Sun 9th Sept: Hunter Valley Champs - Wallaroo
- Details
Directions:
From Newcastle/Sydney: Take the A1 Pacific Highway north from Hexham, proceeding straight ahead at the large roundabout at Heatherbrae. Approx. 15.6 km from this roundabout, turn left into Nine Mile Creek Road. (This turn is immediately before the large, overhead messaging sign.) Turn immediately LEFT, then drive a further 650 m, marvelling at what used to be the Pacific Highway, before watching for parking. (See map.)
From the west, via Seaham: Use either Seaham Road or Clarence Town Road to get to Seaham. From Seaham, take East Seaham Road over the river, proceed 3.1 km and turn right into Italia Road. Travel to the end and turn left onto the A1 Pacific Highway. Approx. 1.8 km from this intersection, turn left into Nine Mile Creek Road. (This turn is immediately before the large, overhead messaging sign.) Turn immediately LEFT, then drive a further 650 m, marvelling at what used to be the Pacific Highway, before watching for parking. (See map.)
From the north: The turnoff (right) into Nine Mile Creek Road is 500 m after the Medowie Road – Williamtown intersection. Turn immediately LEFT, then drive a further 650 m, marvelling at what used to be the Pacific Highway, before watching for parking. (See map.)
PARKING:
- See map below. Early helpers and officials may find space on the northern side of Nine Mile Rd. Turn at the first track junction and come back to park on the left. (As far off as possible)
- Some cars may be able to use an open area at the end of the sealed road. A grassy section under the power line may be suitable for 4WD types. This area "b" can be very badly affected by wet weather.
- Park where there is room, and where it is safe beside the sealed road.
COORDINATES: -32.675184, 151.823753
Map:: Partly a new area -"Wallaroo - Waterholes" 1:10 000 (Part of Wallaroo S.F.)
The area to be used includes the western section of the previous "Hamburger Trail" map, with an extension to the north where Nine Mile Creek will form the boundary. The new area is basically flat, but contains small and large waterholes formed by prior alignments or overflows of the creek. These features are interspersed among large areas of slow run tea-tree and burnt woody vegetation which has not yet fully fallen to the ground.
Planner: Denis Lyons
Vetter: David Kitchener
Courses:
Being the Hunter Valley Championships, INDIVIDUALS may compete in age classes.
Either:
(a) look for your age class, and enter the course for that class, or
(b) select a class for which you are eligible on the course you wish to complete.
INDICATE BOTH COURSE AND CLASS ON YOUR ENTRY SLIP.
You do not have to be part of the championship class competition. Just enter your normal course.
| Course | Length(km) | Men | Women | Notes | |||
| Very easy | 1.7 | Mto12A | Wto12A | Follows tracks. | |||
| Easy | 2.7 | Mto14A | Wto14A | Controls not far from tracks. BUT, you need to know where you are along the track, before turning off. You need to be able to recognise and follow a watercourse. | |||
| Moderate short | 2.6 | Mto18B | Wto18B | Moderate cross-country navigation. | |||
| Moderate long | 3.4 | MOpenB | WOpenB | Moderate cross-country navigation. | |||
| Hard short | 3.6 |
Mto18A, |
Wto18A, W(19-49)AS, W(50-59)AS, W60A, W70+A |
Difficult navigation. | |||
| Harm medium | 5.6 | M(19-49)AS, M50+A |
WOpenA, W40+A, W50+A |
Difficult navigation. | |||
| Hard long | 7.6 | OpenA, M40+A | Difficult navigation. |
START is 190 m from registration. Follow streamers 50 m to east, then 140 m north along a track.
Safety:
- Safety bearing is SE to Nine Mile Creek Road/Pacific Highway.
- Trail bikes and 4WD vehicles are active in the area. Listen for their approach KEEP OUT OF THEIR WAY by moving off tracks. It is safest to assume that they have not seen you.
- Be aware of the presence of leaning or damaged trees, resulting from past storms and bushfire.
- Although dry conditions are expected to continue, be aware that the Nine Mile Creek is at risk of flash flooding in the event of heavy rain. Never enter flooded creeks.
- Drivers please exercise care at the Nine Mile Creek Road – Pacific Highway intersection when leaving. Remember it’s a dual carriageway!
Start times: 9:30 to 11:30am with course closure at 1pm. Please ensure you start your course with enough time to complete it prior to course closure
Notes:
- There are many coloured streamers (usually attached by a Peg) in the bush marking trails for the "dog trials" club. Ignore them.
- Tree-root mounds should be accurate in the new area (north-eastern side of Nine Mile Road). HOWEVER, there may still be others that have not been found in field checks for this event.
- There are currently some signs advising of "RESTRICTED AREA, KEEP OUT, VIDEO SURVEILLANCE" associated with coal seam gas drilling. This work has now moved out of the area, so IGNORE the signs.
- This information is correct at the time of publication. However, we do not have a guarantee that the drilling rig will not recommence operations prior to this event. This may result in some modifications to the structure and length of the two longest courses. Please check the information board at the event for final details.
Sun 26th Aug: NOY7 - Fairley Dams (NOTE: Changed location)
- Details
NOTE: The event location has changed (it was intended to be at Pothana). The event will be held at Fairley Dams
Directions:
From Newcastle: Head west along the Newcastle Link Road from Wallsend, straight ahead through 2 roundabouts. At the major intersection with Cameron Park Drive / Woodford Street (traffic lights), turn LEFT. Continue 1.8 km along Cameron Park Drive, straight ahead at the next roundabout (becomes Carrington Street). Proceed straight ahead through the centre of town (becomes Railway Street) turning RIGHT at the O’Donnelltown Road cross-intersection. The event site is approx. 1.5 km west of this intersection and west of the bridge over the M1.
From Sydney / M1 (northbound only): Take the Cardiff exit from the M1 (that’s the exit before the Newcastle exit). Turn right onto George Booth Drive, then RIGHT into Carrington Street (first roundabout, for West Wallsend). Proceed straight ahead through the centre of town (becomes Railway Street) turning RIGHT at the O’Donnelltown Road cross-intersection. The event site is approx. 1.5 km west of this intersection and west of the bridge over the M1.
From the M1 (southbound only) or M15: Take the Newcastle exit from the M1 or M15, and move into the RIGHT-most lane as soon as possible, so that you can turn right at the first intersection with Cameron Park Drive / Woodford Street (traffic lights). Continue 1.8 km along Cameron Park Drive, straight ahead at the next roundabout (becomes Carrington Street). Proceed straight ahead through the centre of town (becomes Railway Street) turning RIGHT at the O’Donnelltown Road cross-intersection. The event site is approx. 1.5 km west of this intersection and west of the bridge over the M1.
COORDINATES: -32.9037, 151.5576
Map::TBA
Terrain: From fairly flat lower parts to steep and rocky slopes. Vegetation is mostly open and runnable but some patches remain of closer scratchy bushes. The many vehicle and trail bike tracks may confuse as much as aid navigation. A small area of many tracks has deteriorated to bare earth. This is now mapped as open with scattered trees. Several new tracks have been added to the map, and some track systems revised, but there may still be discrepancies.
Planner: Jim Lee
Vetter: Denis Lyons
Courses:
| Course | Length(km) | Climb(m) | Controls | |||
| Very easy | 2.2 | 40 | 10 | |||
| Easy | 2.6 | 65 | 11 | |||
| Moderate short | 2.2 | 70 | 7 | |||
| Moderate long | 3.2 | 135 | 9 | |||
| Hard short | 3.4 | 80 | 10 | |||
| Harm medium | 5.0 | 165 | 10 | |||
| Hard long | 6.9 | 170 | 16 |
Safety: Safety bearing is E to the M1 Motorway fence, then N to O’Donnellltown Road.
Be watchful for derelict barbed wire fences. An attempt has been made to mark these with red/white tape, but many unmarked sections could be present.
One large black snake was seen during setting.
Start times: 9:30 to 11:30am with course closure at 1pm. Please ensure you start your course with enough time to complete it prior to course closure
Notes:
· Trail bikes and 4WD vehicles are active in the area. Listen for their approach and KEEP OUT OF THEIR WAY by moving off tracks. It is safest to assume that they have not seen you.
· Limited areas of dense and scratchy vegetation are present. Protective clothing is recommended for those undertaking the more advanced courses.
· Mine subsidence cracks, pits and sinkholes may be present in the area and are shown on the map. They are also identified in the field with bright pink streamers or isolated with hazard tape.
· Sections of old cattle fence still exist in the area. These are also shown on the map, but may not be obvious in the field. Sections will be marked with coloured tape where they are considered dangerous.
Sun 5th Aug: NOY5 - Fassifern Ridge
- Details
Directions:
At the traffic lights on Toronto Road, Fennell Bay head west into Macquarie Road, then in 200m turn right into Harrington Street. Then 300m turn right into Lake Macquarie Close.
The Assembly area is on the north side of Lake Macquarie Close. Note as there is limited parking on Lake Macquarie Close, additional parking will be along both sides of Harrington streets. Please take care not to block residential driveways.
Map: Fassifern Ridge 1:10,000 4 metre contours. Revised Ian Dempsey August 2017 with minor revisons by Steven Roberts June 2018.
Black crosses show car wrecks. Black circles indicate wreckage.
Terrain: Undulating to very steep and mostly open forest that has been burnt in the last 24 months. There’s an extensive track network, many parallel watercourses, and rock detail on the higher slopes. The lower gullies have some patches of slow run and walk.
Planner: Steven Roberts
Vetter: Callum Roberts
SI Air can be used on all courses.
Courses:
| Course | Length(km) | Climb (m) | Controls | |||
| Very easy | 2.2 | 52 | 13 | |||
| Easy | 2.4 | 60 | 14 | |||
| Moderate short | 2.7 | 60 | 10 | |||
| Moderate long | 3.6 | 96 | 12 | |||
| Hard short | 3.1 | 88 | 12 | |||
| Hard medium | 4.8 | 128 | 16 | |||
| Hard long | 6.0 | 156 | 19 |
Safety: Safety bearing is east to the service road then south towards the assembly area.
Start times: 9:30 to 11:30am with course closure at 1pm. Please ensure you start your course with enough time to complete it prior to course closure
Notes:
1) The start is an easy 300m walk from the assembly area. Allow 5 minutes.
2) There will be some climbing to the main ridge in the early stages for all courses, afterwhich runners should enjoy the vast open runnable forest (or track options) available on this map. The Hard Short course does have legs that involve contouring across steep slopes.
3) The steeper slopes are gravelly – take care.
4) Although trail bikes are not common in the area, move to the side of the track if you encounter them.
Next Wednesday Training 5 Week Block (No training this week (22/8/18)
- Details
There will be no training this week as we are organising the next 5 week training block.
Next training will be on the 29th of August at a location TBD.
If you'd like to volunteer for this next block of training please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tues 3rd July: Hunter School Champs
- Details
Hunter Region Schools 42nd Orienteering Championships
Date: Tuesday 3rd July, 2018
Results: Results
Entries are now being taken for this years Hunter Schools Orienteering Championships to be held at Minmi. The students complete 2 courses on the day. The first is a line course based on the age they turn this year.
Note: Closing date for entries is Sunday 24th June, 2018.
VENUE: From Newcastle Link Road At the traffic lights, turn towards Minmi on Woodford Street. At the next set of lights turn right into Minmi Rd, then after approximately 500m turn right into Blue Gum Hills Regional Park. Please park where directed. OR From Newcastle, proceed to Wallsend, then take Minmi Road through Fletcher, turning left into Blue Gum Hills Regional Park. (The park entrance is approx 500m before the start of the houses at Minmi.
Map: Blue Gum Hills (2018) 1 : 7 500
| BOYS | GIRLS | ||||
| Course 1 | Very Easy | 1.8km | 12 | 12 | |
| Course 2 | Easy | 2.0km | 13 | 13 | Intermediate B/G |
| Course 3 | Easy | 2.5km | 14 | 14 | |
| Course 4 | Easy/Medium | 3.0km | 15 | 15 | Senior B/G |
| Course 5 | Medium | 3.5km | 16 | 16+ | |
| Course 6 | Hard | 4.0km | 17+ |
Entries will be accepted from Primary age students who have successfully completed Orienteering in Schools programs, or who regularly compete at Newcastle Orienteering Club events but they will compete in the 12 year age grouping.
The second course is entered in divisions based on experience rather than age – this will be a score course where you find as many controls as you can within a time limit (45 minutes).
A: Hard B: Moderate C: Easy / Moderate D: Easy
Entries will be accepted from teams of two, but they must start, do the whole course and finish together.
Start times for the Age Division courses will be arranged after a safety briefing for all competitors. This briefing is expected to commence at approximately 9am and is mandatory for all competitors.
SEND ENTRIES AND ENQUIRIES TO:
Mr Colin Bailey
Merewether High School
Phone: 4969 3855
Fax: 4961 2246
Mobile: 0414 406 652
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cost: $12 per student.
Closing date for entries is Sunday 24th June, 2018.
