On 29th June IKO is hosting the NSW Sprint Championships on the campus of the University of Wollongong. Planner David Green has been working hard to make sure the maps are up to date and the courses are both fun and challenging. Previously we have hosted the Schools Championships at the Uni in 2017 which was a raging success.
Wollongong Uni is a lovely campus with the usual tricky navigation between buildings and some lovely gardens and bushland for greenery.
Start times for the sprint championship will be allocated between 12:30-1:15pm. After the main event competitors have the option of sticking around for a 3-person relay. Form your own teams of 3 on the day for a quick 1.5km sprint just for fun (no pre-entry needed). Presentations for the NSW Sprints will be held at 3pm after the relay.
Due to the current high water levels in the Georges River at Appin IKO have made the decision to postpone our event tomorrow. As the course involves multiple crossings of the river safety is our number one concern. An alternative date will be arranged soon. Stay safe and dry!
It is now time to turn to the Autumn events calendar and the first of the Metro League events – the annual inter-club competition for greater Sydney metropolitan clubs. IKO is responsible for organising the first Metro League event this year which will be at Appin on Sunday 7th April. All members are encouraged to attend. Anyone volunteering to help out on the day will be able to enter the event and have a run, but you need to pre-enter and let our Club Captain James Stuart know at ikorienteers@gmail.com. Entries close at Midnight 6th April.
The Metro League runs from April through until August/September with events conducted on one Sunday morning per month. Teams of five compete against each other. Courses are of a Moderate (Division 4-6) or Hard (Division 1-3) standard and a variety of distances. New members are especially welcome to come along and find out what it’s all about. If you would like to run in a team contact our Club Captain James Stuart at ikorienteers@gmail.com. If you haven’t done bush orienteering before we suggest you enter Division 6.
Otherwise turn up and compete in one of enter on the day courses that will be available. There will club members on hand to help you with your bush navigation. For event details and to enter go to https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/20286.
Bush Navigation Skills Training Day – Saturday 6 April
Bold Horizons are running a bush navigation skills day at Campbelltown on the day before the Metro League event. The workshops will run from 9am to 3pm. Introductory, intermediate and advanced orienteering skill sessions will be offered. The day will be split into three sessions with a variety of exercises aimed at improving specific orienteering and navigation skills. You need to register for the training day – Entries close Thursday 4th April. For further information go to https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/20426
Why not make a weekend of it – brush up your bush navigation skills at Campbelltown on Saturday and test them out at the Metro League at Appin on Sunday.
As in previous years, IKO will be hosting a series of 4 Sunday events in the Illawarra beginning 4 February 2024. The series aims to promote the sport of orienteering in the Illawarra and encourage first-timers to give it a go in a safe and welcoming environment. All courses are based around local parks and streets.
Starts are from 10-11am Sundays and competitors have the choice of short, medium or long courses. Families and groups welcome!
4 February – South Wollongong 11 February – Kiama Downs 18 February – Thirroul 3 March – Shell Cove
Entries are preferred via Eventor as it gives us a good idea of how many people to expect. But enter on the day is possible (card payments only) for beginners.
A special offer to newcomers – compete in at least 3 events and receive a free 12 month membership with our club!
IKO is starting the 2024 season with a bang Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers are hosting Sydney Summer Series event #14 on Wednesday 3rd January in Cooper Park (photo). Think meandering pathways, bridges, grottoes in this riparian forest area encompassed by streets and laneways of Woollahra and Bellevue Hill. This is a score event (30 controls) and will test your skills in choosing a route that will maximise your points.
An enlarged version of the bushland reserve will be on the flip side of the map to make it easier for competitors to read and navigate through.
Access in the reserve requires orienteers to keep to the pathways at all times.
