Sydney Summer Series

The 08/09 season commenced with a bang last night at McMahons Point as around 250 punters pulled on the shorts and queued (queued!!) for the starter. Fantastic stuff, with heaps of old hands and many new faces - all dying to get the Volley's back into a bit of rhythmic bitumen dancing. Actual entries totaled 214, but this included many groups and twosomes, with the map sales department going into overdrive.

David Dash set a well spread course, renaming Blues Point Road 'Decision Road', as you had to make the big 'D' to head east or west after scooping up the 90 uphill points. Many feared the hills of Waverton and headed east, possibly to pop in to Kevin for a cuppa near #12. Reports of missing pots came in (#3 I think) and tales of woe with #30 - always confusing with the holiday crowd, and for Chippy. Of the eastern loop, #5 and #10 annoyed the flow freaks, as did #4 for the western crowd who, peering down from #21 to it, said 'no thanks' and sped off to the Commodore for a light ale.

So, plenty of good running on offer for our first outing at this spectacular and iconic Sydney location - on a beautiful fine but cool afternoon. Apart from the poor parking here, most seemed to be happy to be back in SSS mode once again. There was an infectious and enthusiastic spirit on show, as grinning white legged veterans contrasted with the buffed and grunting boxing class adjacent.

Previous series star, Andrew Hill 'Billy' swept the field (except #1 I think) with a great run for 570 points - just under two minutes late back. Early thoughts that the course was too wide were soon dispelled with Andy's fantastic result. Mike 'Rophone' Burton was not far behind with 550 and in awesome form at this early stage. There were other good 500's, with Dave He' Hegarty pulling out a 540 and Richard Green 'Peas' a cracking 530 in the purple silks. Good to see Jaap Bakker on the fly for 480 and Michael 'The Maserati' ' Free waving the baggy white T shirt on his way to a neat 500.

In the younger classes, great to see a spectacular 370 points from Michele Dawson, and Huon Wilson with an amazing speedy 440. Both are just back from Junior Squad orienteering representation in Queensland and are destined for great things.

Fastest female seemed to be the irrepressible Sue 'Dragon Boat' Davis with a great 440 point run, ahead, and on the rails from, a wide finishing Gil 'Mayor Michael' Fowler on 410. There were lots of other good scoring around the 400 and just under mark, with the east / west course split making it hard to add more than this for most race and millinery enthusiasts.

Before we move on to a preview of next weeks outing, a quick story to amaze and delight. How many runners realised there was an 'open-house' near control 17? Last night one competitor (who will remain nameless, but will soon become a legend), took time out from their 'run' to inspect the two-story house and had a discussion about orienteering with the two real estate agents in attendance! She (ok, it's a 'she'), refused their offer of a calendar though, saying "it would be too hard to run carrying a calendar"!!! Fantastic stuff, and as our SSS publicity words say, 'run Sydney parks, Sydney History, Sydney Harbour and Sydney REAL ESTATE. I think we are on to something here!

And so to next week at the Bay Run at Rodd Point. Course setter Steve Flick loves a gallop, so we can expect a good flog around the streets of Drummoyne/Five Dock and the fantastic, and level, Bay Run (well at least the western half). The street, housing variety and small parks towards the Drummoyne end are fascinating and worth a look, as is a quiet one at Gallaghers Irish on the corner of Lyons Road afterwards. The bigger parks to the south will provide the stretch points and a chance for the horses to sniff the grass and garden beds while looking for a nibble and the key beating Warwick 'The Singlet' Selby. Expect another big roll-up (easier parking) as we get to mingle with the joggers with jewellery on the Bay Run and enjoy event two in Australia's greatest summer running series.

Be there!