Author Archives: Debbie Dodd

Race 1 of the 2026 Summer Shorts and Sprints series is almost here!  Be there for the action on Sunday 18 October, as we launch a brand new map to kick off another great season, at Dandenong Showgrounds.  This one might surprise you!  Interspersed with fast, open running, there is plenty of fine detail to make you think.  Stockyards, small sheds, tiny forest tracks, subtle contours – its all there waiting for you.

The Mad Dash is back! Vie for a prize as the fastest runner on your course, on the nominated leg.

• Map:  Dandenong Showgrounds, full colour, 1:4000
• Directions:  Greaves Reserve, Attenborough Street off Bennet Street, Dandenong.  Park as directed.
• Times:  Register from 10.30am.  Start any time from 11am-12pm. Courses close 1pm.
• Courses:  choose any of Long (4.2 km), Medium (3.0 km) or Short (2.2 km, easier navigation)

How to enter:  Enter online here before the entry cutoff of Thursday 15 October; or enter on the day at Registration (subject to map availability)

Entry fees:  Adults $12, Juniors (13-20) $6, and Kids (under 13) Run Free!!

Included:  colour map, loan of Sportident timing stick if required, loan of compass if required

We are hoping to offer a free coaching session – details to be confirmed.

Brought to you by Dandenong Ranges Orienteering Club.  Mapper and course planner: Nick Wakeling, assisted by Peter Dalwood

Add some sizzle to your Spring and Summer, at the 2026 series of sprint and short distance races in parks and campuses on  Sunday mornings.  Race at a different venue each week during October and November – the perfect lead-in to the Geelong City Race, the Victorian Primary Schools Champs, and the Victorian Sprint Champs.

Entries are NOW OPEN for Race 1 and 2 – use the links below.

Here’s what to expect:

• a great selection of full colour maps
• three action-packed, fun courses, with something for everyone from newcomers to top sprinters
• designed for fast thinking, with lots of controls, direction changes and route choices
• choose your own start time and course
• Sportident electronic timing, in Air mode (Sportident stick loan included in entry fee)
• Inflation-busting entry fees!  Kids Run Free at SSAS events – applies to under 13s.  Kids aged 13-20 pay just $6, and adults pay only $12
• Coaching and assistance for newcomers, and a family-friendly outdoor activity; no limits on age or ability, and no previous experience or special equipment needed

SSAS 2026 Events:

• Sun October 18 – Dandenong Showgrounds (new map) – ENTRIES OPEN UNTIL THURS 15 OCTOBER – click here to enter
• Sun October 25 – Burnley Campus, University of Melbourne – ENTRIES OPEN UNTIL THURS 22 OCTOBER – click here to enter
• Sun Nov 1 – Newport Lakes
• Sun Nov 8 – Ruffey Lake Park
• Sun Nov 15 – Waverley Stadium
• Sun November 22 – Geelong City Race
• Sun November 29 – Victorian Sprint Champs

Find out more:  https://www.vicorienteering.asn.au/ssas

Questions?  email enquiries@drocorienteering.com.au

Congratulations to club members for some outstanding results at the recent Victorian Short, Middle and Long Distance Championships!

Victorian Middle Distance Championships, Lake Jubilee:

• Championship winners:  Opus Greenhan, Rob Murphy
• Second place:  Pam King
• Third place: Victoria Greenhan, Nick Wakeling, Romain Portier

Non Championship results:

• First place: Ian Davies, Darwin Greenhan
• Second place: Indi Gowan
• Third place: Kane Leggett

Click here for photos (thanks Romain!)

Victorian Short Distance Championships, Tarnagulla:

• 5th place: Opus Greenhan

Victorian Long Distance Championships, Metcalfe:

• Championship winners:  Janine Steer, Romain Portier
• Second place: Simon Rouse, Chris Klep, Pam King, Darwin Greenhan,
• Third place: Nick Wakeling, Victoria Greenhan, Opus Greenhan

Well done to all of the DROC teams who took to the field in the 2026 Club Relays!  Congratulations to our Course 3 team of Rob Murphy, Matthew Maunder and Graham Wallis, who took second place.  Other strong performances came from Lanita Maunder, Romain Portier and Martin Steer, who were fifth on Course 2, and Nick Wakeling, Peter Dalwood and Stuart McWilliam, who were sixth on Course 3.

Photos from the day:

Fascinated by maps?

If you’d like to learn more about how maps are produced, come along to the next Skill Up Saturday Session.  Our expert mappers will take you on a journey of discovery, as you learn and practice techniques for fieldworking a colour map.

When:  Saturday 1 August, 2pm-4pm

Where:  Koomba Park, Mountain Highway, Wantirna

This session is free for members of Bayside Kangaroos and Dandenong Ranges Orienteering Clubs, and $10 for other club members and casuals.  But you do need to pre-register so that we have sufficient maps for everyone.

Click here to register before the closing date of Friday July 31: https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/24197

If there is enough interest, we’ll organize a follow-up desktop session on translating fieldwork to the digital map

Brought to you by Dandenong Ranges Orienteering Club and Bayside Kangaroos.

MelbushO returned to the popular Westerfolds Park, starting from the south.  After a short sharp climb uphill, courses took everyone into the lovely open forest along the creek, onto some tiny trails, and across the grassy slopes where kangaroos were out in force.  We were once again so lucky with perfect weather, and everyone came back smiling.

Courses were planned by Elijah, one of our junior members. Despite his youth, Elijah has been orienteering for many years with his dad Damian.  Elijah has been over in Genoa, Italy competing at the Five Days of Italy, where he placed 4^th overall.  The highlight of the trip was being a flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the World Orienteering Championships!

Elijah found a new area of the park, in the southwest corner.  After some remapping of the vegetation, he placed a tricky loop of controls there for Course 1 and 2.  Many people told us that they really enjoyed going to this new section and figuring out route choices.

Head to our Gallery to see photos of DROC members in action, both out on the course and putting in the hard yards as volunteers.

Click here to see all the results, split times and livelox routes

Click here to view our Photos from the Finish Line

Come along to our next Saturday afternoon skills session – all ages and abilities welcome.  Pre-registration is required, and closes 1 day prior to each session.  Cost per session $10; free to Bayside Kangaroos and Dandenong Ranges OC members.  Registration is open now for each session.

Session 3 – Sat July 11, Pipemakers Park, Maribyrnong – Step Up To Sprints

More info and online registration

• Kick your sprint orienteering into gear and find out what makes short distance navigation so much fun

What: Learn and practice the skills you need to improve your sprint orienteering skills.   This 3 hour session will provide techniques, tips and tricks, and plenty of map based activities.

When: Saturday 11 July, 1pm-4pm

Where: Pipemakers Park, Maribyrnong

Free for members of Bayside Kangaroos and Dandenong Ranges Orienteering Clubs; other participants welcome, for $10, payable on the day.

Participants need to pre-register through Eventor or by contacting Debbie at enquiries@drocorienteering.com.au

All ages and abilities are welcome. 

Congratulations to DROC members Opus and Samuel, who have been named in the Victorian Schools Team, after strong performances in the selection races.  Both boys will be travelling to the ACT later this year, to compete in the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships.  They will race in Sprint, Long Distance and Relay competitions.  We wish them both every success.

Fantastic day at Wellington Chase, with physically challenging courses on the granite slopes, interspersed with flat fast running around the Birdsland lakes.  Spectacular views from the hilltops were enjoyed in the glorious early morning sunshine as controls were placed, and then by competitors pausing for a well earned breather as they completed the climb.

Check out the results and split times, and have a look at Livelox to compare your route with others on the same course.

Results, Splits, Livelox

Enjoy the photos in our Gallery, including some amazing shots taken as controls were being put out.

Congratulations to Damian Spencer, winner of the 2025 Orienteering Victoria President’s Award.  Damian was chosen because of his ongoing role as OV’s Participation Officer, assisting and supporting participation projects, most notably the Learn To Orienteer program.

Congratulations also to Pam King and Peter Dalwood, who were unanimously selected as DROC’s Club Volunteers of the Year.  Peter and Pam have been exceptional volunteers in the club, consistently going above and beyond in both leadership and service. They have taken the lead on mapping initiatives with skill and dedication, contributed thoughtfully as active members of the committee, and built strong, positive connections through their work with local schools. Their reliability, initiative, and collaborative spirit have made a lasting and highly valued impact on the club and the wider community.