Category Archives: Club news

Final Illawarra Summer Sprint Event Sunday 22 Feb

Back to SUNDAY this week for the final event in the Illawarra Summer Sprint Series. Usual start time – 10am – 11am. Meet at Shellharbour City Stadium, 110 Croome Road, Croome. For details go to Eventor at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23298

Photos from last weeks event at Albion Park High School.

There be the usual sprint line courses, Short (1.4Km), Medium (2Km) and Long (2.9Km) as well as the opportunity for all competitors to run the short course in the mass start event held after all competitors have returned from their run. Who will be the winner? Will it be local hero Joel Mion or will one of the Sheddon brothers have the honour? If you aren’t interested in participating stay on to watch it – it is very exciting. You can enjoy the free sausage sizzle while you are waiting.

NEWCOMERS: As with all our events newcomers are welcome to enter. There will be members on hand to help you on your way. You can pre-enter using Eventor – in which case you need to register first (follow instructions on How to enter on Eventor as a casual) and then go into the event calendar and select the event. Otherwise you can enter on the day at the event. Payment is by card. No cash.

REMINDER: this is the last chance for newcomers to be in the running for the FREE 12-MONTH 2026 MEMBERSHIP on offer for attending three of our Illawarra Summer Sprint Series. Those eligible will be notified by email of their success with an option to accept or decline this offer. Note the offer is only available to newcomers only (it is not applicable to previous membership holders).

Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell.

Illawarra Summer Sprint #3 this SATURDAY 14 Feb

Photos from last week’s mass start event at University of Wollongong.

NOTE: This week’s Summer Sprint is on SATURDAY

Same time – 10am – 11am at Albion Park High School. 120 Church St, Albion Park. For details go to Eventor at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23297

It will be on for young and old. Not only will there be the usual sprint courses, Short (1Km), Medium (1.7Km) and Long (3Km) there will be a specific 1.5Km course for any competitors game enough to enter the mass start event that starts after competitors have completed their run. Who will be the winner? Will the younger Euan Sheddon repeat last week’s result and beat big brother Rory? Will local hero Joel Mion have a clean run? If you aren’t interested in participating it is worth while staying on to watch it – it is very exciting. You can also enjoy your free sausage sizzle while you are waiting.

REMINDER: CHANCE FOR NEWCOMERS TO WIN A FREE 12-MONTH 2026 MEMBERSHIP by attending three of our Illawarra Summer Sprint Series: Sun Feb 1, Sun 8 Feb, Sat 14 Feb & Sun 22 Feb. After completion of the series, those eligible will be notified by email of their success with an option to accept or decline this offer.
Conditions apply: offer available to newcomers only (not applicable to previous membership holders).

Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell.

Illawarra Summer Sprint #2 at UoW Sunday 8 February

Be ready for some fast decision making on the run at the second Illawarra Summer Sprint event this Sunday 8^th February at the University of Wollongong.

In contrast to last week’s courses at the Kiama Blowhole Headland which featured controls in the rocky foreshore as well as the parkland and a degree of climb, the UoW courses will be flat with many route choice options and opportunities for error. There will be three courses to choose from and the option of running more than one course. Start times are from 10-11am. All competitors must finish by 12noon.

Note: After all competitors have finished there will be a mass start for the short course sprint. Everyone who has run a course is welcome to participate. At the Kiama event this proved very popular amongst both competitors and spectators.

There will be NO sausage sizzle this week as the Uni cafe will be open and available for refreshments.

Pre-entries are recommended but there will be the ability to enter on the day at the event. Pre-entries are via Eventor at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23296. If you haven’t entered before on Eventor you first need to register and then go back to the event webpage to enter and pay on line.

The information flyer on Eventor contains details of location, parking, courses as well as mapping notes. Why not take the train and relax as you travel through the Royal National park and down beside the coast – it is very picturesque. The assembly area is a 20min walk from North Wollongong Station.

Newcomers and families are most welcome to attend. You can walk or run, go individually or as a group. Club members will be on hand to introduce you to the sport and set you on your way.

Members are reminded to renew their membership online if they want to receive the member discount.

First IKO event 2026 – Kings Cross, Wednesday 21 January

IKO is running the Sydney Summer Series event (SSS#16) in the Kings Cross area next week on Wednesday 21 January. It is a 45 minute score event with starts from 4.30 – 6.45pm. Runners must be back by 7.30pm. For event details go to https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/22799

With Natalya as planner and two times champion SSS course setter Sue Froude as controller it is bound to be a challenging course in an area of the city with an interesting history and stunning harbour views. Where else can you run past Iconic buildings designed by early colonial architects, find your way through the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in Australia and finish at the harbour foreshore.

Newcomers are welcome to attend and club members will be available to help you on your way. Pre-entry is highly preferred although limited entry on the day will be available for newcomers who did not have the option to pre-enter. NO CASH ACCEPTED; tap-and-go payments only. Pre-entry closes Tuesday midnight before the event.

As parking is limited a good option is to hop on the train to Kings Cross and wander down to the start/assembly area at Reg Bartley Oval, Rushcutters Bay. Alternatively you can catch the 311 bus from Central Station to Elizabeth Bay Road (Stop ID 201130) and walk down the steps.

Sue Froude – ONSW Volunteer of the Year 2025

At the 2025 Xmas 5 Day event ONSW President announced that Sue Froude had been awarded the ONSW Volunteer of the Year Award for 2025.

Long serving secretary of Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers (IKO) –15 years – Sue is well known, not only to IKO members, but to many of the NSW orienteering fraternity for her contribution to the sport.

As well as efficiently organising club meetings and coordinating our club committee activities Sue looks after the membership of IKO – encouraging newcomers to join the club and making them feel welcome. She is instrumental in planning the club’s annual event program and recruiting members to set/plan courses. She is well qualified to mentor new members in the latter activity having won course setter of the year for Sydney Summer Series events twice – in 2023 (Rushcutter’s Bay) and 2025 (Surry Hills). She was also instrumental in canvasing the inclusion of an IKO event in the SSS calendar.

When Sue isn’t working on her IKO secretary duties she is out and about working on new maps or checking out potential areas for new maps. Sue is a highly active mapper for our club, having produced numerous urban maps across Sydney. Some of her notable mapping projects include Surry Hills, Kings Cross, Queens Park, Double Bay and Darling Point, Yarra Bay, La Perouse, The Corridor (Kirrawee), Sutherland, and Bado-Berong Creek (Sans Souci).

Not content with volunteering a substantial amount of time on IKO club activities Sue has also, in the past, volunteered for ONSW helping out with administrative tasks.

Beyond her organisational and mapping efforts, Sue is prolific in managing the club’s Facebook page. She is especially active in advertising upcoming events, often infusing her posts with humour to engage members and promote club participation.

Congratulations Sue, you are a most deserving recipient of the award.