Sydney Summer Series

FIVE FLY AT FLICK'S FIVE DOCK, AS THE 20TH SEASON CLOSES

On a perfect autumn Sydney evening, Steve Flick worked a large crowd around the sights, sounds and smells (well, not really smells) of Drummoyne and Five Dock Bay as we bade farewell to season twenty and celebrated our winners. Being a nervous sort of podium person, Pork Pie was adrift in late calculation caucusing, and voice projection classes - and has hardly noted any scores. This valedictory will have to run on course critique and odd bits of goss.

Given the map name is Five Dock, I just had to assume that five runners carded 600 to make the alliteration in my 'five flying' title work. I know that we had four (Glenn, Richard, Steve and Dave), and Steve gets a ton for setting, so that's good enough for me. Five at Five does the trick.

So, how was it?

Pork Pie managed to pull on a feeble cold and walked (walked??!! what's going on Rosscoe!) early, only to arrive back and find Bev 'The Brewer' had tumbled to the old goats birthday, and had laid out the cakes. Fantastic and yum. Thanks BJ, and to all who offered sympathies as 'The Man From Moscow' slides down the age stakes and joins the flying walking frames. I'm in denial though, but enjoyed the knee work in a bit of east and a bit of west - much like everyone I reckon.

Looking at the course, as many did, the potty spread fell into an obvious 'double lung'. The large empty gap between #18 and #17 was the clue to course planning - reflecting 'The Stevedore's' obvious desire to run the punters under Gladesville Bridge, and not do any dodgem stuff along Victoria Road. Let me explain. The eastern 'lung' works like this - 1,5,23,7,14,18, turning back via 10,30,15,25,13,28,22,6,29 and under the bridge to #20. The western 'lung' then comprises 9,19,21 (or 19,21,9) 26,4,27,8 and return via 12,2,17 etc. Pretty neat, with some clear and obvious drops for anyone not on a mission to bag the lot. Cutting out 18 and 10 in the east works well, as does giving lonely pot #8 the flick in the west. You could enjoy an early night with a tighter western loop (26,4,24,16,11 and 3) if the 'Fob' was against you. Many might have dumped #19 as only a marginal 'add', as it was close to 650 meters in and out. You needed speed to convert that one.

There also appeared to be a tighter loop where you had to cross Victoria Road (23 to 11) and go clockwise in the west. Not quite sure how the northern pots worked in here, although there were many sightings of ponies flying Queen Vic and making it back alive. So, even though the spread looked scattered, the only really difficult pot to loop into a run was #9. Everything else flowed - a real 'joining the dots' course that offered interesting real estate, harbour views and some great foreshore running. Pot 26 on the jetty was too perfect for words!

There were a couple of interesting tales to relate. Greg 'Bay Rum' Barbour turned up to spoil Michael's party, and might have if he had gone to #19 - discovering the missing twenty under the folded map at the finish to fall ten shy of the Coogee King (580/590) with MB leaving off the lonely number eight. And Heiko, bless his socks, somehow managed to propel himself eastwards from #17 all the way to a busy road with a sign reading 'Victoria Road', before realising he had gone past the #16 turnoff! Superb stuff from our Antarctic man and Legends star.

As I noted at the presentation, this years series has seen the most number of contests decided at the last event - 11 out of the 14 categories waited on the final run. Simply amazing stuff. I also like to promote the many close contests further down the leader board - where several one and two point leads amongst flashy ponies saw a bit of frantic late whip work as the fancies all chased a sliver of advantage.

All the final scores will get to be posted soon, and we can all ruminate on another great series. Our average entry tops 200 for the first time, with a couple of 250 plus events - also for the first time. There has been good growth in the group and walking categories and more fulsome attendance generally. Raw numbers are up as well, but it's the addict fever that really is noticeable this series. We have had fantastic competition not only in the age categories, but also in the incredible chase for the Summer Series Cup - won this season by another new awardee, Rachael Noble, our first junior winner.

I also don't discount the social aspect of our Wednesday 'Flogging the Biscuit'. Many SSS competitors love the interaction both before and after their run, with the pub meal afterwards being a regular feature (did I mention the Reschs??). It's been a great year with much to reflect on. Sportident for instance, and several top new maps. The athleticism of our toppies, and the competition well down the line. Sensational stuff. This is a good time to offer grateful thanks to all our course setters and club organisers. And especial thanks to David Noble for his work in posting events and generally keeping the SSS community up to speed with our doings. A most valuable role I'm sure you will agree.

What a blast for something that started as just a run to keep in touch over the 'quiet' summer months. Believe it or not, Sydney Summer Series 2011/2012 is already on the slate, with one new area already notified. There will again be 26 events, and another good mix of park/street and bush maps. I have a feeling it could be another cracker, and only six months away!

Pork Pie will get around to a season wrap, but for the moment the birthday boy has closed the file and dug out the O gear. Yes folks, the orienteering season proper is upon us big time, so get joined up and get cracking - this time in the bush! And for those that can't bear to think 'it' is over, we have four fantastic Autumn Evening' events coming up - you guessed it, on the next four Wednesdays! This time it's on with the LED for a bit of night time action, as we startle the commuters and the dogs at four favourite venues. Join us.