Tag Archives: MetrO League

July events – Highlands Forest, State League and Metroleague #5

There are plenty  of forest events on offer this July. Why not start the month with a run in the Southern Highlands Forest Series on Sunday morning 12 July, starts are from 10 – 11am. The event will be at Welby and will be good training for the up coming forest events in the following weeks. Organised by SHOO, details of the event can be found at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/24134.

The following weekend, 18/19 July, there are two State League events, both forest events.

For something different the event on Saturday afternoon will be the NSW State Relays at Waianamatta. A two person relay event with each person running 2 legs. If both team members belong to the same club their points will contribute towards the determination of the NSW Relays Champion Club. Mixed club teams are also welcome. If you can’t find an IKO running partner of similar ability just enter as an individual and a relay manager will assign you a partner. For more information about the event and how to enter check the information bulletin at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/24200

NOTE: Entries close on 10 July. No enter on the day courses will be available.

State League # 10 Maraylya on Sunday 19 July  

The venue is Mitchell Park, Cattai National Park. Map scale 1:7,500. This is a middle distance event with the usual State League courses available. Expected winning times are around 35minutes. Queueing starts will available from 9.30 -11am.  Pre-entry is encouraged. Enter on the day will be restricted to a very limited number of participants and a limited number of courses. For further information, including important instructions on parking, go to https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23237

Metroleague #5 Grays Point Sunday 26 July

IKO is organising the next Metroleague event at Grays Point on Sunday 26th July.  Volunteers and runners are needed to help out on the day. All club members are encouraged to enter including those new to the Metroleague format. Enter via Eventor at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/EventAdmin/ShowEventEntryFees/23837

Please advise Sue Froude at IKOrienteers@gmail.com if you are able to assist on the day.  Volunteers will also be able to run on the day. Pre-entries close at midnight 25 July.

Start window: Non Metroleague competitors: 9.30am-10.00am and 10.30-11.00am. Metroleague competitors 10.00am-10.30am.

Make sure you read the information bulletin before venturing out on your course, especially the Course Setter’s Notes. . There have been 2 separate controlled burns in the last 3 months, affecting about 90% of the course. Vegetation, visibility and runnability changes weekly with leaves falling off bushes and dead saplings being blown over. All divisions will have sections of thicker bush than most metroleague events – long sleeves, long pants and gaiters are strongly recommended.

TIP FOR FIRST TIMERS: You will need to log in to Eventor first & then check the drop down boxes to nominate Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers & select a Division that best suits your ability before proceeding to payment.  Division 6 is entry level and is graded easy, Divisions 3-5 are moderate and Divisions 1 & 2 are hard navigation.  If you are unsure of what division to run in contact our team captain James at jistuart@bigpond.com. …ON THE DAY…This is a teams event, however you can still pre-enter as an individual runner if you prefer.  You may be approached on the day if teams are short.   Likewise if we have too many entries for teams you may be asked to run up or down a division or you can just compete as an individual runner for that day. You can find out more about the Metroleague at https://onsw.asn.au/events/metro-league

Metroleague #4 – Sunday 28 June

The next Metroleague event will be held at Pennant Hills on Sunday 28 June. Starts are from 10.00 – 10.30 for teams and 10.30-11.00 for individual orienteers and those entering on the day.  Our IKO-SHOO teams in divisions 2 – 5 will be pitted against Western Hills (WHO) whilst Division 1 will run against Bennelong (BN).

We need a good turn out of runners to repeat the performance of the last Metroleague event  where IKO-SHOO teams clocked up a win in all 5 Divisions. All club members are encouraged to enter including those new to the Metroleague format. Enter via Eventor at https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23836

Tip: You will need to log in to Eventor first & then check the drop down boxes to nominate Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers & select a Division that best suits your ability before proceeding to payment.  Division 6 is entry level and is graded easy, Divisions 3-5 are moderate and Divisions 1 & 2 are hard navigation.  If you are unsure of what division to run in contact our team captain James at jistuart@bigpond.com. Those club members who have previously advised they are available for a team, please let James know if you can’t attend, if you haven’t already done so.

ON THE DAY…This is a teams event, however you can still pre-enter as an individual runner if you prefer.  You may be approached on the day if teams are short.   Likewise if we have too many entries for teams you may be asked to run up or down a division or you can just compete as an individual runner for that day. You can find out more about the Metroleague at https://onsw.asn.au/events/metro-league

Metro League round 1 this Sunday 29 March 2026

Get your entry in before midnight on Friday 27 March. All club members are eligible and encouraged to participate. 

The event will be held at Nurragingy Regional Park, Western Sydney. Start times: 10.00am – 10.30 for team members. You will be notified of your start time by email the night before the event. Individual runners, including those entering on the day, can start from 10.30am – 11.00am.

Enter through Eventor using the link below. Tip: You will need to log in to Eventor first & then check the drop down boxes to nominate Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers & select a Division that best suits your ability before proceeding to payment.  https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23832

Club members that have previously advised they are available for a team, please let our team captain  know if you can’t attend, if you haven’t already done so. Email jistuart@bigpond.com

For those club members new to Metro League, come along and give it a try. It is a lot of fun. Division 6 is entry level and is graded Easy, Divisions 3-5 are Moderate and Divisions 1 & 2 are Hard navigation.  

…ON THE DAY…
This is a teams event, however you can still pre-enter as an individual runner if you prefer.  You may be approached on the day if teams are short.   Likewise if we have too many entries for teams you may be asked to run up or down a division or you can just compete as an individual runner for that day. You can find out more about the Metroleague at https://onsw.asn.au/events/metro-league

2026 Metro League season starts on 29 March

The first event will be held at Nurragingy, Doonside in Western Sydney on Sunday morning 29 March. Go to Eventor for details and to enter the event. See table below for the list of venues and dates for the 2026 Metro League series.

Those members interested in competing in this year’s Metro League series should emailing IKO Metro League Team Captain James Stuart at jistuart@bigpond.com.  Please indicate which rounds, if any, you could attend and  advise which division you wish to compete in. At this stage we are just looking for an indication of numbers in each of the teams.

All IKO members are encouraged to compete no matter your level of proficiency.  Contact James if you are unsure which Division you would be comfortable running in.

We will again be partnering with our sister club SHOO. At this stage we are intending to field combined teams in Divisions 1, 3, 4 and 5. The number of teams in each division may change depending on interest.

2026 Venues and Dates

RoundDateVenueOrganising Club
1Mar 29NurragingyBig Foot
2May 3GalstonGaringal
3*May 24(TBA)Grays PointIllawarra Kareelah
4Jun 28Pennant HillsBennelong
5Jul 26BoggabillaUringa
6Sep 6Glenbrook WHO

*  IKO looking to swap to another date. 

New to the Metro League? This is a team competition with line courses requiring bush navigation around the Sydney metropolitan area. Teams of 5 from the various clubs battle it out over 5 rounds to determine the teams that will be in the finals in Round 6. There are 6 Divisions of competition, all with different courses:

  • Divisions 1-3 are graded Hard
  • Division 4-6 are graded Moderate
  • Division 6 courses are intended for competitors transitioning from urban to bush orienteering and juniors.

 More information is available at https://onsw.asn.au/events/metro-league

Metroleague Final on Sunday 31 August Postponed

The Metroleague Final scheduled for this Sunday August 31st in Mitchell Park has been postponed. The area has been flooded and National Parks have advised that the event cannot go ahead as scheduled. Members will be advised when a replacement date is announced.

NSW State Championships 13-14 September

There is still time to enter the NSW State Middle and Long distance championships. The closing date has been extended to Friday 29th August. Having run on the map at last year’s National Championships I can assure you that you it will be well worth the trip to Armidale/Uralla.