Congratulations to Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers (IKOs) hard working secretary Sue Froude who shared the Course Setter of the Year award for the 2024/2025 Sydney Summer Series (SSS), along with Savanna Sweeney (Western & Hills Orienteers) and Nick Barlow (Garingal Orienteers). Sue not only set the winning course on the club’s new Surry Hills map but she was also responsible for doing the field work and drawing the map. This is the second time Sue has won the SSS course setter award. She also shared the award back in 2023 when she set the course on the remapped Rushcutter’s Bay map.
Well done Sue – two out of two is a very impressive record especially as IKO has only been participating in the SSS program since 2022.
There was a record turnout (over 110 people) at last night’s SSS end of season presentation dinner where Sue also received an award for coming 3rd in Women Legends category.
The beginning of Autumn heralds the start of the Metro League and the State League events.
Metro League events are run on a Sunday morning every 4 to 6 weeks during April to August. They are held in urban bushland around the greater Sydney area giving you the opportunity for some cross country navigation. Each team has 5 members and competes against a team from another club. You run individually and earn points for the team. The fastest runner out of the two clubs gains 10 points for their team, second fastest 9 points and so on. The team with the highest points wins the round. There are 6 divisions with 3-4 teams competing in each division. Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers combine forces with Southern Highlands Orienteers to form teams in most of the Divisions.
Division 6 is for juniors or those transitioning to bush orienteering. Division 4 & 5 courses are graded moderate and Divisions 1-3 more technical and longer courses are rated hard. Division 1 is usually run by elite/experienced orienteers. The winning time is set for 30-45 minutes depending on the division, and most people are finished within an hour.
The first Metro League event for 2025 will be held in Centennial Park, on Sunday 13 April starting at 10am – be there by 9.30am. You need to pre-enter via Eventor before midnight on Saturday 12 April. This event is set in open parkland rather than bushland and is a good one for newcomers to try out to see how it all works. For details see https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/21604.
We need more people to run for the club and would love to have our newer members onboard. Just pre-enter in Eventor and choose a division on the drop-down box. Once you have entered it’s up to you if you want to be in a team or not on the day. You can compete individually if you don’t want to run in a team. Let James Stuart, our Metro League team captain jistuart@bigpond.com, know if you want to run in a team and/or if you need advice on which Division you would feel comfortable running in. As a guide Division 6 is for novices and also ok for kids with adult supervision, following tracks. At the other end of the scale Division 1 is the hardest – for elites and experienced orienteers.
The second Metro League event for the year is being run by our club, Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers, and is at Picnic Point on 4 May.
State League events
The 2025 State League (SL) season has started. These events are run in the forest and generally held some distance outside of Metropolitan Sydney. The courses are more technical than local or Metro League events. To reduce distances that competitors are required to travel, SL events are generally held on both days of a weekend and competitors stay overnight. The next SL events will be held near the Central Coast on the weekend of 10/11 May followed by the Kings Birthday weekend (KBIII) three day event in the Bathurst area. This is a popular event that attracts a lot of competitors including IKO members. See the coming events page for list of events coming up.
To assist club members develop the skills to orienteer in the forest the club will be conducting a bush orienteering training day later in the year. If you are interested in attending email IKOrienteers@gmail.com.
The Illawarra Map Running Summer Series is winding up next Sunday with the final event at Roy Johanson Park, Europa St. Figtree. There will be the usual three line courses – long (6Km), medium (4Km) and short (2Km) and classes for walkers as well as runners. Starts will be from 10am – 11am. All competitors must report back by 12noon. See Eventor for details about the event and to pre-enter. There will be a free sausage sizzle for competitors after their run.
Newcomers and beginners are always welcome. Whilst we encourage everyone to pre-enter via Eventor novices are welcome to turn up and enter on the day, but you must bring your credit/debit card – no cash is accepted. Members will be available on the day to help you on your way.
Newcomers don’t forget: if you have attended at least three of the Illawarra IMR Summer Series events you will be in the running for a free membership of Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers for 2025.
It was good to see so many IKO members competing in the NSW MiniRogaine at Kamay NP last weekend. There was quite an entourage and a number of place getters. Congratulations to Joel Mion and friends who won the under 23 class and came second in open men teams race. That was quite some feat with so many seasoned rogainers competing. For those interested you can view the results here.
What better way to spend a Sunday morning than in the picturesque town of Kiama navigating your way around an orienteering course, enjoying a free post event sausage and capping it off with a swim in one of the beautiful beaches or a walk to the famous blowhole. Meet at Coronation Park, Manning Street, Kiama. Details of the event are in Eventor.
Pre-entries are encouraged. First timers and those who are not members of a club need to first register in Eventor then follow the event entry quick guide. That way you won’t need to queue up to enter on the day, just turn up, ask for a map and start your course.
Last week’s event at Windang proved very popular. It was good to see so many families competing. The spread of ages amongst competitors ranged from 5 years to 80 years of age – proof that orienteering truly is a sport for all ages. A special shout out goes to Gemma and Alex who successfully made it around the medium course in a wheel chair with Dermot the Dog in tow.
Newcomers note: if you have attended one or both events in the Illawarra Summer Series you will be in the running for a free membership of Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers for 2025. A good reason for turning up to the final two events. If, at the end of your run you would like to discuss your route choices or any issues you may have had on your course feel free to speak to any of the members volunteering on the day.
Following the success of the first Illawarra Map Running (IMR) Summer Series event for 2025 at Shellcove last Sunday we are looking forward to this weekend’s event at Windang. Keith Jay set a high standard with his courses at Shellcove – the different route choices posing a challenge to the runners. The weather was kind, the rain held off, and we were able to enjoy not only the orienteering but the post event sausage sizzle under a sunny sky. It was pleasing to see so many families and individuals prepared to try orienteering for the first time and we hope to see them again this Sunday at Lake Illawarra.
The venue for IMR Summer Series #2 is Pelican Park, Shellharbour Road, Lake Illawarra. There is street parking (off Reddall Parade). Starts are from 10am – 11am. Course closes at 12pm. For details go to https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/21573 Newcomers are welcome and club members will be available to help you on your way. There will be a free sausage sizzle for competitors after their run.
NEWCOMERS who take part in 3 out of the 4 listed IMR Summer series 2025 events will have the chance to win a free 12-month membership with the Illawarra Kareelah Orienteering Club. Conditions apply: offer available to newcomers only (not applicable to previous membership holders).
