Beacon Hill - Sunday, 8 May 2016 - Garingal is hosting the annual GOANNA at Beacon Hill this Sunday 8 May 2016 with a mass start at 10am for the 3 moderate courses.
The GOANNA is the local name for the US style "goat race". Goat races are a wacky form of line orienteering in which:
* there is a mass start (10am)
* following is allowed (this is usually a no-no)
* you may skip a control (yippee!)
* there are forked controls (you go to 'a' or 'b')
* in the boxed section you visit the controls in any order
This novelty event is the brainchild of GO member and ONSW marketing and communications officer Ian Jessup, who wanted to offer something unusual but still an O challenge in its own right.
There are 3 course lengths (GeckO 3.8km, DraGOn 5.3km and GOanna 7.2km), with the standard varying from moderate to hard depending on where you are on the course.
Have a look at a previous Goanna to see what you are confronted with.
Tactics have to be made up on the run - which control will you skip?, which fork will you take?, and in which order will you do 'the box'? The first two Goannas generated a lot of discussion about strategy, and great enthusiasm for the format. A 'fun' run in its own right.
Entries close midday on Fri May 6. Please note the Very Easy and Easy courses are Enter-on-Day and will have a start window of 10.15-11am.
With over a dozen faithfuls the jobs and preparations for the 22 May SL 5 event went rather smoothly. In fact we finished earlier than normal which allowed a walk around Duffy’s Forest led by Ron J to absorb some of the properties in the neighbourhood. 
Scrapping and polishing the hardware to make sure all clocks, control stands and much paraphernalia was prepared to meet GOs high standards.
Afterwards we had the traditional BBQ with the wonderful trimmings. Even some fresh pickings from the Junghans garden added that touch.
Everything was accomplished and we all went home satisfied.
The list of attendees: Barbara and Ron Junghans, Carol and Ken Jacobson, Bryony and Tim Cox, Colin Burnett and Dianne Bergen, Barbara and Graeme Dawson, Ross Barr, Rod Eckels and Ross Duker.
Melbourne - National Orienteering League 2016
Garingal's Michele Dawson, was a standout performer in Melbourne, in the opening weekend of the National Orienteering League, 2016.
Michele placed 6th, 3rd, 4th and 3rd in the four Sprint races against some tough competition. Her 3rd place in the race at Melbourne University saw her crowned Australian University Sprint Champion, representing the University of NSW.
Michele now has her sights set on being selected, and representing at World University Championships which are to be held in Hungary later this year.
Also attending the NOL was a small representative of Garingal members with some wonderful results.
Ross Barr (promoting the new Garingal Running Singlet) smashed the M70 with a clean sweep of four 1st placings! Truly an inspiration for our club.
Other notable performances were Toby Wilson and Graeme Dawson with four top 10 placings, Aidan Dawson with three top 10 placings and Duncan Currie with two top 10 placings.
...a highly successful weekend of racing for our Garingal team.
