Event: MTBO Super Series Event5
Location: Wallaroo State Forest (North of Raymond Terrace)
Entries: 88
A still and foggy morning awakened into a gloriously sunny but mild day at Wallaroo State Forest, offering ideal ambient conditions for the arriving competitors. It was clear by the look of early finishers that the track conditions were less than perfect with recent rains ensuring plenty of water crossings, bogs and slippery conditions. (seems like the Newcastle Club is earning quite a reputation for “muddy” events). Feedback suggest that the quality of courses on offer more than made up for these difficult conditions with most people reporting that they thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.
A strong contingent of Newcastle Orienteering club members as well as other locals made up for the lack of “southerners” in the field and this was evident in the results.
In the Long men’s, local legend, Stu Adams finally broke through for his first (tell me if I’m wrong) MTBO event win. He’s been threatening to do so for a while now but has been hampered by gear breakages on more than one occasion. Stu’s time over the 29km was a mere 20 seconds faster than that of Australian MTBO representative, Paul Darvodelsky. This represents less than a 1 second per kilometre speed differential between them. Former Novocastrian (we’ll claim anyone that podiums) Anthony Darr was a further 6 minutes back in third place.
In winning the women’s long course, Mel Simpson ensured a Newcastle quenella with a time strong enough to see her place in the overall top ten. Mary Fein and Margaret Bouttell rounded out the women’s placings.
Other podium places attained by Newcastle club members were
Men Medium - 2nd Greig Scott, 3rd Geoff Todkill
Women Short - 3rd Madeleine Lewin
Men Short – 1st Bill Chalmers
For those that may be thinking us Novocastrians have an advantage at Wallaroo due to foot orienteering being contested here on a regular basis, then think again, as it has been a decade since we last ran around these parts. This will be rectified later in the year when we return here for our Hunter Valley Orienteering Champs.
Once again a big thank you to Denis Lyons for setting some terrific, mentally challenging courses and to those club members that assisted on the day. Also thanks to David West for keeping us advised on all things MTBO.
Credits
Planning: Denis Lyons
Organisation/Rego: Geoff and Margaret Peel
Starts: Joy Guy, Carolyn Chalmers
Map Change: Bob Gilbert
Finish: Greig Scott, Margaret Peel, Russell Blatchford
Control Collection: Greig Scott, Bill Chalmers, Denis Lyons, Geoff Peel