So what’s a Summer Short?  A new series of short distance, fast-paced, family friendly orienteering events, held on Sunday mornings in October and November.  Think of them as long sprints (rather than short bush) – lots of controls, varied leg lengths, route choices, and many changes of direction.  Winning times are approx 20-25 minutes; most people can expect to complete their course in 30-40 minutes.  Find out more about Summer Shorts – click here

Here’s what we offered:

DROC had a great weekend at the recent Victorian Orienteering Champs.  The Middle Distance and Long Distance events were held at Mt Alexander, near Harcourt.  The map features (a lot of) granite, and some seriously steep slopes, which really tested the mettle of those on longer courses.  The areas closer to the arena are more open and with fewer contours; ideal for shorter courses.   The weather was perfect, and it was beautiful to be out in the forest with the sun shining.

At the end of the weekend, DROC had several new Victorian Champions, and more podium placegetters!  Congratulations to:

Vic Middle Distance Champs:

• 1st Place – Pamela King, Matthew Maunder
• 2nd Place – Elijah Spencer, Helen Walpole, Chris Klep, Damian Spencer
• 3rd Place – Lanita Steer, Peter Dalwood

Vic Long Distance Champs:

• 1st Place – Pamela King, Chris Klep, Simon Rouse
• 2nd Place – Elijah Spencer, Ian Davies, Ray Scaddan
• 3rd Place – Damian Spencer, Debbie Dodd

Have you seen our fantastic new club tops and jackets?  We’ve also refreshed our flag, and you’ll see our amazing new tent wall at the Summer Shorts in October!

Check out the GALLERY for more photos.

We have our first EndurO for 2023 coming up on Saturday July 22, at Bellbird Dell in Vermont.  It’s a 40 control Score course, with a 120 minute option for Runners and Power Walkers, or a shorter 90 minute Run option. Start between 1.30pm and 2.00pm.  Double the map; double the points; double the time; double the fun – but the price remains just $5! Start location is the Vermont South Community Centre, Livingstone Road.  Bring your phone to use MapRun.

Enquiries: droc@iinet.net.au, or 0409 135 020.

Two great bush orienteering events on the same weekend, and really close to Melbourne! Come along to both, and enjoy the competition, the outdoor environment and Victoria’s great orienteering terrain. Everyone is welcome. Courses are available to suit all abilities from beginner to experienced. Coaching, assistance and gear is available to newcomers.

• Vic Series (Bush) event 4, Saturday June 10 – Granite Hills, South Morang (starts between 12.30 – 2.00pm; courses close 3pm) – click here for information and online entry
• Vic Series (Bush) event 5, Sunday June 11 – Gellibrand Hill, Greenvale (starts between 10.00am – 12.00 noon; courses close 2pm) – click here for information and online entry

The Granite Hills map is compact but has it all: giant boulders, detailed quarry workings, beautiful open forest and stunning views of the Melbourne CBD.  The Gellibrand Hill map is fast and fun: open forest, grassy slopes, and scattered rocks on flat to undulating terrain.  There will be a mid-course map flip to mix things up, with a change of map scale to keep you on your toes

Please pre-enter online to ensure you get a map on the day.  Entries close for both events at 11.59 pm Wednesday 7th June. There will be entry on the day while (limited) map stocks last.  All pre-entered competitors go into our random prize draw on Sunday!

Catering (toasties, cakes and cans of soft drink) will be provided by the Victorian Junior Squad, as a fundraiser. We’ll have TV screens and Live Results to add to the atmosphere.  Bring your club tents and flags, and add colour and excitement to this great weekend!

Saturday’s event is brought to you by Melbourne Forest Racers, and Sunday’s event is hosted by DANDENONG RANGES ORIENTEERING CLUB.

DROC has made the 2023 Lyrebird Award to the most outstanding Victorian junior girl, Sophie Taverna. Sophie will use the award to assist with her travel to JWOC in Romania in July, where she is first reserve for the Australian team.  Sophie is not only a top junior elite, but she contributes to orienteering on a number of levels, from mapping, to course setting, to organising.  DROC congratulates Sophie and wishes her every success with her orienteering and travelling.

Online entry is now open for the next event in the Vic MTBO Series, which will be at the scenic and historic venue of Kurth Kiln in Gembrook.  The kiln was established in 1941 to mass produce charcoal as an alternative fuel to petrol due to rationing during WW2.  Enjoy the challenge of navigating on two wheels, amongst the tall timbers.

Arena:  Kurth Kiln picnic ground, Beenak Road, Gembrook.  Toilets and picnic facilities available.  Please bring and carry your own water.

Start and finish times:  Registration opens at 9.30am.  Courses 1-4, start any time between 10am and 12 noon. Score course (2 hours), start any time between 10am and 10.30am.  Courses close at 2pm.

Courses:

• 1 – 27 km
• 2 – 21 km
• 3 – 15 km
• 4 – 9 km
• Score – 2 hours

Courses 1-3 will have two controlled road crossings. Please read the Information Flyer for full details. You will also be briefed at the Start.

Online entry:  now open; entries close on Wednesday 17 May.  A small number of maps will be available for on the day entry.

INFORMATION AND ONLINE ENTRY HERE

You will need a SIAC stick. Loan sticks will be available for an additional $3 – please select SIAC HIRE as a Service when entering online.

DROC fielded four teams in the 2023 Victorian Club Relays, held at Woowookarung on open spur gully terrain, on Sunday April 2.  Our Course 1 team of Simon Rouse, Ian Davies and Damian Spencer tackled the complex 6 km course, finishing a very strong 4th out of 9 teams.  On Course 3, the team of Peter Yeates, Ray Scaddan and Carl Stemp were comfortably midfield in 5th place.  The Newburys were unable to defend their 2022 title on Course 4, with an unfortunate mispunch.  But it was our Course 5 (Mixed) tea, of Elijah Spencer, Glenn Meyer and Sally Barlow that had the result of the day, in second place. Well done to all our teams!

Some great performances, and podium finishes, by DROC members at the Oceania Championships in Tasmania!  The week kicked off with a Sprint race at the UTAS campus in Launceston, always a good challenge.  The action then moved on to the St Helens area, for the Long and Middle Distance Champs, and the Relays.  The Long Distance was a gruelling day on a very physical map with lots of bracken and fallen timber.  The Middle Distance was on a new map in tin mining terrain, much less physical but more technical with small and subtle contour features as well as swamps and creeks.

Congratulations to our podium placers:

• Peter Dalwood – second place in the Oceania Sprint, first place in the Oceania Relay
• Simon Rouse – third place in the Oceania Sprint, first place in the Oceania Relay
• Lanita Steer – first place in the Oceania Relay
• Janine Steer – third place in the Oceania Relay

Other strong performances came from Pam King, 4th in the Sprint; Simon Rouse, 4th in the Long Distance; Janine Steer, 5th in the Middle Distance.

Lanita Steer was selected to represent Australia in the Australia-New Zealand Challenge team, and her team’s win in the Relay, along with her top 10 placings in the individual events, have helped Australia take a resounding victory.

Congratulations to everyone taking part and toughing it out.  Check out our GALLERY.

DROC members have been out enjoying great weather and great course at Summer Series!  Check out the Gallery for photos.  Find out more about Melbourne’s Summer Series of park street orienteering.