The series of 5 sprint events was run in Adelaide over the long weekend, forming a training event for the elite orienteers from SA and interstate as well as lots of fun for other local orienteers. We even had 2 overseas entrants – orienteers from Macau – Jenny Kam (currently studying at Uni SA) and Kong Chak Lon.
The event was conceived by Bridget Anderson and Jim Russell, the OA Head Coach, who also ran all the SI each day,
The events were
Friday 25th – night event on the Belair Golf Course part of Belair NP. This proved challenging for many, being certain which fairway or which group of trees you were in at night. Course planner – Adrian Uppill
Saturday 26th – AM – elites ran a time trial on the North Adelaide University loop, fastest was Martin Dent, who has previously represent Australia in athletics and cross country, and more recently focussed on orienteering
Saturday 26th – PM – Heathfield – the sprint map of the high school has been extended into Woorabinda by Olly Williams, who also planned the courses. The combination of bush and urban proved challenging
Sunday 27th – AM – Flinders University South – here the elites ran heats, followed by a semi-final mass start knockout on courses with looping. This decided the final for the evening’s event. Others ran a normal course (Medium and Short). Locals Simon Uppill, Dante Afnan and Bridget Anderson made the A final. Courses by Patrick Jaffe and Jim Russell
Sunday 27th – PM – Flinders University North – the elite A finals were mass starts on a course with no looping. A bunch of 6 men with Martin Dent leading ran past the finish, however a decisive route choice by Simon Uppill on the 2nd last control gave him the overall win. Courses by Jenny Casanova
Monday 28th – AM – the final event was at Mt Barker – with courses by Jim Russell. Presentations to the overall winners (best 4 of 5 races) were given with successful SA Orienteers being
Open Men – Simon Uppill
Medium Men – Max Grivell, just ahead of Steve Cooper
Medium Women – Zara Soden
Short- Jan Hillyard
All results are here – day by day and overall results (only show those who ran all 5 races).
Max Grivell at the start - Flinders Uni AM
Simon Uppill looks for following runners in the knockout final
Last part of the course knockout sprint - Simon took the left route to control 14.
Many others went right - giving stairs and a long In-Out to the control
Jan Hillyard, Bridget Anderson and Jim Russell at the presentation at Mt Barker
