Sydney Summer Series

TONS AT SCG NO MATCH FOR THOSE AT 'THEATRE ROYAL'

As Captain Clarke celebrated his double SCG ton yesterday, a large turnout of SSS punters lined up to do likewise (or a bit more) on a well grassed pitch at Carlingford. And despite the mercury being well into the high 30's, close to 200 nags on a mission pulled on the flannels and daubed on the 15plus, as they took their turn at the crease with their A4 'willows' in hand. You can hear the crowd roaring at this wonderful display of mixed metaphors from The Porkster, but read on - in the hope that things improve!

Chief course curator, Michael 'Front Stalls' Roylance, deployed a full kit of face paint, mood lighting, costumery (and protectors) in leading his troops onto the Kings (dene) stage, or more correctly, the field, as event 14 went hot, then very hot, with competitive hundreds and masterful performances all round. No actor more celebrated by this discerning audience, than Andrew 'Tangara' Hill, who nearly went 'all stations' in his winning 580, delivering His Royal Highness a perfect course setting verdict.

(Rosscoe, steady lad, steady...)

Let's go back a step or two, and reflect on matters Sydney Summer Series #14.

Firstly, it was a stinker. Probably our first really hot summers day this season, and it naturally delivered lots of that tardy starting syndrome, with many fussing at the clear and check, fidgeting with their string lines, or making repeated visits to the car just to double check if it was locked. Later runners did get some benefit from the later cooling, and not having to face the locked gate run around (all affected should contact the stage manager). You know when it's time to start when Ron 'Derris Dust' Junghans emerges from the Prius with a bag of beans and the beige washer at the ready.

Secondly, we were back at Kingsdene with another A4 in portrait format. It has been three years since Lummo went claret in the creek here, so definitely time for a re-run. With its central dividing creek/bush/track section, and many attending parks and loopy streets, it is also a venue many were looking forward too, and classic SSS territory in many ways.

Thirdly, we featured in 'The Planner' section in the Sydney Morning Herald - with an attendant upsurge in web site visits, and hopefully future attendance. Good to see Orienteering in the popular press.

Fourthly, it looked - and proved - a cracker. Lets have a closer look at the theatrical arrangements.

First glance revealed that the pots seemed well spread, with several sites being reprised, or closely reprised (10,21,27 etc) from prior outings. The creek-line featured heavily, with outliers to the north (13,24), to the east (28), and to the west (7,29), but nothing south. Straight away, outer loops formed that could be taken in either direction, with the wider of these probably meaning several inner 'pots that beep' might need to be foregone. There were also nice close to the creek loopings that left off everything north of the 3,9,8 Maginot Line. Closer inspection revealed a cunning option for those that had filled up on premium fuel - a sort of up/down, up/down "W" course that maximised points without the need to go to the outer edges. This route went out via 10,4,11,21,15,7,29 crossed to 19,22 before returning in a swooping motion to the creeks embracing 26,17,30 and 8 before rising on wafting contours to 23 and 18 before another fall to 12,16,25,27 and matters Homeward Bound (as Simon & Garfunkel might have sung). 'The Blue Engine' was a fan of this cunning typography, and posted a tidy 450 for his troubles.

Departures were mostly through gate A (10,4,11), although gate B (1,14,2) had many fans. One to twenty was a good way to ease tardy thighs into action, with its gentle downhill beginning, and may also have had takers. The steady stream of stuffed finishers 'flying' home across the paddock (or is that the 'stage'?) from #1 seemed to give currency to the out-via-the-western route being the more popular beginning.

The pot positions were all good and clear, and the track running superb stuff in this area. The northern section required a bit of contour work and a bit of planning. 19,22,6,13,24,18,12 was a good collect. 23 was a toughie to figure (except in the W route), 9 might have gone lonely, but 28 probably took that honour - needing a good head of steam to bag this little bitty fence thingy. Runners who went west found a good connection to #7, something perhaps not quite so apparent on the map. Yet others ran a direct connection from 29 down to the creek and back up through the bush to hook in #19. Smart work if you know your White.

One very interesting early take on the creek points is from Neil 'Chesty' Lefevre, who worked the keyboard from 11 to 20, to 26 (without bagging 17??!), up to 21, along to 17 (!!), and then back to 26 for a second insertion!! Mmmmm, Neil, I think some Reschs therapy is called for here - and note that chief therapist, Dan 'The Man' Redfern instigated an initial session at the West Ryde on the night in question. Neil's 390 is probably 30/40 shy of recent floggings, but not a baddie given the meanderings.

Other scoring news worth relating, is all competition groupings had winners above the halfway mark - except Legends Women and Walking Women. The walkers on this occasion holding thirty over Bryony and Sue - 290 to 260. A suprise indeed. There were 10 home in the five hundreds (eight stallions and two mares) and 42 home in the four hundreds. Plenty of runners in the threes, two's and even the ones - with our award at the tail going to Nicholas Ip, home with a 230 point penalty and minus eighty! Excellent stuff from the Junior, who pips some good work in the 66 minute range (and a subsequent minus 220 points) from 'The Tilley Lamp' and Stephanie 'The Ankle' Allen - a cool 30 and 20 point return respectively.

I've mentioned Andy taking the lolly in OM with 580. He went all pots except #5, and copped 40 seconds from the machine - almost a doing a Glenn, who is presumably on holidays and missed the race. OM's McQuillan, Ryan and Schaefer filled the minor placings, with 'The Ink' and 'Pentridge' both taking silver with 550, and Mark ten back with 540 and the bronze. Steve's score is interesting because he was home in 41", suggesting his plan was perhaps not ambitious enough.

Other categories saw many favourites taking curtain calls. How about young Adam Halmy and Luke Petterson posting 420's in JM, Bethany going gold with 330 in JW, Kar-Soon taking the points in MM with 530 (in front of Jeremy 'The Musical' Cox's 510) and Mary Fein (480) well clear in MW from Carolyn Haupt (400) and Alison 'The Red Drape' Curtin (360). The Super Vet Men saw The Flickster holding 100 with a smart 460 (ten over Gordy and Eoin). Wazza was a no-show. The Vets have been rehearsing, with Michael 'The Spencer Pub' Burton and Wendy Stevo both well home in bed after yet another stunning performance, that left them well clear of their nearest rivals - in this case, Braddles (480 to MB's 530) and Paula 'No Leaks' Shingler's 430 to The Bendy Buses 510. Gill 'Fell' Fowler timed things to perfection in OW, home with 500 points and one (!!) second to spare on the clock. Maybe her clock, because the official score shows 45 exactly. Anyway 'The Rimutaka Incline' held thirty over Lisa Grant, in turn ten over a strong run from Catherine Murphy (460).

Lots of other excellent scores of course, and all posted live on the night! The wonder of it all.

So, a top night despite the early heat, and a top course from young Michael - ably helped by the Big Foot crew. We will go the chew here again I'm sure, but for now, let's look forward to event 15 and a chance to run amongst the history, houses and harbour views of Balmain. This will be the second outing here for Summer Series tragics, and setter Matt 'Doc' Peters promises to enthrall and entertain at this sensational venue. Post run coffee, dinner or pub? We will be spoiled for choice. So, get your paisley T shirts ironed and think of a little beadwork around the neck to set off the designer stubble. Balmain, what a way to go!

I should also mention Sprint event #2 is on next Monday at West Pymble. A new area and map, so should be fun. The Tracing Paper is in charge, as The Feet do two in one week. Strike me handsome! Pork Chop also notes that the new West summer series begins this Sunday morning at Crestwood, with John 'The Old' Bailey working the gavel. More going on than you can poke a stick at, and an exciting time for our sport. Be there!