Sydney 04 September - 2016 Sydney MetrO League at Galston.
Garingal dominated the last round of MetrO League for 2016 by taking out two team titles and two individual medals.
Carol Jacobson unveiled her new map of Galston Reserve and the adjoining high school to present a unique sprint-bush hybrid for the season deciders, and it was receiving high praise as runners of all ages analysed their routes post-race. (map)
The unbeaten Legless Division 4 team scraped home 25-24 in a nervy final against Bennelong in which one runner from each side recorded an 'mp' and BN were sadly a runner short. With BN's Rod Parkin away, the individual medal was Angus Leung's for the taking - but the promising North Sydney Boys HS student did not check his control at #13 and mispunched. That left competition organiser Ian Jessup (Legless) and GO Monitors' Carolyn Davies needing at least seven points for a share of the medal. Alas, Carolyn also had an mp and Ian came home with 9 points to 'do a Bradbury' and claim gold.
It was a similar story in Division 5 where Year 9 student Tshinta Hopper (BN) mispunched, clearing the way for Riley Grainger from our Blue Tongues team to win the medal with his third 10-pointer of the year.
The Dragons in Division 2 were understrength for their final against SHOO-IKO and went down narrowly 28-26.
In Division 1 where it was first past the post, the Goannas retained the trophy they took from Big Foot last year with an upset 29-26 victory to leapfrog the Pink People into first place. Toby Wilson had the fastest time of 32m38s for the 4.6km course.
A massive thank you to our club captain Jim Forbes for organising 9 teams each round, and to the 80+ Garingal members who had a GO this year.
Sydney 29 August - NSW Sprint Champs, NSW School Champs.
Clare Jessup and Jamie Kennedy enjoyed breakthrough wins at the NSW Sprint Championships at the weekend.
Clare, an irregular orienteer due to her pony club commitments, had two great races at Garrison Point and UWS Bankstown to beat NSW Schools Team member Rebecca Kennedy (they tied in the first run) by almost two minutes in the W16A class. The Mackellar Girls school captain's combined time of 36.38 was good enough to also pip Claire Burgess (NC) who took out W15A.
Jamie, a former Garingal president and club captain, upstaged a handful of highly fancied Big Foot and IKO runners to win M50A by almost three minutes.
Other winners on the Saturday were Donovan Roberts (M11A), Duncan Currie (M16A), Aidan Dawson (M20A), Robert Herkes (M21AS), Carol Jacobson (W65A) and Michael Hanratty (MOpenB).
Sunday's State League and NSW Schools Champs middle distance event was on a remapped Boggabilla at Lansdowne. Garingal winners were Ben McConaghy (M9A), Riley Grainger (M13-14B), Clare Jessup (W16A), Toby Wilson (M20A), Robert Herkes (M21AS) and Michael Hanratty (MOpenB).
We are all looking forward to the MetrO League final on Sunday where Garingal has 3 teams going for the medals.
Sydney 19 August - 2016 NSW Community Sports Volunteer Awards.
Congratulations to Sydney Summer Series founder Ross Barr who has won a major Sport NSW award. 
Ross was up against six similarly worthy contenders to win the Community Sport Administrator category at Parliament House on Friday night.
The Sydney Summer Series, run each Wednesday evening during daylight saving (and with spin-offs in the eastern suburbs, Hills district and many regional towns) is an important entry point for many people into orienteering. In March we celebrated 25 years since Ross founded the SSS.
Garingal president Ross Duker was on hand to accept the award as his namesake is overseas enjoying a European summer of O. On behalf of all orienteers we congratulate Ross on this prestigious occasion. SportNSW
