Cool day at Cooyerdoo

Sunday, 6 May 2012

A couple of  rather warm  Autumn days, which brought out the flies, proved quite trying for course setter John Brockhurst. As it had been several years since the last event at Cooyerdoo Hill, the conditions of the countryside had changed dramatically also. The iron ore prospectors had added their tracks and drill sites to the area and the watercourses had changed with the previous heavy rains to add to his difficulties.  However a different sort of day presented for the event.  Conditions were overcast  and cool with  a slight breeze, which is ideal orienteering weather, indeed ideal for any outdoor activity.

The original track had been severely cut by rains and John had to do quite a bit of cross country exploring to find an alternate route. Some of the new track was very indistinct and a trail of pink tapes was set up to help competitors find the way. There were some mumbles about having to “orienteer” to find the start van, but everyone eventually arrived safe and sound despite some deviations.

Whether the tapes blew away during the day, or whether the sun was in their eyes, quite a few competitors got “lost”  finding  their way out to the main road after the event. The general rule when orienteering is not to follow another competitor if you spot them on your course, as they are sure to be lost or on another course and you will also get  lost or misplaced. Apparently some folk didn’t realise that this should apply to vehicles too, and there were a few cars following each other round in circles for a while there.  And then there was the tired orienteer who shut the gate after his vehicle had gone through only to find he had shut himself on the wrong side. I think we have all done that at some time.

Anyway a great day was had by all, with 53 people entering the various courses. Jason Munday and Kristen Clark completed the number one long course in first place, 4 minutes ahead of the next competitor.  Trevor Pickett and family took out the best time in course two, a great effort after returning to orienteering after a break of several years. The ever popular course three was won by Rob Genahl, his first event also, after an extended break from orienteering.  Best time on the short course was had by the Anderson family who just beat Sequoia Munday by a minute.

Artcile by Betty Nottle. Photos by Betty Nottle & Karen Bilney.