On 16 May 1971, David Hogg organised the first official orienteering event in the ACT on Black Mountain. Orienteering ACT will celebrate its Golden Jubilee on the South Coast, with events on 15-16 May at Broulee, which have attracted well over 400 entries. These events will be what Orienteering ACT hopes will be the first of many on the South Coast over coming years.
By comparison with today’s standards, the first event, which attracted just 20 entries, was fairly primitive. The event used a basic black-and-white map and red-and-white plastic buckets to mark control sites. Nowadays the sport relies heavily on the latest technology. The drawing of maps is supported by computer programs, the planning of courses is fully computer-based, maps are printed digitally on waterproof material, entries are via on-line systems, visits to checkpoints and timing are recorded electronically, and results are posted on-line and viewable via phone apps.
The two-day 2021 Autumn Classics will include five events:
Saturday 15: morning: Prelude (low key event) at St Peter’s Anglican College, Broulee (195 entries).
Saturday 15: afternoon: National League # 10 and Individual Final; Middle Distance (chasing start format from 2.00 pm) at Broulee Dunes (94 entries). Four divisions: Senior Men; Senior Women; Junior Men; Junior Women. Each race winner will be the National League division winner.
Sunday 16: morning: National League # 11 and Team Final; Three-person relays (first legs starting at 9.30 am) for four divisions: Senior Men; Senior Women; Junior Men; Junior Women. (Teams from all States except WA).
While the Canberra Cockatoos have dominated the National League since its inception in 1994 (especially in the Senior Men’s division), this year the Victorians are leading the Men’s divisions and the Southern Arrows [SA] are leading the Women’s divisions.
The most interesting race will be the Senior Women’s chasing start on Saturday with the Arrows Olivia Sprod and Cockatoos Grace Crane, equal after race nine, starting together. Sprod, in her mid-20s, is a rising star in the sport, whereas Crane, a mother of three in her late 30s, has been a top competitor for nearly 20 years. She came from behind to win the 2021 Australian 3-Days over Easter, and along with Hanny Allston and Jo Allison, has the distinction of having the best result by an Australian relay team at World Championships, when they finished fourth in 2006 in Aarhus, Denmark
The entries in the ACT League and NSW State League races range in age from over 80 (six) and to 10 and under 18, with females making up around 40 per cent of entries. All competitors will spend at least one night in the area, and over half the competitors and all the non-competing officials (around 10) will spend two nights. Orienteering ACT is looking for new venues on the South Coast and hopes to have more events in the area in future years.
