It was all smiles at our 2nd event of the Illawarra Map Running Series today at Fairy Meadow. Course setter Vicki made the most of Guest Park and Cabbage Tree Creek with a few slightly hilly forays into the surrounding streets for the medium and long courses.
We had 30 starters including 7 newcomers and a couple of visiting Austrian orienteers who came first and second on the medium course! David and Helen provided great instruction at the start for those new to the sport.
The short series concludes next week at Figtree where Ken and Helen have warned us that our feet may get wet!
Below are just a few of the happy faces snapped at today’s event. See Facebook for more photos.
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!