The latest round of the Bathurst Orienteering Summer Series had a Scandinavian flavour to it, with Swedish international Tuve Moeller competing at Charles Start University on Sunday.
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Moeller, who is in Australia on an scholarship with Orienteering Australia and NSW, suggested that both Bathurst and Orange regions have huge potential for the sport.
“I’m here from January to June. I’ll do work for the NSW Orienteering federation and stay with local orienteering people and help with what they have to do, whether it be draw maps or help set up events,” he said.
“I’ve been to Australia before but I’ve never been to Orange and Bathurst.
“[The course in Bathurst] seems to be very good. It’s a very good sprint map. It has a lot of nice forests around these towns.”
“Orienteering is also a time to come out in to nature and not only to run, but to think. It’s a very good sport in that way.”
Moeller will spend the next two weeks in Bathurst and Orange, before heading up north to Armidale and Coffs Harbour.
Orange-based Goldseekers Orienteering Club organised the event, in hope of promoting the sport in Bathurst.
Club president Basil Baldwin explained the varied shapes of the buildings on campus assisted with navigation and were one of the keys to keeping competitors’ bearing on the tricky sections.
The long course competition was a great battle, with Bathurst’s Mark Windsor using his local knowledge to great advantage to finish the course in 12 minutes and 23 seconds.
He finished nine seconds ahead of Moeller, with a tight battle for third between Wattle Flat’s Chris Green and Orange’s Baldwin, with the latter eventually claiming third.
There was just one second between the event’s top two female competitors – Gabi Burge and Beatrice Humphries – with the former finishing in a time of 23 minutes and 46 seconds.
Emily Boehm edged Kim Melhuish for third place.
Organisers were very impressed by the day’s top junior Ralph Pearce, with Baldwin suggesting he has excellent potential in the sport.
Chris Green bounced back to take out the moderate course in a time of 15 minutes and 29 seconds, with top veteran competitor Jean Baldwin, from Orange, the first female and second overall in a time of 18 minutes and 38 seconds.
The easy course was won by Jac Burge in a time of 25 minutes and 10 seconds, ahead of Kirsten Ingwersen, who finished in a time of 26 minutes and 41 seconds.
The final round of the Bathurst series will be held on Sunday, at Boundary Road Reserve and contact Basil Baldwin on 6366 5131 for more information.