Club News 2021

10 January 2021

2021 got off to a flying start with the Western Sydney Orienteering Series event at Rouse Hill Regional Park

Ian Miller writes:

WHO Team - Thank you for your help at Rouse Hill. We delivered a successful event for our first event for 2021 and with the new Covid rules. Some new processes were implemented and innovations introduced Delivering an event is a team effort and and all who where present contributed.

Aurelie Valais set the courses which received a number of compliments. "Did the score event and thought it was a good “orienteering” course ( not just a “runners” course) especially in that you had to read the map well".

Registration went well and our ability to adapt was tested by the pages with the QR codes not making it to the event. Last week, Barry Hanlon and James created a fall back method to register attendees using the internet should the QR code not work and it was brought into action and worked well.

New Covid rules were released requiring a new Covid plan. Robert Bradley wrote it while on holiday without his laptop.

Another challenge occurred with control #127. You may have noticed on your printout that you visited control #106 and not #127 even though the maps showed it as #127. Around 3:30am on Saturday morning control #127 went rogue. It turned itself on, the red light was full on and it emitted sounds. It was decided that #127 was unreliable and it was replaced by #106. While we were packing up control #127 went rogue again. Tim has taken it for further examination. As far as I know its calls for help to Dr WHO remain unanswered.

Another lesson learned and there are always lessons from each event is to check when the gates open to the park. Aurelie, Sylvie, Barry Pearce and I arrived at 7am to find the gates shut. The ranger arrived shortly after so it was only a temporary issue. The sign at the entrance says the park is open from 8am to 8pm.

A highlight was the arrival of the Buntoro Family group of ten. Thank you to all who helped their introduction to orienteering. They enjoyed it immensely and asked if we would be back at Rouse Hill next Sunday. I pointed them to the next local event at Galston.

Lastly a thank you to whomever arranged the weather. When tagging the controls we had re-scheduled a number of visits due to rain. It was a nice cool morning but was very warm for the later starters.

Another successful WHO event done and dusted.

Thank You
Ian

2021 Christmas 5-Days

This year the Christmas 5-Days was held in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

It wrapped up the Orienteering Year 2021.

There were prizes for each day's placers and overall point scores for a runner's best 4 days.

The overall winner in each division scored 100 points with the other finishers scoring a percentage based on their placing.

Several of our intrepid WHO Team performed exceptionally well against tough local and interstate competition.

Savanna Sweeney took the gold in Women E with 395 points and Justine de Remy de Courcelles was awarded the silver in Women F with 390 points.

In the Men's divisions both Lachlan Coady (Men E) and Shay Sweeney (Men F) achieved the silver in their classes.

Other significant placings were: Georgina Beech and Saffron Sweeney - 16th and 20th out of 43 in Women C; Constance Valais - 8th of 24 in Women E; Vivien de Remy de Courcelles -19th of 49 in Men A; Selwyn Sweeney - 6/24 in Men B; Paul Sweeney - 8/24 in Men E; and Aiden and Elliott McQuillan completed their courses on the final day's sprint event with high point scores of 95 and 90.

2021 Merit Awards

The OA Merit Badge Statistician has advised the Club that 21 WHO Members qualified for merit awards:

Lachlan Coady M14 Bronze
Lee Coady M40 Bronze
Emmanuelle Convert W40 Bronze
Justine De Remy De Courcelles W10 Gold
Vivien De Remy De Courcelles M40 Silver
Barry Hanlon M85 Gold
Andrew Hill M21 Gold
Will Kay M16 Bronze
Karen Langan W50 Bronze
James McQuillan M40 Gold
Nerise McQuillan W35 Bronze
Janet Morris W80 Gold
Paul Sweeney M45 Silver
Saffron Sweeney W45 Silver
Savanna Sweeney W14 Gold
Selwyn Sweeney M18 Silver
Seth Sweeney M17 Bronze
Shay Sweeney M10 Gold
Aurelie Valais W20 Silver
Constance Valais W17 Bronze
Martine Valais W18 Bronze

20 October 2021

NSW Middle Champs

Janet Morris W80A 1st
Barry Hanlon M85A 1st
Shay Sweeney M10A 1st
Justine de Remy de Courcelles W10A 1st
Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M40A 2nd
Stephen Dunlop M65AS 2nd
Maureen Fitzpatrick W60A 3rd
Lee Coady M40A 3rd
Saffron Sweeney W45AS 3rd
Will Kay M16A 3rd
Selwyn Sweeney M18A 3rd
Lachlan Coady M14A 3rd
Emmanuelle Convert W40A 3rd

21 October 2021

NSW Long Champs

Justine de Remy de Courcelles W10A 1st
Barry Hanlon M85A 1st
Janet Morris W80A 1st
Emmanuelle Convert W40A 2nd
Lachlan Coady M14A 3rd
Selwyn Sweeney M18A 3rd
Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M40A 3rd

22 June 2021

2021 NSW Schools Team

Congratulations to Savanna Sweeney, Will Kay and Lachlan Coady for their selection to the 2021 NSW Schools Team to represent NSW at the Australian Championships in Tasmania next September. The team includes orienteers from seven clubs.

WHO junior member NOL ranking

Savann's brother Selwyn Sweeney has been ranked ranked 21st on the 2021 NOL Junior Men list.

2021 State League Point Scores

First three places in each age grade qualify for Orienteer of the Year badges.

W10A
1st Justine de Remy de Courcelles 600
W14A
4th Savanna Sweeney 515
W16A
8th Martine Valais 5
W Junior B
1st Constance Valais 300
4st Jacinta Braidwood 25
W18A
3rd Aurelie Valais 98
4th Martine Valais 25
W20A
4th Aurelie Valais 258
W40A
2nd Emmanuelle Convert 342
W50A
9th Karen Langan 100
W60A
5th Maureen Fitzpatrick 30
W80A
1st Janet Morris 600
W35AS
4th Nerise McQuillan 161
W45AS
4th Saffron Sweeney 328
W Open B
19th Constance Valais 41
M10A
1st Shay Sweeney 580
6th Levi Coady 103
M14A
3rd Lachlan Coady 432
M16A
4th Will Kay 293
M18A
3rd Selwyn Sweeney 340
M Junior B
2nd Seth Sweeney 100
M21A
13th Vivien de Remy de Courcelles 131

M40A
1st Lee Coady 591
2nd James McQuillan 581
3rd Vivien de Remy de Courcelles 352
M45A
12th Joshua Braidwood 68
M60A
8th Warren Bax 212
10th Tim Perry 110
M85A
1st Barry Hanlon 600
M45AS
3rd Paul Sweeney 239
11th Dmitry Stukov 10
M55AS
9th Robert Bradley 126
M65AS
6th Barry Pearce 102
7th Stephen Dunlop 100
9th Andrew Vesey-Wells 84
Open Easy
4th Louisa Coady 200

12-14 June 2021

QB3 - SL5/6/7

Newcastle Orienteers put on a great series in the Watagan Mountains and the university college campus at Cooranbong. Your club fronted a big team, which with family supporters was in the 30s.

Cumulative WHO placings for the three days were:

W45AS 3. Saffron Sweeney
W35AS 1. Nerise McQuillan
M/W10N 3. Aiden McQuillan (brother Elliott was only about 1 1/2 minutes behind)
W10A 1. Justine de Remy de Courcelles
W14A 2. Savanna Sweeney
M10A 1. Shay Sweeney
M21A 3. Vivien de Remy de Courcelles
M40A 3. James McQuillan
M45AS 3. Paul Sweeney
M85A 1. Barry Hanlon
M18A 2. Selwyn Sweeney
W80A 1. Janet Morris

Our State League individual placings for each day were:

SL5 - Middle Distance - Freemans Waterhole - 25 WHO starters
1   Barry Hanlon   M85A    53:58
1   Justine de Remy de Courcelles   W10A    17:50
1   Janet Morris   W80A    1:12:29
1   Shay Sweeney   M10A    14:03
2   James McQuillan   M40A    40:28
2   Savanna Sweeney   W14A 33:08
2   Aiden McQuillan   M/W10N    19:23
3   Emmanuelle Convert   W40A    56:27
3   Jacinta Braidwood   W Junior B    1:37:55
3   Nerise McQuillan   W35AS    1:05:19

SL6 - Long Distance - Quorrobolong - 23 WHO starters
1   Barry Hanlon   M85A    1:00:40
1   Janet Morris   W80A    1:30:30
1   Justine de Remy de Courcelles   W10A    18:29
2   Selwyn Sweeney   M18A    1:10:45
2   Shay Sweeney   M10A    16:56
2   Nerise McQuillan   W35AS    1:29:20
2   Savanna Sweeney   W14A    1:08:51
3   Lachlan Coady   M14A    57:49
3   Aiden McQuillan   M/W10N    22:43

SL7 - Sprint - Cooranbong - 26 WHO starters
1   Janet Morris   W80A    25:00
1   Seth Sweeney   M Junior B    15:05
1   Barry Hanlon   M85A    24:36
2   Elliott McQuillan   M/W10N    10:04
2   Justine de Remy de Courcelles   W10A    12:37
2   James McQuillan   M40A    18:47
2   Paul Sweeney   M45AS    20:56
3   Savanna Sweeney   W14A    19:04
3   Aurelie Valais   W18A    27:28
3   Jacinta Braidwood   W Junior B    41:34
3   Nerise McQuillan   W35AS    33:22
3   Shay Sweeney   M10A    10:12
3   Selwyn Sweeney   M18A    24:03

Congratulations team. . .

15-16 June 2021

Sandunes Classic at Broulee
(State League # 3/4)

21 intrepid club members travelled south of the Clyde River to engage with the complex sand-dune terrain at Broulee.

There were some amazing performances by our top club athletes.

On day 1 Lee Coady took 1st place and Vivien de Remy de C flew in at 2nd in M40A. Justine de Remy de C crossed the finish line ahead of her junior competitors in the W10s. Rob Bradley achieved a presidential 2nd in 55AS and Saffron Sweeney led her field with a 1st in W45AS.

Day 2 saw Lee and Vivien repeating their day 1 results with 1st and 2nd places in M40A. Justine slipped back to a very creditable 2nd in W10. Aurelie Valais moved up to take 1st position in W20A. Saffron Sweeney powered into the 3rd spot in W45AS. Juniors Constance Valais steamed through the undergrowth to 1st position in WJnB and Louisa Coady was a close 2nd in M/WOpen.

Congratulations team.

10-11 April 2021

NSW Championships

The WHO Team did very well at Saturday's Middle Championships.

1 Savanna Sweeney   W14A
1 Barry Hanlon   M85A
2 Robert Bradley   M55AS
2 Justine de Remy de Courcelles   W10A
2 Dmitry Stukov   M45AS
2 Nerise McQuillan   W35AS
3 Emmanuelle Convert   W40A
3 Aiden McQuillan   M/W10N

The Long event on Sunday proved to be very challenging. It took most runners into a more complex area with difficult steep slopes. Finish times were longer than expected which suggests that the navigation was challenging. Our placers were:

2 Justine de Remy de Courcelles W10A
2 Savanna Sweeney W14A
1 Barry Hanlon M85A

Other Team WHO finishers:

4 Selwyn Sweeney M18A
4 Shay Sweeney M10A
5 Aiden McQuillan M/W10N
6 Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M40A
6 Saffron Sweeney W45AS
6 Elliott McQuillan M/W10N
8 James McQuillan M40A

2-4 April 2021

Easter 3 Days

(Provisional Club Results)

Day 1

WHO juniors have excelled at Noah's Ark Ridge.

W Junior B - Constance Valais
M Junior B - 1st Seth Sweeney
M/W 10 Shadow - 3rd George Kinneally
M 10A -1st Shay Sweeney
M 45A - 3rd Paul Sweeney
W 20A - 3rd Aurelie Valais

Day 2

Remarkable performances in the challenging terrain of Gumble Pinnacles.

M Junior B - 1st Seth Sweeney
W Junior B - 1st Constance Valais
W 10A - 3rd Justine de Remy de Courcelles
W 45AS - 3rd Saffron Sweeney
W 20A - 3rd Aurelie Valais

Day 3

Another day of challenging pinnacles, but with a day's experience up front.

M Junior B - 1st Seth Sweeney
M 10A - 2nd Shay Sweeney
M 65AS - 3rd Kevin Williams
W Junior B - 3rd Constance Valais
W 10A - 2nd Justine de Remy de Courcelles
W 20A - 1st Aurelie Valais

Easter 3-Days Overall

11 WHOs finished on all 3 days. There were lots of DNFs - this points to a need for more bush training!

We had two firsts: Seth Sweeney (M Junior B); Constance Valais (W Junior B). 4 third places: Shay Sweeney (M 10A); Justine de Remy de Courcelles (W 10A); Aurelie Valais (W 20A); Saffron Sweeney (W 45AS).

Other WHO Team finishers.
All commendable efforts in big competitive fields:

4th Belinda Kinneally (W 40A);
5th Savanna Sweeney (W 14A);
5th Nerise McQuillan (Wn 35AS);
5th Paul Sweeney (M 45AS);
7th James McQuillan (M 40A);
11th Maureen Fitzpatrick (W 60A).

31 March 2021

Sydney Summer Series

WHO point score achievers for the 2020/21 Season

At the season final post event presentation several Club members were acknowledged as high-performers by high placings in the season's point-scores:

Junior Men - Will kay 3rd
Junior Women - Justine de Remy de Courcelles 5th place
Masters Men - James McQuillan 1st equal with Ryan Armstrong (BN)
Veteran Women - Deb Walsham 3rd
Legendsa Men - Graeme Hill 1st
Immortal Men - Malcolm Gledhill 3rd
Immortal Women - Vanessa Cullen 1st

SSS

20 March 2021

Your club team took 5 firsts at the NSW Sprint Champs at WSU Macarthur Campus.

Th event also counted as State League #1.

The intrepid club team of 16 braved the downpour to achieve some remarkable results.

WHO firsts were: Savanna Sweeney, W14A, 20:27; Shay Sweeney, M10A, 10:16; Constance Valais, W Junior B, 36:17; Paul Sweeney, M45AS, 8:08; James McQuillan, M40A, 18:52. In second place was Selwyn Sweeney, M18A, with a time of 25:10. In third places in their divisions were: Will Kay, M16A, 27:00; Lachlan Coady, M14A, 29:36; Martine Valais, W18A, 30:28; Lee Coady, M40A, 19:26.

21 March 2021

NSW Slate League #2 at Wattle Ridge

The downpour continued for the first State League bush event of 2021, but this didn't deter 11 WHOs took up the challenge in the complex rock terrain of the Bargo State Conservation Area, near Hill Top.

Barry Hanlon (M85A 82:33) and Lee Cody (M40A 144:52) achieved firsts in their divisions followed in second place by Selwyn Sweeny (M18A 127:29), Shay Sweeny (M10A 28:37) and Lachlan Coady (M14A 75:41) with James McQuillan taking third position in M40A (159:36).

26 January 2021

WHO members named in NSW 2020 ONSW Awards. . .

Janet Morris and Barry Hanlon have received the ONSW Encouragement Award

From the award citation:
"As individuals and as a partnership, Janet and Barry have for decades stimulated and supported the growth of orienteering in western Sydney in particular, and in NSW more generally. Barry is an expert at building maps. His expertise is evident in the excellent "How to create high quality orienteering base maps", available freely on the WHO website. It has been recommended highly by interstate experts in mapping.

Janet is the organiser / coordinator for the annual Western Sydney Orienteering Series (WSOS) and was integral to establishing the series which was developed to attract newcomers and provide WHO members with the opportunity to set courses and organise / control minor events."