Newcastle Orienteering Club

A big thank you to the volunteers, the landowner and the 60 participants.

Here is the full listing of Results - click here.

Here are the Results for the combined Hard 1 & Hard 2 events:

Something a little different for a bush event – the courses have been designed to have a stronger emphasis on navigation, with compact course layouts, pivot controls and multiple controls within a small area. Thus, we have been able to avoid much of the steeper, less runnable areas of this map (sigh of relief). However, the close spacing of controls and high level of map detail will make quick thinking a necessity.

As a bonus, Hard entrants have the chance to be the first ever participants in “Yard-O”, a totally new form of orienteering in which the backyard becomes the ultimate challenge! Think sprint map meets bush map, meets mad landholder…  A must for anyone who has ever wondered if orienteering could ever become a backyard sport.

Directions:

From Newcastle/Sydney: Take the A1 to Raymond Terrace, turning left at the large roundabout at Heatherbrae. Follow the Old Pacific Highway (Adelaide Street) through the town, turning left into William Bailey Street at the traffic lights at McDonalds. Proceed straight ahead through the roundabout (becomes Seaham Road) and onto the bridge. From the river, it is approx. 7.2 km before turning left into Brandy Hill Drive. Follow this to the end (stop sign) and turn LEFT again, then after 1.1 km turn RIGHT into Croft Road. At the end of Croft Road turn left into Giles Road. Morundah is the third gate on the right. Look out for the 'O' Flag on the Morundah sign.

From Maitland: Leave Maitland through Lorn and Bolwarra, following Paterson Road through Bolwarra Heights and on to Woodville (becomes Clarence Town Road). Continue straight ahead for 6.4 km after the Woodville Store and turn LEFT into Croft Road. At the end of Croft Road turn left into Giles Road. Morundah is the third gate on the right. Look out for the 'O' Flag on the Morundah sign.

From East Maitland: Alternatively, you can travel through Morpeth, over the bridge and turn right, then over the Hinton bridge and turn left, then drive through Wallalong up to the stop sign on Clarence Town Road. Turn right and proceed for 2.5 km and turn LEFT into Croft Road. At the end of Croft Road turn left into Giles Road. Morundah is the third gate on the right. Look out for the 'O' Flag on the Morundah sign.

Map: Morundah 1:5000, with a 1:1000 inset for all Hard courses, Updated 2017

Notes: As the Hard courses really do involve the back yard, we would request that people refrain from wearing spikes, to minimise damage to the paving and watering system.

Parking is somewhat limited around the assembly area. Please park close and tight!

Planner: Joy Guy, with unhelpful advice from the landholder

Vetter:David Kitchener, with unhelpful advice from the landholder’s wife

Courses:
Very Easy 1.7 km & Easy 1.9 km. Very easy & Easy should expect some proper bush legs, following watercourses as well as tracks/paths.

Moderate: 2.3 km. Emphasis on attack points and catching features.
Hard: There are two Hard courses of 2.7 km and 2.0 km. Competitors will have the choice of doing:

• only the 2.7 km course (equivalent to Short Hard – includes “Yard-O”)
• or both the 2.7 and 2.0 km courses (in that order, equivalent to Medium to Long Hard, with cumulative time determining the result. But you’re allowed to have a drink and a rest in between.)

 Entry Fees

Safety: 

The area is mercifully free of trail bikes, 4WDs, mine subsidence and rubbish, but you may find the vegetation scratchy and some slopes steep and slippery. Rocky ground areas are not easy to run on, similar to Wallaroo SF & NP. Leaning trees which are potentially dangerous are marked on the map in pink.

Safety bearing is south to residential area & Giles Road.

 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