Thanks to Peter and Julie for organising such a lovely afternoon for our club event at Grays Point. Scenic bush tracks and perfect temperatures combined for a pleasant outing in the bush. The medium and long courses were a bit challenging length wise but a few club members made it around in less than an hour – Ross and James took 58 and 59 minutes respectively to complete the medium course which was closer to 6km all up, and Alex did a sizzling time of 56 minutes to complete the long course which was 7-8km.

Those of us doing the short course enjoyed the pleasant ramble around the main tracks taking in the scenic rock formations and wilflowers out in bloom.

A belated CONGRATULATIONS to all the IKO members who cleaned up the awards at the QBIII carnival last weekend. The club had six overall winners after three days of competition:   Natalya 2nd (W35A), Shiona 2nd (W45A), Helen 3rd (45AS), Vicki 2nd (55AS), Margaret 2nd (W70A), and Ian 3rd (M65A).

Congratulations to all!

SummerGong 3 at Balgownie

SummerGong wrapped up its third week of competition today with some sizzling temperatures to add to the challenge.  Thankfully Simon had chosen a beautiful old fig tree as the starting point which provided ample shade for the post-run recovery.

In Week 2 it was a strong southerly sea breeze (more like cyclonic wind) that provided the environmental challenge (that, and the hunt for a parking spot around the very busy Bulli Beach).

In Week 1 everyone enjoyed exploring the Wollongong Botanic Gardens and the laid-back old -fashioned question and answer format was a novel change, not to mention the honesty system for recording your start and finish time.

30 plus people attended the first two events, with a few new faces turning up, and the free kids courses proving popular.  Today there were 21 people who came to check out the streets and reserves of Balgownie and Fairy Meadow.

For more photos of the events see our FaceBook page (photos courtesy of Salme).

Summergong concludes next week at Windang – who will take out the series?  Our own weather guru Simon is looking a strong contender in the Long course, or will it be dark horse Matt Ryan from Gerringong?  In the medium course its Kev Curby and John Hodgson who currently lead the score board. In the short course the enthusiastic Sheddon brothers are in the lead having competed in every week so far. Other enthusiastic juniors who have become regulars at IKO events are Keith’s grandchildren Cooper and Flynn.

SummerGong 1 at Wollongong Botanic Gardens

The Southern Sydney Summer Series finished in December 2017 with IKO hosting two of the 8 events.  A big thank you to Kev Curby for organising the event at Monterey and to Margaret Duguid for the event at Rushcutter’s Bay.  32 competitors took part on the map at Monterey, a cool day but comfortable running on Kev’s well set course. Forty-one people participated on the inner eastern suburb map of Rushcutter’s Bay that had been extended to the west to take in the sights and delights of Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo and to challenge runners with the hill climb.  These 45 minute score events are well worth a try and a lot of fun.

Congratulations to Sue Froude and Nathan Ardren for coming in 1^st place in their categories across the 2017 series.

Final Scores

Junior Men:  Cameron Will 4^th

Veteran Men:   James Stuart 7^th     David Green 10^th     Philippe Donnadieu 13^th

Legends Men:  Kev Curby 4^th         Keith Jay 9^th

Walking Men:   Nathan Ardren 1^st

Super Veteran Women:  Sue Froude 1^st

Legends Women:   Margaret Duguid 4^th       Robin Donnadieu 5^th