Australia’s best orienteers turn out at the STROMLO Running Festival

Rob Preston / 08.03.2009

Although it is early pre-season for orienteers, the Stromlo event provided the perfect training environment and preparation for the World Games in Taipei in July.

Local orienteering expert Dave Shepherd has designed a course that promised exciting head-to-head racing with two athletes starting at the same time. The 6km course featured $1200 prize-money making it one of the richest Orienteering races in the country with prizes being awarded down to 8th place.

The men’s and women’s races featured some great rivalries. Current Australian and Oceania Champ Simon Uppill battled with Canberra local and current Australian #1 Julian Dent.

On the women’s side, 2006 World Sprint Distance Champion Hanny Allston has confirmed she is concentrating on orienteering in 2009 and used the event as her return to racing. Her main competition would come from Victoria’s Kathryn Ewels; the best placed Aussie at the 2008 World Champs with her 14th placed finish in the Long Distance Final.

Strong fields containing most of Australia’s top 20 ranked orienteers meant there were plenty of underdogs also looking to take a place on the podium.

A pre-race orienteering clinic was held at 1.30pm. It was led by members of the
“Canberra Cockatoos’ Orienteering team and cover all the basics of orienteering including how to read a map, use a compass, and tips and hints for beginners.

For full results and more information HERE.