Orienteering in South East Queensland

12:00 Thursday 22nd June 2006
"Ripley Rifle Range" 2004 1:10,000 5m
36km SW of Brisbane CBD (12km along Ripley Rd from Cunningham Highway)
"Long long" 12 controls 5km 135m climb (2.7%)

The open area to the north was swamped with the longest toughest grass I have ever had to wade through. I followed the fence for much of 2>3 as it was a little easier. More entertainment was had in the forested area, much of which had been burned only the day before and was still smouldering.

I hurt my foot jumping across the creek between 8 and 9 and limped home in I think 49 seconds behind Greg and only a minute behind Gary.

Thanks to Rod for the event and Eric for the map.

09:00 Sunday 18th June 2006
"Old Hidden Vale South" 2004 1:10,000 5m
"Red 3" 12 controls 6.4km

3>4 right along the fence line
4>5 same again
6>7 approached from the south after considering going down the spur to the west
9>10 along the gully to the north of the line after considering going round the rudge to the south

My only real difficulty was no 12 which of course might have been the headless-chook-last-control-all-shagged-out syndrome but attacking from the head of the gullies to the west I found unmapped termite mounds 50m+ up the hill. I later watched a number of other runners struggle with it; it was pretty much a bingo control.

My result was fairly good - 8 minutes behind the young buck who won, 7th in field of 20, I think almost all of those who beat me were about a third of my age.

Thanks to Clive for the courses, Greg and James for the event, Eric for the excellent map.

12:00 Thursday 15th June 2006
"Bergins Hill" 1995 1:10,000 5m
UBD 214 K19 27km SW of Brisbane CBD
"Long" 11 controls 4.5km 115m (2.6% climb)

My worst race in a very long time, and the fact that parts of the bush were actually on fire at the time had nothing to do with it.

The map is a ?2nd generation photocopy and in places tough to read which is the best excuse I can think of for messing up number 4; I was looking in the stream bed immediately to the south, having failed to realise that the valley I was in had two streambeds. It cost me about 10 minutes.

I can't explain the 180 out of number 7 except possibly because I drew the course upside down - with control numbers oriented to the south - I don't recall why. I approached 7 from the west and turned left (north) and climbed out of the gully, soon crossing another gully and finding myself at the motorway on-ramp to the SSW of 7! I was spinning for a couple of minutes (silly eh) and then recovered, to a total cost of 5+ minutes.

After I finished Greg kindly advised each finisher on my course "Oh, you beat Mark too!"

Thanks to Greg for the event and Adrian for the map.

12:00 Thursday 8th June 2006
"Collins Creek" 1998 1:10,000 5m
UBD GC1F14 45km SSE of Brisbane CBD
"Long" 13 controls 4.75km 125m climb (2.6%)

I write this a few weeks after the event... the drag back to the finish was painful... I found 2 by heading off low to pick up the gully... no other memories!

Thanks to Rob for the course and the map.

11:00 Sunday 4th June 2006
"Gardens Point" 1:2,500
UBD 22 Q6 1km from Brisbane CBD
"Long Scatter" 17 of 19 controls, 15m climb 1.1km 26m (2.3%)

I ran only one of three events on this day. This may in part explain why I was less than 2 minutes behind the winner - 15 minutes to my 17.

Thanks to Rob and Rob.

12:00 Thursday 1st June 2006
"Mount Coot-Tha" 2001 1:10,000 5m
UBD 157 P11 8km West of Brisbane CBD
"Long" 13 controls 3.8km 250m climb (6.6%)

Very hard work. That's all I recall. My notes say I was 4th in 62 minutes, the winner doing 56 minutes.

Thanks to Trevor, Max, Ray and Rob for the map, Clive for the event.