Tag Archives: illawarra

Attention Athletes! IKO Strava Club officially launched.

Join the Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers community, track your training, and connect with runners across the region. Joining the IKO Strava Club is a great way to add a bit of friendly competition amongst members. Track your weekly totals, chase segment times, and cheer on teammates as they hit their goals.  Click here to join.

Many IKO members already use Strava, which is like the social media for sports people. It  works on any smartphone and can be connected to your watch. You record your walk or run, and it automatically appears in the club feed if you join the IKO Strava club, however there are privacy controls if you don’t want this to happen. Note: you need to register with Strava in order to join the IKO Strava Club.

For many athletes, Strava becomes a fun way to keep active, celebrate progress, and now to stay connected with the Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers community. Whether you’re doing a short coastal walk, a gentle jog, or a full training session, your activity counts and you can celebrate your progress with fellow club mates.

Parkrun enthusiasts

There is also the opportunity for IKO members to join the IKO group if you do Parkrun. Search for Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers in the Parkrun app under Extras – Clubs. You can download the app at https://www.parkrun.com.au/

For those new to Parkrun it is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. Parkrun is 5k and takes place every Saturday morning at one of the 550 locations across Australia. Junior parkrun is 2k, for 4 -14 year olds and their families, and is run on Sunday mornings.

A run with a difference  – Stanwell Park Sunday 23 August

The courses for this week’s orienteering event incorporate routes through an open-air art gallery known as “Art in the Park”.  Dotted along the tracks are giant bird’s nests each containing a solitary ceramic egg, hand painted by local artists and community members. There is even a giant human sized bower.

 The usual range of short, medium and long line courses are available. Starts are between 10 – 11am.  See https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/24392 for details and to pre-enter.  For newcomers enter on the day will be available. Payment by card  or bank transfer only. Club members will be available to help you on your way.

Make a day of – catch the train, it is only a 15min downhill walk to the start. After the event join IKO members at the local beach café and/or walk the famous Seacliff Bridge  

Local event at Stanwell Park Sunday 23 August

Come along and enjoy a run in Stanwell Park before the hoards arrive for the summer. There will be three line courses available short, medium and long as well as a walking category for those not keen on running. All comers are welcome. For those interested in trying orienteering club members will be available to introduce you to the sport and set you on your way.

Starts are from 10 – 11am from Stanwell Park Beach Reserve. Details about the event including the exact location are available from Eventor at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/24392 Pre-entries are encouraged although it will be possible to enter on the day. Payment will be via credit card or bank transfer. No cash. To enter on line you first need to register with Eventor .

The Stanwell Park Kiosk /Park and Tide Cafe is close to the assembly area and will be open for breakfast and lunch. So why no take the opportunity to stay after the event and discuss your route choices with fellow orienteers over lunch or a coffee.

IKO Junior headed for Canberra

A big CONGRATULATIONS to IKO Junior Pippa who has been selected to compete at the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships to be held in Canberra in September 2026. Pippa has been demonstrating her rising talent at all levels of orienteering this year, from local events, to Metroleague and State League events (pictured here at Baal Bone on the Kings Birthday weekend).

Congratulations to Pippa and the other selected members of the team. We wish them good luck for the competition later this year!

Senior Girls:
Jessica Dunn
Matilda Saunders

Senior Boys:
Alton Freeman
Ho Lam Marcus Cheung
Matthew Slater
Rory Shedden

Junior Girls:
Alexandra Slater
Charlotte Seeto
Isobel Newton
Justine de Remy de Courcelles
Pippa Whitten
Tiffany Palmer

Junior Boys:
Baxter Peel
Euan Shedden
Harrison Grubits
Michael (Guoxuan) Zhao
Presley Scouller-Evan’s
William Headley
Shay Sweeney

IKO Club Champion 2025

Congratulations to Phil Whitten who is the overall 2025 IKO Club Champion. Throughout the year Phil took part in a cross-section of local, Metroleague and State League events, competing in 15 of the 22 events held during the year (as well as being very fast!). He was in the winning Division 2 Metroleague league team and a placegetter in the NSW Championships coming 3rd in both the Middle distance and Long distance races in M35A.

Not to be outdone by her father, daughter Pippa Whitten was awarded the individual medal for Division 5 in the Metroleague competition and came home from the NSW Champs with a 2nd place in both the Middle and Long distance events in W14A. An excellent performance in her first year of competition.