Tag Archives: illawarra

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.   

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: 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 8th 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.

Run the Illawarra this summer – sprint series starts 1 February

The Illawarra Summer Series kicks off on Sunday morning 1 February and will run every weekend in February. This year the series takes the form of sprint events set on new maps. Starts will be from 10-11am. See below for dates, locations and links to Eventor for details of individual events. Pre-entries are encouraged and should be made through Eventor.
Note: the event at Albion Park will be on Saturday while all other events are Sunday.  

Date and TimeLocationDetails.
Sunday 1 February 10 – 11amKiamahttps://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23295
Sunday 8 February 10 – 11amWollongong Universityhttps://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23296
Saturday 14  February 10 – 11amAlbion Park High Schoolhttps://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23297
Sunday 22 February 10 – 11amCroomhttps://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23298

Sprint orienteering is a lot of fun – it requires quick decision making and tests your ability to navigate accurately at speed. This can be demanding, especially with constant changes in direction and route choice.  Winning times are usually around 12 – 15mins. Those new to sprint orienteering should check out the Sprint Orienteering page on the Orienteering Australia website.

There will be three courses available each week. Those wishing to have a longer run can run more than one course.

CourseApprox distanceWinning time
Long3.0 – 3.5 Km12-15 mins
Medium2 Km12-15 mins
Short1 Km5-10mins

As with past series all competitors will receive a sausage sandwich with a sauce of their choosing at the end of their run.

All event locations are close to one of the Illawarra’s iconic beaches. So pack your towel and swimmers as well as your runners and make a day of it.  

NEWCOMERS are welcome to come and try sprint orienteering. You can run or walk the course, go it alone or in a group. Club members will be on hand to help you on your way.  Those newcomers who attend at least 3 of the events will be in the running for a free 12-month membership with IKO. After completion of the series, those eligible will be notified by email with an option to accept or decline this offer.

Check out our great promotional video with thanks to our talented first course setter Joel Mion.

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.

IKO events scheduled for November 2025

November is a bumper month for orienteering events organised by IKO members. Events are open to all comers, first timers through to the more experienced orienteers. Pre-entries through Eventor are encouraged although newcomers can enter on the day. You can enter as an individual or a group.  Take the whole family and get a family discount.  

November 9th – the final event in the 2025 Sunday morning Illawarra Map Running Spring Series.  Set by Pippa and dad Phil Whitten on the new Blackbutt Map, the event offers the usual short (2Km), medium (4.2Km) and long (5.4Km) courses. This is a bush event with a mix of trails and cross country on medium and long courses – long pants and sleeves are recommended. Starts are from 10 – 11am. All competitors qualify for a free sausage sandwich at the end of their race.   For details about the event and on how enter go to  https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/21599

November 15th – Saturday after noon 2.30-3.30pm. Make you way down to Bomaderry, south of Berry for another bush event organized by Keith Jay. This time on the brand new Bomaderry Creek map. The terrain is typical of south coast bush crossed by hiking trails. It is a bit scratchy so long pants and sleeves are recommended.  Details on courses available and location of the venue can be found at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/21577. Make sure you check the course setter’s notes before you head out.  

After the event there will be an end of year dinner at the Bomaderry Bowling Club. A table has been booked for 5.30pm. Please advise Sue via IKOrienteers.com@gmail.com if you intend attending.

November 23rd – its back to South East Sydney for the Sunday afternoon River Bay Orienteering Series (RBOS) with Ewan Barnett setting a score and three line courses on yet another new map – Queens Park. Starts are from 4.00-5.00pm. For event details go to  https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/22630

Come along and be the first to run on the new map. It’s a short distance to Bronte or Clovelly Beaches, so pack  your swimmers and head off to the beach to cool off after the event.

November 30th – the final IKO event for 2025 RBOS series at Sans Souci. This year organised by James Stuart. Another occasion to pack the swimmers for a post event swim.

The usual RBOS score and line courses will be available with starts from 4.00-5.00pm. Details available at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/22633