IKO’s year of orienteering begins on February 7 with our annual SummerGong Series.  Set over four consecutive Sunday mornings the series is ideal for beginners to find out what orienteering is all about.  For experienced orienteers its a chance to stretch our legs and tune up our navigation after the Christmas break, all while taking in the scenic parks and coastline that the Wollongong region offers.

While previous years have spaced the events over a wider area of the Illawarra, this year the club has chosen to focus on the Wollongong area.  The first event will be held at Stuart Park at North Wollongong, followed by events at Thirroul, McCabe Park and Flagstaff Hill.  See the Coming Events page for more details.  All events are also listed on the Orienteering Eventor site.

Club captain Kevin Curby says the event is specifically designed to introduce people in the Illawarra to the sport of orienteering. You can compete as an individual or go with a buddy or family group.

“If you can read a street directory then you can read an orienteering map” he says. “Just go at your own pace; walk, jog or run. For this introductory series we use urban areas, parks, streets and beaches.”

Club members will be on hand to assist beginners with map reading and navigation. All of the events will take the form of a 45 minute “score event” where competitors try to visit as many controls (or checkpoints) as possible within the time limit. The person with the highest score wins.

The series winner (with the highest score over the four events) will win a complementary membership to Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers for 2016 (for anyone not already a member of an orienteering club).

The fifth season of the Southern Sydney Summer Series commenced on October 11 at Maroubra, the first in the series of eight events to be held on Sunday afternoons from now until early December 2015.

The Southern Sydney Summer Series showcases the wonderful parks, reserves and bushland of the Eastern Suburbs and Inner West. It mixes exercise – at whatever pace you like (walk, jog or run) – with a simple navigational challenge. If you can read a street directory you can do it! It’s a great way to explore a suburb.

Competitors have 45 minutes to get to as many of the 30 checkpoints (called controls) as possible, using a specially prepared map of the area. The checkpoints are worth different amounts, and you may plan your route before starting.

Go solo, with a buddy or in a small group of family or friends. Beginners are welcome and will receive basic instruction.

Each event will run late on Sunday afternoon with starts available any time between 4-6pm. All events use SportIdent electronic timing and SI sticks can be hired at each event.

Each event will stand alone but there will also be an accumulative point score over the series, with the four best results counted.

Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers are running two events this series, one at Double Bay on October 25 and one at Earlwood on November 15.

See the Coming Events page for further details on all event locations.

Orienteers new and old are invited to join the Illawarra Kareelah Orienteering Club for the annual SummerGong Series. This will be the second year for the event, which aims to introduce new-comers in the Illawarra to the sport of orienteering.

Orienteering is suitable for runners and walkers, both young and old. You can participate as an individual or go as a family or group of friends. Orienteering provides the challenge of navigating your way around a course using a map to find marked flags or ‘controls’ . If you can read a street map then you will be able to successfully find your way around the course without any special equipment. All you need is a pair of joggers, comfortable outdoor clothing and a desire to try a fun new activity.

This year’s series has been designed to make use of the Illawarra’s scenic beaches and coastline with the first event kicking off at Lake Entrance on Saturday February 14. Other events will be held on Saturday afternoons at Stanwell Park, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

See links below for further information.

Promotion SummerGong 2015

Summergong Series General information 2015

Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers are inviting anyone who is interested in having a go at orienteering to attend their SummerGong Series which begins on Saturday February 15^th.

Designed for both newcomers and experienced orienteers, the four-week series will see competitors using their navigational skills to visit as many check points as possible in a 45 minute time-frame.  The competitor with the highest score wins the event. Although speed can help you win, running is optional and many people enjoy orienteering at a walking pace.

Club President Kevin Curby says anyone who can read a street directory is capable of orienteering.

“Beginners are always welcome at our events, and there are always club members on hand to provide some basic coaching.  You can go by yourself or as part of a group.  Orienteering is a great way to explore parts of the Illawarra that you never knew existed.”

The first event will be held at Stuart Park in Wollongong, with subsequent events at Thirroul, Shell Cove and Shellharbour Village.  Each of the courses will cover parks and local streets, so a compass is not necessary.

Details of all events can be found on the Coming Events page and on the ONSW Eventor website.

What are you doing for Easter next year?

The Easter 2014 carnival is being organised by Orienteering NSW on maps in the Lithgow and Rylstone area. Rob Vincent, Ron Pallas and Nick Dent have been appointed by the ONSW Board as Event Directors and have been planning for this event for the last two years. We are anticipating that up to 800 orienteers will participate in this major carnival which offers seven events in nine days over the Easter holidays and the following Anzac Day long weekend.

The Event Directors need teams of volunteers to help with the running of the events on each of the four days of the Easter events. As this event is a NSW event and all the benefits that occur as a result of these events will be for all orienteers, we are asking both clubs and individuals to consider offering to help as part of one of the teams.  By volunteering you will be rostered on to help at certain times during the events BUT you will still be able to compete (in fact we want you to compete).

Teams required:  Start, Finish (IT), Parking, Logistics (arena setup and move), Presentations, Registration, Control collection, Meetings Co-ordinator, Information tent

We already have some volunteers however, many more will be required to enable these events to proceed smoothly.  You can volunteer by emailing Nick Dent and indicate the team that you or your club (with names) would like to help with – nickdent7@gmail.com