Event report: Bush 8 Ngangaguringguring

Off Great Eastern Highway, near the Lakes

Drizzle, more drizzle and then the rain. Other than that, everyone appeared to have a good time. This area provided mostly open running that was responsible for quick course times, and opportunities for some longer legs interspersed with short sharp clusters for a bit of both long and short course practice. Every course had close finishes that showed that at this time of the year, with championships and the relays in the offing, a sense of competitiveness is permeating the courses.

It was great to see a large number of entries into this event, and a high of 31% of starters have recorded Livelox. Those of us looking to improve their performance in the coming weeks, leading to the Championships both WA and National, will benefit on observing how route choice does have an effect on navigation and times. Also, it will give runners more insight to what the setters are after when planning courses – in essence, legs are not just distances to be run, they are mental and physical challenges that make orienteering different to other sports. You will see on Livelox (especially the H2 course) that choosing routes to attack points earlier in the leg will improve times. Note that every leg will have attack points, the secret is to choose the right one!

Thank you first and foremost to the setter Robert Boekelaar, and Mike Howe for being the Controller. Then there are the mob from WOW. Carol Brownlie, the organiser, had everyone organised in her efficient and professional way; helping put out the controls for the final check, co-opting husband Ken into toilet towing, and Ken and Helen Post into towing the caravan, and organising everything else on the day. Also, thanks go to the control collectors who went back into the forest – in the rain!! Thanks to Brian Austin our driver, Rosalie and David McCauley, Christine Howitt, Dan Grieg and Ken Post. Big thanks also to Carol, Ken, Helen and Russell Wade for setting up and collecting the String Course. Thanks to Jack Dowling our computer person for the day, and Junior Coach Rachel West for coordinating the VE Sprint.

What could have been done better? More cross country options for E course competitors. An H1 course of about 8.8 km had been set and maybe should have included. Ngangaguringguring is a great map made even better by the burn that went through it earlier this year, turning it into an area that provides navigational challenges, route choice and fast running that gives opportunities for making orienteering more interesting. As hopefully was the case with this event.

Results are available on Eventor, and routes on Livelox.
Some photos are on Facebook. 

Photo: Matthew finishing, by Sue Dowling.