Announcement from SAOF

It is with great pleasure that the SAOF Selection Committee the National squads for 2012 as follows:

Senior Squad: 

Men:  (In alphabetical order) 
Alex Pope
Colin Dutkiewicz
Garry Morrison
Jeremy Green
Martin Kleynhans
Michael Crone
Nicholas Mulder

Women:  (In alphabetical order)  
Jessica Lund
Margaret Archibald
Michele Botha
Zoe Brentano

Junior Squad:

Men:  (In alphabetical order) 

I will be publishing a new Wallpaper for each month of the year hopefully including an exciting action photo of Orienteering, with the days of the month and highlighted days where orienteering events are going to take place. Just download the picture and the Right Click and Select Set as Wallpaper.

The ROC AGM was held yesterday after the Come and Try it event at JHB Zoo, Members who attended the AGM were treated to some Fresh Fournos Bakery delights and fresh fruit, thanks to Kerry and Nick Cooper for arranging the eats. Also everyone that was there will receive a FREE entry to the first ROC event in 2012 at Fountains Valley. Once again the AGM was handled with usual ROC precision and decided to retain the current Committee:

• Craig Ogilvie (Chair)
• Ian Bratt (Vice-Chair)
• Nicholas Mulder (Secretary)
• Joan van Jaarsveld (Treasurer)
• Charles Lautenbach
• Nick Cooper
• Alex Pope

Hi All,

We participated in an interesting event last Sunday in a small town called Bassersdorf; the first race of the new year for the official Swiss points table.
Liz had a great win, 1/9 in W65 (9 points) and I managed 20/25 in M70, a result that left me with all of 0 points.

The senior and junior elite M and W runners started early at 10:00 with the temperature at 0°C. All the top Swiss boys and girls participated with he exception of Matthias Merz. The organisers had decided on a knock-out final for the first 6 in the 4 qualifying races and the mass start for the first sextet of 24 orienteers was scheduled for 12:30.


The race finished in the assembly hall and I only realised what the nature of the concept was when the doors in the men's changing room were opened, to let a cold draft and the first juniors into the hall, under tumeltuous applause. The progress of the 4 races was shown on a large screen in the hall with knowledgeable commentary and post-race interviews with the winners and runners-up. This provided for a nice atmosphere, greatly enhanced by the availability of Bratwurst, Hot Dogs, delicious homemade cakes and a variety of drinks.

The key to the final results was the "circle" on the attached map. No 2 was compulsory and the competitors had a choice of punching a further 5 out of 7 controls in this sector, before moving on to control no 3.
Rather tricky, as 17 time world champion Simone Niggli who in the qualification had been two minutes and twelve seconds ahead of Sabine Hauswirth (watch this name) found herself in second position at no 3, 14 seconds back. Strong runner as she is, she managed to regain her leading position, although her winning margin over Sabine was just 2 secs. It was obvious that 2011 world sprint champion Daniel Hubmann ran on position, Fabian Hertner finishing second, a mere 4 seconds behind. Interestingly, well known orienteers such as Matthias Müller, Marc Lauenstein, Baptiste Rollier and Sara Lüscher failed to make the top 6 in the qualification and had to watch the proceedings on the screen.
Finally, the map you are looking at was printed only after the names of the first 6 in each category were known. Some great organisation and attention to detail.
Incidentally, I caught quite a few people cheating, crossing olive green, evidenced by the results showing some very fast legs recorded by a number of normally very slow
competitors, sies tog vir hulle!


O'Cheers, Pieter.

Big 5 O-Week Update

The Big 5 Orienteering Week, scheduled from 4 - 8 January 2012 around the towns of Belfast, Dullstroom, Sabie and Nelspruit in Mpumlanaga, has drawn an international field of competitors. Entries closed this last weekend with a total of 163 participants, of which 96 are foreigners from 11 different countries. Competitors will be travelling from Brazil, Britain, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Belgium and others, many taking the 5 days of competition as part of a larger South African holiday experience. The racing highlight will undoubtedly be the attendance of former 2010 World Champion, Olav Lundanes from Norway, who will be the firm favourite when he takes on South Africa's best in the Men's Elite category. The two elite categories have attracted 7 men and 3 women who featured on the International Orienteering Federation's world ranking list. The two largest age groupings will be the Men's Elite category and Men 50-59 age group, both of which have attracted in excess of 25 competitors.

Although entries are now closed for Age group and Elite categories, entries will still be taken on each of the five days of competition for two Open courses.

An introduction to orienteering was presented to the 1st Edenvale Scouts/Cubs, a basic map of a nearby park was drawn and following a short lecture on what orienteering was the pack 37 cubs were divided into groups of 3 to run the course, unfortunately the rain was approaching so the practical session was a little hurried.  We look forward to welcoming these enthusiastic youngsters at an event in the near future.

Well done to the ROC trophy winners at yesterdays Long-O, Alex Pope retained the trophy for the Mens Open (still the most impressive trophy in SA orienteering IMO).

Well done to Alex Pope and Sarah Pope on their victory at the Mountain Marathon champs last weekend, this now makes it 3 Popes that have one the trophy with Trevor winning it years ago in his prime :-)