Sydney 23 October 2016. 
Modern Times - In an effort to make life easier at the registration desk, Garingal brought contactless payment to the South Summer Series event at Clovelly on Sunday.
Expect the Tap and Go service to be available at GO Summer Series event; but please bring back-up cash until the technology has been proven to work reliably. The system is believed to work with Australian Visa and MasterCards (look for the payWave or payPass symbol on the card) as well as Apple Pay and Android Pay.
The event was a great success despite a fairly ambitious 'breeze' and some crossing of a graveyard (did you hold your breath?). Thanks to Rod Eckels for organising the day.
Picture caption: Dave Lotty (UR) looks on while Garingal's Rochelle Cox makes an unknown amount disappear from his account.
Sydney 04 September - 2016 Sydney MetrO League at Galston.
Garingal dominated the last round of MetrO League for 2016 by taking out two team titles and two individual medals.
Carol Jacobson unveiled her new map of Galston Reserve and the adjoining high school to present a unique sprint-bush hybrid for the season deciders, and it was receiving high praise as runners of all ages analysed their routes post-race. (map)
The unbeaten Legless Division 4 team scraped home 25-24 in a nervy final against Bennelong in which one runner from each side recorded an 'mp' and BN were sadly a runner short. With BN's Rod Parkin away, the individual medal was Angus Leung's for the taking - but the promising North Sydney Boys HS student did not check his control at #13 and mispunched. That left competition organiser Ian Jessup (Legless) and GO Monitors' Carolyn Davies needing at least seven points for a share of the medal. Alas, Carolyn also had an mp and Ian came home with 9 points to 'do a Bradbury' and claim gold.
It was a similar story in Division 5 where Year 9 student Tshinta Hopper (BN) mispunched, clearing the way for Riley Grainger from our Blue Tongues team to win the medal with his third 10-pointer of the year.
The Dragons in Division 2 were understrength for their final against SHOO-IKO and went down narrowly 28-26.
In Division 1 where it was first past the post, the Goannas retained the trophy they took from Big Foot last year with an upset 29-26 victory to leapfrog the Pink People into first place. Toby Wilson had the fastest time of 32m38s for the 4.6km course.
A massive thank you to our club captain Jim Forbes for organising 9 teams each round, and to the 80+ Garingal members who had a GO this year.
Sydney 29 August - NSW Sprint Champs, NSW School Champs.
Clare Jessup and Jamie Kennedy enjoyed breakthrough wins at the NSW Sprint Championships at the weekend.
Clare, an irregular orienteer due to her pony club commitments, had two great races at Garrison Point and UWS Bankstown to beat NSW Schools Team member Rebecca Kennedy (they tied in the first run) by almost two minutes in the W16A class. The Mackellar Girls school captain's combined time of 36.38 was good enough to also pip Claire Burgess (NC) who took out W15A.
Jamie, a former Garingal president and club captain, upstaged a handful of highly fancied Big Foot and IKO runners to win M50A by almost three minutes.
Other winners on the Saturday were Donovan Roberts (M11A), Duncan Currie (M16A), Aidan Dawson (M20A), Robert Herkes (M21AS), Carol Jacobson (W65A) and Michael Hanratty (MOpenB).
Sunday's State League and NSW Schools Champs middle distance event was on a remapped Boggabilla at Lansdowne. Garingal winners were Ben McConaghy (M9A), Riley Grainger (M13-14B), Clare Jessup (W16A), Toby Wilson (M20A), Robert Herkes (M21AS) and Michael Hanratty (MOpenB).
We are all looking forward to the MetrO League final on Sunday where Garingal has 3 teams going for the medals.
