds clear by half way and Aston was a second or two faster on many controls and won by 24 seconds with Angus Haines a further 39 seconds behind Patrick.

In the juniors the Dent brothers Hayden and Elye won M12 and M14 with Ella Clauson winning W12 and Zara toes winning M14 for NZ. Cooper Horley in M16 had a win by only 6 seconds. There were lots of Victorian winners including Daniel Stott and Hana Lada in 35’s, Bruce Arthur in M45 and Tim Hatley in M60. Alison Radford had the biggest win by 1m22 in W70 and Alex Tarr had a great win in M80.

 

 

ANOTHER DAY OF SUN – AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS RELAY CHAMPS & GF – 3
September 29, 2022

The sun shone again on the Relay day of the Australian Schools Championships and the final day of the Goldfields 3-day.  The schools teams had gone to town on the face paint and hair dye and the Kyneton two-dollar shop has never had it so good.  The first race decided was the junior girls where the NZ Harua team led home the ACT and NSW. Leg of the day was NSW’s Lilja Lehtonenn who was the only runner to break 30 minutes. The senior boys was the next decided and it was the fastest leg of the day by Alvin Craig that put NSW four minutes clear of NZ Harua and NZ Karahiwi and in the Harua team Flexi Hunt outran Zefa Fe’avae.  Victoria had three good legs from Torren Arthur, Henri du Toit and Callum White  and second in the ASoc competition only 30 seconds down on the New Zealenders.  The junior Boys had NZ Harua and Karahiwi one and two with SA and Tasmania first and second in the ASOC competition. Euan Best of Tasmania continued his great week to be the only runner under thirty minutes.

The senior Girls race was also dominated by the girls from over the ditch and Zara Stewart had the day’s best leg. NSW were first Asoc team followed by ACT. Milla Key had her best run of the week on first leg to lead home and Sophie Taverna ran a great anchor leg to make up a ten minute deficit on SA to get the Vics on the ASOC podium.

In the Goldfields race Aston Key bumped Ewan Shingler into second as they ran head to head. Natasha Key made it a family double on the A course and on the Hard B Tony Woolford had the cleanest run and Shannon Jones won the other B Hard race.

 

THE WEATHER GODS SMILED TODAY
September 27, 2022

Australian Schools Long Distance and GoldFields Day 2.
The weather gods smiled down on Mount Alexander today as day 4 of the carnival experienced the shortest of passing showers, while towns less than 30km away had up to 25mm of rain! Perhaps the same weather gods knew that Blair Trewin, the Weather Bureau’s  expert long term forecaster, was commentating and smiled down upon us. MFR had set up a spectacular arena using a natural amphitheatre and extended run in combined with spectator areas and views to competitors streaming across the hills to various rock clusters.  It was great to watch!

In the junior boys Tasmania’s Euan Best made it two wins in two days with a comfortable win over Hayden Dent and three New Zealanders who finished within three seconds of each other with two on the same time! Liana Stubbs achieved another Tasmanian double with a minute lead over Lilja Lehtonen from NSW and Sanda Halpin, the early leader from the ACT. The senior boys was a race between Sunday and Monday’s winners Zefa Fe’avae and Alvin Craig.  Alvin led for 14 controls and the two were tied with seven controls to go but Zefa was the fastest in five of the remaining legs and won by a minute from Alvin with fellow kiwi Felix Hunt third. Nea Shingler and Kaia Joergensen went head to head and toe to toe in the Senior Girls. Kaia led early and had a seven second lead with four controls to go. Nea ran clean on the next two controls and held her form to win by eight seconds – so close. Zara Stewart from NZ grabbed the bronze. Ewan Shingler made it 4 wins in 4 races for the shingler’s leading the Goldfields longest course and bizarrely he and Zefa had identical times on the same course, what a race that would have been!  Grace Crane loves this kind of terrain and had a clear win in the Womens hard. It was great to see a few people take up the retro dress code challenge including Ewan in his classic 90’s Big Foot o suit.  Thanks to everyone for supporting the bussing arrangements! Next the schools relay and Goldfields climax in Chewton on another classic map!

 

 

GREAT RACING ALL AROUND AT SCHOOLS SPRINT
September 27, 2022

The Australian Schools Sprint and Day of the Goldfields challenge produced some memorable racing and great spectator experience.  All that after many changes in the lead up to the event because of saturated ovals and the like.  The Australians turned the table on the New Zealanders in all four Schools competitions with wins from Nea Shingler in senior girls, Alvin Craig in senior boys to make it a NSW double.  In the Juniors it was a different story with Liana Stubbs from Tasmania pipping the New Zealanders by 5 seconds in the closes race of the day and  Euan Best winning the boys also for Tasmania.

Great racing all around and Victoria and ACT also got students on the podium in the ASOC contest while NZ managed 6 placings in the Open competition. A shout out to the Dent brothers Elye and Hayden for a second and third place in ASOC junior boys. Mikayla Cooper and Ewan Shingler “got the chocolates” in the longest Goldfields race while Selwyn Sweeney and Serena Doyle picked up the B course.

 

 

AUSTRALIAN MIDDLE DISTANCE CHAMPS
September 26,2022

The sun shone all day on the nearly 900 competitors who took on the brand new map at Blackwood. The terrain had complex gold mining and the winners were those who ran free of mistakes.  The Women’s elite was a battle of “young legs” versus “old heads.  Grace Crane was leading to the 14th control but 18 year old Kaia Joergensen ran clean from there and won by nearly a minute with Caitlin Young third.  Alistair George had a great fast half and was in the lead as he caught Simon Uppill who finished third. Aston Key overtook Alistair with 6 controls to go and held his form to win. In the Junior men’s elite New Zealand’s  Zefa Fa’aeve has an almost perfect race and had the fastest /km rate of the day. Alvin Craig and Ewan Shingler were over three minutes behind. The New Zealander got another win in W20E with Rachel Baker two minutes clear of Tasmanian Mikayla Cooper and Zara Stewart from Auckland third.

In the junior ranks, the Dent family had three wins with Layla, Hayden and Elye winning and brother Connor a second. The biggest winners included Marina Iskhakova winning by over 8 minutes in women’s 40 and Alastair Cory-Wright winning M55 by 9 minutes but Trevor Sauer won M80 by over 10 minutes., the tightest tussle was Craig Dufty pipping Carsten Joergensen by only 21 seconds.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the challenge of the map and many took on the ford but only Grant Bluett go neck-deep in the river where he won the 5m breaststroke event.

 

 

DAY ONE DOUBLE HEADER
September 25, 2022

There was a buzz in Daylesford as more than 800 Orienteers came into town for the first ever day one Double Header of the Australian Carnival. The sun shone as many people caught up for the first time since Covid with visitors from New Zealand, New Caledonia, Germany and the UK.  The sun shone on the gold mining terrain around Jubilee lake and there was some great racing. The closest finish was Andrew Slattery’s 23 second margin in M35A and the biggest margin was Trevor Sauer’s nearly eight minute win in men’s 80. Family double winners included Layla and Connor Dent, Jenny Bourne and husband Geoff Lawford (running up two age classes) while the Gray family came close with Ryan winning junior men’s elite and Mikaela second in W20E to a storming run from NZ’s Kaia Jorgensen. The NZ guests dominated the 16’s age group and Marina Ishakova had the largest women’s win with a margin over five minutes in W40.

Grace Crane had a great run in Women’s elite and Aston Key had a similar two minute margin in Men’s elite despite a misplaced control.

In the afternoon the action moved to the town and the first ever Orienteering Grand Prix.  With great head to head racing, penalties and multiple starts the crowds flocked to watch the terrific run throughs, race-bys and the cruellest of up-hill finishes.  While Aston Key was first over the line for a double win, it came after an illegal fence crossing so Pat Jaffe nabbed the OGP trophy. Kaia Jorgensen looked strong all race and won the Women’s elite. There was tight racing in many other age classes and many winners doubled up with the morning such as Connor Dent. Katie Clauson , Anna Bebington, Jennifer Enderby, Sara Prince, Greg Barbour, Toni Brown And Robin Spriggs.

 

 

WE ARE READY AND WAITING …
September 20, 2022

There’s been 1078 days of waiting since the last Australian orienteering championship, but now there’s only 4 days left to wait for the start of the 2022 Australian Championships!  And we are ready.  Ready to welcome you all to the special feel of a big championship … hundreds of orienteers from dozens of different clubs … the hum of the arena … the new terrain … the rivalries rekindled.

Central Victoria is looking good.  The wattle is blooming, and the forest is green and soft under foot.  The weather is even starting to warm up.  Meanwhile in darkened cellars, amid a fug of sweaty socks and toner, thousands of maps are rolling out of the printer …

We might be ready, but we’re sick of waiting!  Bring it on!

Welcome to you all.

Warwick Williams
Carnival Director

 

CARNIVAL PROGRAM

 

 VICTORIAN MIDDLE DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday 24th September, 2022 AM

The Opening Race Raises The Bar

Jubilee Lake
Gully spur terrain broken by deep erosion and intricate goldmining. Generally good running with defined vegetation changes.

Course planner – Geoff Adam (BK)
Day organiser – Greg Tamblyn (BK)
Advisor – Blake Gordon (EU)
Mapper – Fredrik Johansson (MF)

ORIENTEERING GRAND PRIX
Saturday 24th September, 2022 PM
Three environments; forest, park, campus

Lake Daylesford
Forest: complex track and vegetation network
Park: Lakeside and spa surrounds with European feel
Sprint: Primary school campus

Course planner – Warren Key (MF) & Halvard Dalheim (NOR)
Day organiser – Ian Chennell (EU)
Advisor – Steve Bird (BK)
Mapper – Peter Dalwood (DR)

AUSTRALIAN MIDDLE DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP – WRE
Sunday 25th September, 2022
Totally New Terrain Type

Blackwood
Unique sluiced gold mining terrain with many small watercourses. Generally good visibility with stony ground moderating running speed.

Course planner – Neil Barr (BG)
Day organiser – Ron Frederick (NE)
Advisor – Chris Norwood (EU)
Mapper – Fredrik Johansson (MF)

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP
GOLDFIELDS 3 DAY – DAY 1
Monday 26th September, 2022
Historic Village Atmosphere

Kyneton
Botanical garden setting with urban surrounds and 100 year old school. Diverse mix of man-made and complex terrain. Fast and varied.

Course planner – Aston Key (MF)
Day organiser – Wendy Taverna (CH)
Advisor – Dennis Trewin (YV)
Mapper – Roch Prendergast (EU)

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS LONG CHAMPIONSHIPS
GOLDFIELDS 3 DAY – DAY 2
Tuesday 27th September, 2022
Wineries And Views

Mt Alexander
Open granite terrain with areas of intense detail. Fast running on top with a spectacular downhill run to the finish.

Course planners – Toby Cooper (BK), Mason Arthur (MF) & Jensen Key (MF)
Day organiser – Anne Arthur (MF) & Nicola Dalheim(MF)
Advisor – Rob Edmonds (NE)
Mapper – Warwick Davis (TK)

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP
GOLDFIELDS 3 DAY – DAY 3
Wednesday 28th September, 2022
Excitement Guaranteed

Chewton (Wattle Gully)
Tunnels marshland, gold mining and open gully spur. Low visibility challenges in the most detailed parts.

Course planner – Aislinn Prendergast (EU)
Day organiser – Blake Gordon (EU)
Advisor – Don Fell (NE)
Mapper – Alex Tarr (YV)

AUSTRALIAN SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP – WRE
Friday 30th September, 2022
Birthplace Of The Ashes

Sunbury
Historic school and surrounds. Mixing new and old buildings that gently slope to sports and farmyard surrounds.

Course planner – Clare Brownridge (MF), Dion Keech (MF)
Day organiser – Debbie Dodd (DR)
Advisor – Kathy Liley (YV)
Mapper – Geoff Adams (BK)

AUSTRALIAN LONG DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP – WRE
Saturday 1st October, 2022
Three Terrain Types

Nuggety Range
Detailed granite hills and alluvial gold mining. Linked by broad and sometimes steep gully spur and a green maze. Breathtaking runnability and views.

Course planner – Roch Prendergast (EU)
Day organiser – Julie Flynn (BG)
Advisor – Tim Hatley (BK)
Mapper – Fredrick Johansson (MF), Neil Barr (BG)

AUSTRALIAN RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday 2nd October, 2022
A Finale To Remember

Cambells Creek
Undulating fast open goldmining terrain, manmade feature and various tracks. Some unusual gold workings to keep people thinking to the end.

Course planner – Russell Bulman (YV)
Day organiser – Ruth Goddard (YV)
Advisor – Blair Trewin (YV)
Mapper – Alex Tarr (YV)

 

 

 

CARNIVAL OFFICIALS

Carnival Director: Warwick Williams
Technical Director: Warren Key
Finance Director: Ricky Thackray
Schools Championships Manager: Sue Guinane
Schools Team Liaison: Mark Valentine
Sponsorship/Publicity: David Jaffe
Website: Stuart McWilliam and Margi Freemantle
Bulletin, Graphic Design: Stuart McWilliam (STU Art Concepts)
Entries Manager: Debbie Dodd
Registration Manager: Ilze Yeates
IT Managers: Ian Dodd and Ian Chennell
Equipment: Sarah and Wayne Love
Start Draws: Simon Rouse
Start Manager: Margi Freemantle
Goldfields 3-Day Coordinator: Pam King
Mapping Coordinator: Fredrik Johansson
Map Layout and Printing: Jim Russell (Stay in Control)

 

 

 

MAJOR SPONSORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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