The 2025 OSA AGM was held at the West Parklands after the Sunday morning event. The 2024 report and financial statements were presented. If you were not present and would like a copy of these reports, club secretaries have copies. The 2025 Management committee were elected as follows:
President – Rob Tucker
Secretary - Fi Pahor
Treasurer - Ian Winn
Assistant Secretary - Robin Uppill
Technical - Robin Uppill
Coaching - Jack Marschall
Newsletter – Leila Henderson and Erica Diment
Marketing – Leila Henderson
Schools Coordinator - Zita Sankauskas
The President’s report follows
The SA Orienteer is a marvellous record of activities throughout the year, including: a great insight to the Coach in Residence Hanne Hilo, the National Junior Development Camp with the SA contingent supported by Patsy and Patrick Burley, the Midweek training events, Twilight events and Schools Program throughout the State organised by Zita Sankauskas.
After much preparation over the last few years, the organisation of the Australian Three Days Championships for Easter 2024 in South Australia came to fruition. I am very appreciative of the detail in which the plethora of activities had to be undertaken by many contributing their time and skills that made this a success. The response of the orienteering community was pleasing with around 750 competitors attending.
At the OSA presentations the very well deserving recipient of the John Hall Memorial Service Award was Leila Henderson. Congratulations to the Orienteer of the Year award winners, listed in the Report. Course Planner of the Year was awarded to David Winters. The Sue Millard Trophy was presented to the most improved junior orienteers: Adeline Richmond and Austin Clem.
We are indebted to the time and energy that members put into the sport every week as Controllers, Setters, Organisers and Coaches, the running of schools’ clusters and many other activities. We also acknowledge the considerable time and rigour put into the mapping of areas for events and updating maps for changes in the landscape and standards.
In particular I would like to thank our Management Committee members; Fi Pahor - Secretary, Robin Uppill – a broad range of technical support and promotion, Ian Winn – Treasurer, Jack Marschall - Coaching, Leila Henderson– Newsletter, Publicity and Promotion, Erica Diment - Newsletter, Peter Mayer – MTBO, Mark Overton – IT Manager, Zita Sankauskas – Schools Coordinator, Vanessa Round - Southern Arrows and Adrian Uppill - Mapping Coordinator.
Listed inside are the many other people who play fundamental and important roles in the organisation of our sport. Then there are the club office bearers, and delegates to OSA Council.
We continue to receive generous funding from the State and Federal Governments, and through Orienteering Australia.
National Orienteering Leage Round - Western Australia
Details
On March 8 -9, a small but determined contingent of 6 runners from SA travelled to Perth for the first of the Australian NOL events. In the Middle distance forest event at Malmalling, SA scored 2 first places (Emily Sorenson and Leith Soden) and 2 second places (Angus Haines and Gemma Burley). That afternoon, at Joondalup, we saw another first (Angus Haines) and a 3rd (Emily) in the sprint.
On Sunday morning (9th) Ethan Penck was 1st, Angus 3rd and Leith 4th in the individual sprint at Mt Lawley. In the afternoon Emily and Gemma were 3rd in the W21E relay at Murdoch Uni. Lucy Burley put in a valiant performance in the M21E relay with Leith! This was a 2 person relay where each runner had to go out twice on very tired legs. Unfortunately, we had a couple of mispunches in the relay as fatigue took its toll!
The first NOL round was part of Oceania in New Zealand in late January.
For the results of the NOL round in WA - see Eventor
For the curent team and individual NOL standings see the OA web site NOL page
Thanks to Patsy Burley for the event report.
Below - Angus in the sprint and Emily handing over the Gemma in the Sprint Relay
OSA Yearbook for 2024 is now on YouTube
Details
From the Awards Presentation night, now on YouTube, the Orienteering SA 2024 Yearbook in pictures. Watch with the music of your choice:
Orienteering Presentation Evening 2024
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Orienteering SA Awards Party on Sunday 1st Dec was a fast-paced frolic from start to finish, ably “emceed” by Erica Diment, supported by a slide show from events through 2024. A Sprint Course & Maze designed by trickster Nigel Dobson had several traps for the unwary, with map memory and pace/bearing incorporated. The Maze Duel was likewise a big hit. Nigel calculated there were over 100 sessions as many people collected the set of 4-course Maze practice runs, as well as the Maze Duel and the Sprint multiple times. For the younger a KID-O string course was available.
Most of our guests went away with prizes, which were sponsored by OSA, Aussie O Gear, the Fairgrieves, Kay Haarmsa, and others.
The major awards were
The Course Planners Award went to David Winters of Lincoln Orienteers for his much-talked-about Broccoli Hill Long Distance Championship event.
The Sue Millard Award for Most Improved Juniors were won by Austin Clem and Adeline Richmond.
The John Hall Award was presented to Leila Henderson
The 2024 Orienteer of the Year winners:
M21A Leith Soden W21A Abigail George M20A Jayden Bertram W20A Gemma Burley M16A Marcus Cazzolato W16A Lucinda Fogarty M35A Tyson Hillyard W35A Lexie Ashforth M45A Greg Morcom W45A Jenny Casanova M55A Steve Cooper W55A Zara Soden M65A Andrew McComb W65A Robin Uppill M75A Paul Hoopmann W75A Carol Such M55AS Aylwin Lim W55AS Lan Kelly W45AS Jacqueline Stephens M65+AS Al Sankauskas W65+AS Teri McComb WOB Liz Farquharson
Thank you David Tilbrook for his excellent Sausage Sizzle. Thank you to Aylwin for action pics (see OSA Facebook), and all the helpers, cooks and bakers. Thank you to all who came along in support of your fellow orienteers and donated to the FoodBank Drive.
Have fun, win prizes at the 2024 Orienteering SA Awards!
Details
This year's end-of-year gathering will be extra-special so don't miss out. Gather your friends and family and come along to celebrate another great year of orienteering.
WHEN: Sunday December 1, From 4.30PM till approx 8.30PM .
WHERE: The beautiful Adelaide Angels Baseball Clubrooms at Weigall Oval, North Plympton, just north of Anzac Highway. Enter from Oval Rd for closest carpark.
5pm
Novelty Sprint & Maze with some twist and turns
Christmas themed string course for the kids
6pm Awards presentations for Orienteer of the Year, John Hall Award, Sue Millard Awards for Junior Encouragement, Course Planners Award and Kid-O awards.
Prizes will be awarded for all sorts of reasons during the formal awards, so come along to be in the running.
7pm (immediately following presentations) - FREE Sausage Sizzle, with veggie patty option - BYO drinks - Bring salad and/or dessert to share
This large park setting is perfect. The venue is a lovely room with built-in screen for the presentations, and tables and chairs for your comfort so you can snack during proceedings. You can also BYO chair to sit outside.
Please enter numbers on Eventor to allow for catering and map printing:
The 2024 SA Schools Orienteering Relay Championships was one of our most successful yet, attracting 81 teams, with 162 students from 13 schools to the event at Lochiel Park on 30th August.
Thanks to the enthusiasm of teachers and students, the following schools fielded teams: Adelaide Botanic High School, St John's Grammar School, Cornerstone College, Coromandel Valley PS, Crafers PS, Hawthorndene PS, Heathfield HS, Marryatville HS, Mitcham Girls HS, Stirling East PS, Urrbrae Agricultural HS, Warooka PS and Woodside PS.