IKO is pleased to be partnering with Wollongong Library for an introductory workshop on orienteering. The workshop on Saturday 30 July at 1pm will include an introductory presentation on orienteering and a fun demonstration event around the streets and parks of Wollongong.
Anyone who wants to learn more about orienteering and how to get started is welcome to join and the event is FREE!
Follow the link below to register with the library:
REMINDER: This weekend we also have our club training day at Belanglo Forest on Saturday and the SHOO Highland Forest event on Sunday, also at Belanglo. See previous posts for more details.
Thanks to everyone for coming out to support this year’s Illawarra Map Running series. We attracted a great range of competitors from experienced orienteers to keen runners and family groups.
The weather was a mixed bag – we battled the heat at Gwyneville, just about got blown away at Lake Illawarra but finished with some lovely sunny days at Shellharbour and Minnamurra.
Attendance levels rose as the series gained momentum with 25-30 competitors for the first two events and 39-40 for the last two events. Steve takes the prize for the most competitors with his event at Shellharbour, with this event also attracting the most non-club members (13 individuals or groups).
Special mention to our neighbors at Southern Highlands Orienteers who made the effort to come down, seemingly to dominate the long course. Angus from SHOO won the long course in all 3 events he attended, with Doug also taking a win and ranking 2nd or 3rd for the rest of the events. The Shedden boys are doing well to get around the medium and long courses on their own now. Euan won the Medium course at Lake Illawarra and placed 2nd at Minnamurra. Meanwhile brother Rory is taking on the big boys in the long course placing 8th of 19 competitors at Lake Illawarra.
It was great to see lots of new faces at the events, especially family groups. All up we had 18 non-club members compete in the series, with most coming to multiple events. We even had a few lapsed club members signing up again during the course of the series! Shout out to newcomer Austin who won the medium course at Shellharbour in a blistering time of 24 minutes, while enthusiastic newcomer Maggie won the medium course at Minnamurra in 34 minutes.
Newcomers who competed in three events will be offered a complementary membership for 2022. Sue will be in touch with eligible people soon.
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
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!
The first SummerGong event for 2021 features beautiful views of Lake Illawarra
After a long lazy summer break its time to dust off those running shoes for the return of SummerGong. Now in its ninth year, the series attracts a range of participants from first-time beginners to experienced orienteers.
Club President David Green 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. Our SummerGong series is a great way to explore parts of the Illawarra that you never knew existed.”
This year’s series kicks off on Sunday 31 January around the beautiful foreshore of Lake Illawarra. You can try one of the traditional line courses (where you visit controls in a set order) or go your own way with a scatter course (visit all the controls in the shortest time to win). The series then moves up to Wollongong on 14 February and Bulli on 28 February.
Shorter courses are designed with families and beginners in mind. The shortest course is just 2km making it perfect for young children. Its just like a treasure hunt!
This year the club is running a special promotion. Complete any two of the three events in the series and have the chance to win free club membership with IKO for 2021.
Further details on each event and links to online entries are provided on our ‘Coming Events’ page. You can also download the SummerGong 2021 Flyer here.
Please note all events are run according to COVID-safe guidelines from the NSW Government. All participants will be required to check-in using the Service NSW app when you arrive at the event.
Thanks to the lifting of the Covid restrictions around community sport we are now able to host our post-poned local event at Sutherland.
Come and join us on Saturday 10 October for a walk or run through the bush and streets starting from Waratah Park. From Sydney enter left off Rawson Avenue (Old Princes Highway) approx. 1 km south of Sutherland Station.
Course setter James has organised three line courses – short 2km, medium 4km and long 6km. Start any time between 3-4pm.
Adults:$10 members, $15 non members Juniors: (13- 20years) $5 members, $10 non-members Subjuniors: (under 13): free Group: $20 SI hire $4
This is a Covid-safe event which means we ask everyone to enter online through Eventor. Entries close midnight 9 October 2020. For newcomers we can accept cashless payment for Enter on Day.
For the full list of Covid-safe conditions please refer to the event information on Eventor.
