Sydney Summer Series

The 09/10 Summer (oops, make that Winter) Series is off and running!

In what can only be described as 'fresh' conditions, Ron Junghans got the 2009/10 series off to a great start at Balls Head last night. After a week away in freezing weather orienteering in Victoria, Ron, Porky and a bevy of Garingal helpers were hoping for a bit of glorious Sydney sun to kick start season number 19. Not quite as planned, but hey, who cares when confronted with a coloured 1:10,00 map, old SSS mates and 600 points. The enthusiasm, despite the weather, was palpable as around 170 series addicts and new converts taped on the pencil and oiled the Nikes. Michael Free in a suit, a bus full of Scandinavian's who stayed in the bus, the spectacular running outfit of the Portugese guy, Sue Thomson in the Penguin book top, Warwick being out of it (but still running 450), Connie hankering for a pint....it was all there as we blasted off into SSS heaven.

Everyone knows Ron is into optometry, so would not have been suprised to find our dear old Balls Head recreated at 1:10,000 scale. This great scenic Sydney spot can even suck you in with the old one to five, so young RJ shouldn't have been too upset that many runners had second thoughts at #13 and belted back to the safety of the streets. This was despite Ron's 120 tempters on relatively easy features, and just shows you the ghost of Lieutenant Ball still lurks. The windy conditions also reminded of the classic Dennis Sparling outing here years ago where several trees blew down to impede progress.

This event is the first half of our opening World Masters 'pair', aiming to show off Sydney to our visiting orienteers. So Ronny played his hand with the 'Balls to Bridge' and next Monday James goes for the overlap, from McMahons to Kirribilli. A couple of rippers to get us started, and Ron, great setter that he is, produced a perfect opening event. The deployment of pots looked bunched at first, and gettable for the guns, but the areas variety worked to fox many of us. 24 drew many into a northern loop via 15, 29 (puff, puff) and Wendy Whiteley - with a few loosing time at the 'two dozener' as it had been nicked. Ron's red tape saved my bacon! A dash to McMahons offered 60 for the runners, and #25 delivered a perfect bit of route choice - continue on or back and up the bank. Hard to find a lonely pot, although maybe #5 shivered in the rain, not being on my outward or inward loops. All in all, a cunning and well set course. A great start.

Last night's best score looked to be 570 as the light faded and the rain came down. This was Glenn 'EPERB' Horrocks back in yellow with all pots for a 48 minute outing. There followed plenty of five action and great high 400 scoring. Nick Barrable (M35, out here for the WMOC) ran a dazzling 560 to shade Michael 'Stop' Burton's 550 and Michael 'Fletcher Jones' Free's excellent 530.

Mark Schaefer eased up on the rails for 510, Richard 'The Paint Pot' Green undershot with 490 as did Glenn 'Daddy' Meyer. Great to see Glenn enjoying a summer series run again - one of our early stars. Kar Soon pocketed 470 and Melvyn 'The Bennelong Buick' Cox carded 460 - as did the svelt Lisa 'Government' Grant. Other scores to catch the Porksters eye were, Mal Gledhill on the belt for 360, and ditto for Karin 'Doors' Hefftner. Judge Murphy failed to shake daughter Clare, but gave her 320 days hard labour. Sue Login and Jo Sinclair were both back in action for low 400's, enjoying the chance to stretch out in the pink taffeta. Malcolm and Wendy got the scorers excited with excellent opening accounts, as did SVW star Carol 'Jason Akermanis' Jacobson (a tidy 330 on the slate). There were many other great scores, high and low, but all part of the Summer Series fan club (SVW Rosie Logie with an opening 150 after 'training' on the Greenwich map. Classic!).

There were many new faces last night despite the threatening weather. There were also many expected faces probably put off by the weather. No doubt the Big Foot (and others involved) contingent are flat out with WMOC stuff and should appear, somewhat exhausted, for round three. Of note last night was Dave McKenna's new registration form. This document will be a big help in collating entries and scores, and only needs to be filled in once. Look for them at your first event.

And so to event 2. This opens for business at the early time of 2pm, in the hope of tempting a few traveling orienteers to stop by. Remember it's on Monday not Wednesday, and will be another cracker at this great location. James Lithgow is in charge and has worked a bit of lower north shore magic. Kevin will be home and may bring scones out for a treat to passing 'potsters'. Don't miss this as we get the old white legs on the tremble once again.