Author Archives: Debbie Dodd

PARK AND STREET SATURDAY SERIES – ENDURO 2, JULY 2, BORONIA GULLY

PARK AND STREET SATURDAY SERIES – ENDURO NO 2, JULY 2, BORONIA GULLY

Our second long distance EndurO is on Saturday July 2, using a combination of maps covering Boronia and Ferntree Gully (yes there will be some hills … but also some lovely sections along creeks and bike trails).  This is a Score event with 40 controls – visit as many as you can to score as many points as possible.  There are four courses – 120 min Run, 120 min Walk, 90 min Run, and 90 min Walk.  PLEASE NOTE CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED 75 MIN COURSES.

Location: Boronia Park, Park Crescent (eastern end towards Dorset Road)
Start times: 120 min Run and Walk start at 2.00pm, finish at 4.00pm.  90 min Run and Walk start at 2.15pm (NOTE EARLIER START), finish at 3.45pm.

We provide: Maps, control cards, pens/pencils, plastic bags
Please bring a watch, and water.  There are toilets at the Start and out on the course.
Registration opens at 1.30pm.  There will be an important Briefing and map handout 5 mins prior to each Start time.
Cost: $5 adults, $2 juniors.  No charge for Saturday season ticket holders.

NEW QUESTION FORMAT!  Instead of choosing from 3 answers to a question, there will be a statement, with an answer of either YES or NO; eg “The letterbox at no 28 is made of wood”.  If the letterbox is made of wood, answer Y.  If it is made of something else, answer N.  We expect this will lead to less time spent at the controls, and more time to score points!

Another top DROC event – enquiries to Debbie Dodd, debbiedodd@iinet.net.au, or 0409 135 020.

DROC put on a show at Yellow Gum Park for our special MelbushO event.  We had upwards of 150 eager competitors who tested their navigational skills in the terrain which varied from steeply contoured riverside slopes, to gentle spurs and gullies, to complex mounds and pits – a little bit of everything.

Check out the full results, and some great photos, at www.melbusho.com.  The standout performer was junior James, who was second on course 4, and (unofficially) second on course 3.

Our fundraising efforts were hugely successful – we sold 150 jars of jam, and did extremely well with the raffle.  Not only will our own juniors, Lanita, Asha, and Sarah, be assisted with their travel expenses for JWOC and Aus Champs, but we’ll be able to make a donation to the Victorian Junior Squad.  Thanks to everyone who helped out today and made the day another success story.

Check the GALLERY for photos.

Lanita and Asha are off to JWOC!  The Australian team to contest the Junior World Orienteering Championships was announced, and the dynamic duo are part of the 12-member squad.  JWOC will be held from July 9-16, in the Engadine region of Switzerland.

It will be Lanita’s final JWOC and she has been training hard, proving her fitness and skill by winning the Australian UltraLong in South Australia, by 4 minutes.  Asha joins her sister for the second time, coming off some excellent results in the Australian Easter 3-Day carnival.

Lanita and Asha at the start of the UltraLong – click to enlarge

Before flying off to Europe, both girls will compete in New Zealand next month, in the Aus-NZ Test match, representing the Australian Bushrangers.

Our next MelbushO on Sunday June 19 at Plenty Gorge Park, will be a major fundraiser to support our Juniors.  We’ll be selling jams and relishes, and holding a raffle with a fantastic prize of a $120 voucher from Rebel Sport.  The next issue of Punchline will have a special feature on all our up and coming junior orienteers.

Congrats Asha and Lani, we wish you every success!

DROC members enjoyed bush events in two States – while some headed to the Flinders Ranges for the South Australian Championships, others stayed closer to home at Balt Camp, a short drive north of Melbourne.  Great results were achieved in both locations.

In the SA Middle Distance Champs, Janine placed 4th, Peter D came 5th, and Simon was 6th in M21E, a very impressive result in a National event.  The Ultralong next day saw Lanita claim victory by 4 minutes in the final JWOC selection race.  Janine gained a podium finish with 3rd, Peter D maintained consistency with another 5th, and Pete and Ilze finished first and second respectively in the Enter on Day categories.  While we now wait for the all important JWOC team announcement, both Lanita and Asha are in the Junior Bushrangers team to represent Australia in New Zealand.

Meanwhile closer to home, we enjoyed superb weather and terrain that proved more of a challenge than expected, at Balt Camp.  Despite most of us admitting to multiple errors, we had some good results with Debbie winning Course 6, Denise second on Course 3, Arika and Luca were third and fourth on Course 8, and Sarah, Peter H and Peter G were 5th on their courses.  Andras, Ian, and Leo were all in the top half on Course 1 or 2 so all around not a bad day!

DROC members were out in force on a beautiful Autumn Sunday at Westerfolds Park, for the first MelBushO event of 2016.  It was great to see such a strong contingent which included a number of our younger, and newer orienteers.  Everyone had a great time, and we saw some top performances, particularly from Prez Pete who won A course in a sizzling 34 minutes; and Eric Louw who was second on C course in a speedy 26 minutes.  Others to impress were Ian Dodd, Andras Bogdanovits, Ian Davies and James Love, who were all inside the top 10 on their courses.

Check out the Gallery for photos from the event.

The next MelBushO is on Sunday April 17 at Cardinia Reservoir, and it’s DROC’s turn to host.  Courses have been set by Pam King.  MelBushO events are a perfect introduction for newcomers who would like to learn bush orienteering, in locations close to Melbourne.  They are ideal for families looking for an outdoor activity they can do together, and for experienced navigators wanting to keep fit and hone their skills.

There is no need to pre-enter; simply register and pay on the day.  You can choose any of four courses – Long Hard, Short Hard, Moderate, or Easy.  Start any time from 10am until 12 noon.  Please remember that courses close at 1pm, so make sure you arrive with plenty of time to complete your course by that time.

Sportident electronic timing will be used – if you have your own SI stick, bring it to Registration for touch screen entry.  If not, you can borrow one at Rego.  Coaching, equipment loan and refreshments are all included in your entry fee of $10 for adults and $5 for juniors.

Enquiries: voaATiinet.net.au or 0409135020.

DROC members were out in force at the Melbourne Sprint Weekend, completing 6 fast and furious sprint orienteering races over 3 days, in Melbourne and Geelong.  Points were earned for each race, and accumulated to determine the overall winners.

Lanita Steer won the Junior Women Elite category by 1 point,after 3 first places and 2 seconds.  Asha Steer was third in the same category.  The events were selection trials for the JWOC team which is good news for our girls.

Junior Luca Bogdanovits placed second overall in W12, in her debut at sprint orienteering, an excellent achievement.  Sarah Davies was also second in Junior Girls, while Ryan Davies won Senior Boys.   Andras Bogdanovits was first in M40 with a consistent result in each race.

Martin Steer placed second in M50, while Ian Davies and Ian Dodd tied for 4th.  Peter Grover was second in M70, also with a string of very consistent results.

Check here for photos from the weekend.

The Park and Street Championship Final will be conducted on Monday 29 February, on the Gladeswood Spur map, in Mulgrave, starting at 7pm.  The course setter is Ian Greenwood, and the host club is Dandenong Ranges.

Please arrive in plenty of time to park, register and prepare. Toilets will be open, and drinking water will be provided.

Congratulations to DROC’s 2016 Finalists!

Peter Hobbs, Andrew Hester, Simon Rouse,  Ian Dodd, Ian Davies, Colin Pearce, Tony Bird, Phil Torode, Peter Dalwood, Cassy Dutton, Janine Steer, Debbie Dodd, Denise Pike, Peter Grover, Christine Palmer, Ros King and Pam King.

Here are some photos of DROC members enjoying the Eastern Summer Series at Camelot Rise