The NSW Middle Distance Championships were held on the shores of Wyangala Dam near Cowra. Stunning weather, very open great granite country (see photo with place-getters Wendy McConaghy left and Natalie Grainger right). For some the terrain was steep, and the boulders that littered the hillsides stumped them. Congratulations to the following place getters:
W12A 1st Lena Baracsi; W16A 1st Iida Lehtonen; W35A 1st Nikolett Halmai; M75A 1st Ron Junghans; M50A 1st Peter Annetts; W21AS 1st Joanna Hill; W65AS 1st Barbara Junghans; M45AS 1st Arpad Kocsik; M55AS 1st Ian Jessup; W Open B 1st Wendy McConaghy.
W12A 2nd Lilja Lehtonen; M35A 2nd Istvan Kertesz; W70A 2nd Carol Jacobson; W Open B 2nd Natalie Grainger; Open Easy 2nd Kirsten Horley.
W40A 3rd Andrea Lux; M65AS 3rd Dennis Sparling; W70A 3rd Bryony Cox; M70A 3rd Ross Barr.
The NSW Long Distance Championships were held not far away in Roseberg State Forest. Very different terrain. Not so many boulders, but a lot more forest with fallen timber. Very nice to see our juniors starting to star! Also, some repeat offenders getting placed in both championships.
W12A 1st Lena Baracsi; W Open B 1st Wendy McConaghy; Open Easy 1st Kirsten Horley; M75A 1st Ron Junghans; M45AS 1st Arpad Kocsik; W65AS 1st Barbara Junghans
M35A 2nd Istvan Kertesz; W21AS 2nd Melissa Annetts; M60A 2nd James Lithgow; W70A 2nd Carol Jacobson
W12A 3rd Lilja Lehtonen; M12A 3rd Ben McConaghy; M14A 3rd Cooper Horley; W16A 3rd Iida Lehtonen; W35A 3rd Nikolett Halmai; W40A 3rd Andrea Lux; W50A 3rd Barbara Hill; M65AS 3rd Dennis Sparling
The National 3-Day comprised a Sprint, a Middle distance and a Long Distance event over 3 days. Add up the times and the fastest in the class wins. Congratulations to our place-getters, and especially to partners Nikki Halmai and Istvan Kertesz who each came first in their class - the Master of Ceremonies lost count when he got close to all the fingers on one hand for how many couples had taken out both 1st in their M and W classes.
OVERALL 3-Day
W35A. 1st Nikolett Halmai; W65AS. 1st Barbara Junghans; M35A. 1st Istvan Kertesz; M70A. 2nd Ross Barr
SPRINT Distance
W35A. 1st Nikolett Halmai, W65AS. 1st Barbara Junghans, M35A. 1st Istvan Kertesz, M75A 1st Ron Junghans, M70A. 2nd Ross Barr, M55AS. 2nd Michael Hanratty, M60A. 3rd James Lithgow
MIDDLE Distance
W35A 1stNikolett Halmai, M35A. 1st Istvan Kertesz, M70A 3rd Ross Barr, W65AS 3rd Barbara Junghans, M55AS 3rd Michael Hanratty
LONG Distance
W35A 1st Nikolett Halmai, M35A 1st Istvan Kertesz, W65AS. 1st Barbara Junghans, W20E. 3rd Iida Lehtonen
First disappointment when the teams of 6 young men and 6 young women for the Junior Australian Team to JWOC were announced after Easter as the only NSW rep would be Alistair George from Big Foot. But then came the news that Duncan Currie was, unbeknowns to us, on the Reserve list and will replace Patrick Miller from ACT who cannot attend. So, congratulations Duncan! You can follow the progress of the Aus Junior Team at https://www.jwoc2019.dk/
