South Australians travelled to QLD to participate in the Prologue and Australian Three Day events near Kingaroy in Queensland, followed by the NOL and Public sprints at various locations on the Gold Coast.

The results of the Prologue are here and the overall results for the 3 Days here.  The prologue was a bush sprint, in open terrain with granite outcrops.  Days 1 and 2 were in relatively friendly open forest (as at the last control below) with granite outcrop and low to moderate climb. Day 3 by contrast was in physically more demanding terrain.

As an introduction to the Gold Coast, an event was held in sand dunes of the Southport Spit, with courses of Middle Distance Format through the dunes and on the beach.  For courses see here

The sprints began with a night relay at Coomera Anglican College, adding to the challenge of being at night was heavy rain before the event and near the end.  The senior team of Evalin Brautigam, Angus Haines, Simon Uppill and Emily Sorensen (below) lead for the whole race with consistent runs by all 4.  The junior team was fourth.

Saturday sprints for the elites were a morning qualifier followed by the final at Griffith University Campus.  Juniors and Seniors ran the same event. Angus Haines (finished 3^rd), Ethan Penck, Simon Uppill and Leith Soden made the men’s’ final. Evalin Brautigam, Zoe Carter, Bridget Uppill, and Joanna and Abigail George made the women’s final.  Results are here.  Non elites ran a selection of shorter hard to easy courses.

 Sunday was a knockout sprint for the elites, with 4 rounds for the men and 3 for the women, with short races from 5 to 8 mins in duration.  For some rounds competitor had to choose a map option for part of the course (as in the example - the start shown was a control during the course and not the actual start).  These events saw many sprint finishes, with Angus, Ethan Simon in the men’s semis, with Angus who was then 2^nd , and Ethan 5^th going to the final. In the women, Bridget, Joanna and Zoe ran in the semis. Zoe went on to win the final, leading the whole race after making a better route choice to the first control.  A fanatastic result for Zoe still being a junior. 

Non-elites also participated in knockout races, or standard shorter sprint courses.

For all the final results see here

For photos see the OSA Facebook page and Evalin’s photography page.

The final results for the Natioanl League season are here - the best was a seond by the senior women. For individuals, Angus Haines and Emily Sorensen were both 4th, Joanna George 5th, and Ethan Penck, Bridget Uppill and Simon Uppill all 6th.

Who? The Southern Darts is a training squad for junior orienteers aged 8-12 most likely learning easy-beginner moderate navigation. We are a social squad focused on helping children

• to become more independent with their orienteering skills to move away from shadowed orienteering with a parent and
• for those coming from primary school orienteering and wanting to learn more advanced skills in a competitive setting.

What? Each year Orienteering SA hosts a number of training sessions for the Darts. These are usually held in the first and second half of the year. The training at the beginning of the year is to help juniors become more confident with their skills to help them with SA Schools orienteering champs and other bush competitions. The training in the second half of the year is to extend those skills learnt in the beginning of the year as the juniors transition into Summer orienteering events and into the new year. Juniors aged 8-12 are welcome to join at any stage of the year. New members are always welcome!

When? Trainings for the first half of the year will be held in conjunction with orienteering events. The trainings will be held 30mins before the events start using the same map the event will be on. The aim of the training is to learn a new skill before the event to practice in the event after. The trainings are free but you must register for the event on Eventor as normal. Parents are more than welcome to also participate in the trainings (in fact, be prepared to get involved!)

Training days (in conjunction with events that you must register for on Eventor)

27th March- Belair NP - Which way is north? How to make rough bearings

3rd April- Stony fell - reading the map and learning what the symbols mean

1st May- Morphett Vale - using a linear feature to find your control

15th May- Wadmore Park - Relocation. Using the features around me to figure out where I am

29th May- Mt Crawford - Using bearings to go cross country (cutting corners)

If you wish to attend the trainings before the events, Please contact Bridget Uppill to let her know. Please be there 5 mins before the training starts to be ready to go (be at training at 9:25am for training to start at 9:30. Events after start at 10am)

Bridget Uppill- coaching coordinator for Orienteering SA

coaching(at)orienteering.asn.au