Get ready for Illawarra Map Running 2022

Organisers are busy preparing for the 2022 season of Summergong, now rebranded as “Illawarra Map Running”. The locations have been locked in with maps focussing on the south of the Illawarra this year, from Gwynneville to Minnamurra.

The annual series returns to a weekly format this year. Although it has a new name the aim remains the same as previous years – to provide opportunities for people new to orienteering to give the sport a go with some easy navigation around the streets, parks and coastal reserves of the Illawarra.

Three courses will be on offer each week – short (2km), medium (4km) and long (6km). Competitors will need to find the fastest way between each marked control on a map to complete the course and return to the finish a potential winner!

Beginners can participate as a group of family or friends, or test themselves individually. Help is always on hand from experienced club members to get you started. Our park and street events do not require a compass – if you can read a street directory or google maps then you can read an orienteering map!

Week 1: Sunday 30 January at Gwynneville
Week 2: Sunday 6 February at Windang
Week 3: Sunday 13 February at Shellharbour
Week 4: Sunday 20 February at Minnamurra

See the coming events page for more details.

Special Promotion!
As for previous years we are offering a FREE CLUB MEMBERSHIP valid to end of 2022 for any non-members that complete 3 out of 4 of the events. Worth $60 for Seniors or $130 for a family!

A Berry Merry Christmas

IKO’s last local event of the year is approaching on Saturday 11 December at Berry. The event starts at the pavillion in Berry Showground between 3-4pm and will feature a new map around the streets and parks of Berry.

Newcomers to the sport are welcome to come and try orienteering with club members on hand to provide guidance. Three courses will be offered, all suitable for beginners – just choose your length – 1.3 km suitable for kids, 3.4 km, or 5.6 km.

Pre-entry is preferred, or register using contactless payment at the event (new participants only). Full details and registration via this link.

River Bay O Series

The River and Bay Orienteering Series has kicked off for 2021. IKO hosted the first event of the series at Botany on 7 November and is hosting the third event at Chifley this coming Sunday 28 November. The event starts from Chifley Sports Reserve and is a new map for IKO.

Full details of the event are HERE.

As IKO is hosting this event we would love some volunteers on the day to help the event run smoothly.

September events cancelled

Due to the extended lockdown in Greater Sydney we sadly have to cancel our two events planned for September (Belanglo and Berry).

Thanks to Keith for all his hard work in preparing a superb new map of Berry East and West for us to add to our growing map collection. We look forward to running around Berry when we are all able to orienteer again.

We are still planning courses for the River Bay O-Series which is due to kickoff Sunday 31/10. Stay tuned for updates on that. In the mean time check out MapRun for any O-courses near you, including our very own one here in Kiama.

Update on events

Another event bites the dust! Rushcutters Bay is always such a lovely map to run on but sadly it will have to wait till next year. Due to continued Covid restrictions this Saturday’s event
on 7 August is CANCELLED.

We still have two events in regional locations pencilled in for September – Belanglo on 11 September and Berry on 25 September. We’ll let you know how things are looking for these events at the end of the month.

For those in the Kiama area we have a new MapRun course you can amuse yourself with thanks to map master David. The course is 3.5-4 km long and takes in the scenic coastline and harbour. You can do it whenever you like, and as many times as you like over the next 12 months.

If you want to give it a go you will need to download MapRun6 from your App store onto your mobile phone (its free). Select ‘Events Near Me’, and the program should find “Kiama–2021-07-18 Course 1 PXAC”. Or select the event from the events listed under NSW then Illawarra.

Once you’ve finished the course your result will be loaded onto the Event results page and you can see if you have bragging rights. You can also look at your splits.

For any questions about the Kiama MapRun course contact David Green on 0409608990.
Rumour has it there may be a second course available very soon (shhhh…. you didn’t hear it from me!)