Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers

15/10/2026

This cropped up on my fb feed. Interesting bit of info but don't feel we have had an issue with cabling to metal poles.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14ry7KCM3mS/?mibextid=xfxF2i

Looks harmless – but makes all the difference!

Can you spot what went wrong here, despite the best of intentions?

This BSF9 station has been attached to a road sign post with a thin steel cable. At first glance, a clever idea: the station is held securely, won't easily go missing, and there's no need for a control stand.

The problem: the metal sits directly over the built-in coil!

Steel cables and iron objects can impair the function of SPORTident stations. So never attach stations to iron fences or iron posts. Otherwise, punching may not work reliably, and the range is reduced when punching contactlessly with the SIAC. In the worst case, punches can be lost.

By the way: the notches around the "hole" of the BSF9 are there to let rainwater drain away.

14/10/2026

🐚🐚SHELL COVE THIS SUNDAY🐚🐚
18 OCT
Change of scenery for our event this Sunday at Shell Cove’s waterfront. Three line courses on offer long 7.2km, medium 4.9km, short 2.1km. Pre-entry preferred but registration on the day also available (card only) https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23852

Also take the opportunity to check out the PromenART free photographic outdoor art trail around the marina while you are here.

14/10/2026

Entries are NOW OPEN for the Australian 3-Days 2027! 🧭

Four days of racing, including the Prologue Sprint, inaugural Easter Youth Relay, two Middle Distance events and a Long!
📖 Bulletin 1 is also available, with event information to help you start planning your Easter.

📍 Goulburn, NSW
📅 26–29 March 2027

👉 Enter now and download Bulletin 1:
🌐 https://aus3days2027.orienteering.asn.au

See you in Goulburn!

13/10/2026

🌦️ OCEANIA 2026: The last weekend Part 2.
Sunday dawned as a pleasant day - it was dry and the sun was shining.

Parking was going to be problematic according to the organisers so we allowed plenty of time if our first choice meant we had to look elsewhere but all was good.

The arena set up in the grounds of the Old Canberra House, with lovely trees, gardens and a picnic feel, right in the middle of a city.

Being a fairly typical University campus there were plenty of buildings, paths, roads, steps and garden beds. To add to the complexity of the courses the course setter included extra physical barriers.

How did our IKO contingent fare?
3rd Margaret W80A
12th Vicki W70A
17th Peter M75A
19th Belinda W45A
21st Pippa W14A
23rd Julie W65A

Photos: Margaret Duguid, Sandra Stewart, Tom De Jong

13/10/2026

🌦️ OCEANIA 2026: a belated write up from the last weekend: Part 1

SATURDAY: Mt Stromlo, Long Distance
Not quite raining for 40 days and 40 nights by any stretch of the imagination but boy did the rain fall Friday through to Saturday. On the way to the event I could hardly hear the voice giving directions on Google maps because the rain was so heavy.

The rain eased a bit then an electrical storm swept through. So starts were pushed back 45 minutes. Lo and behold the rain stopped by the time competitors started. Across NSW and Victoria that day, about 392,000 lightning strikes were detected.

Terrain was a mix of MTB tracks, walking tracks, cross-country running trails, bush, thickets and an observatory. What were dry watercourses a week ago were in some cases quite deep creeks. Some orienteers commented that the water went up to their waist in one creek they crossed. What were small marshes on the map were much larger in the terrain.

And of course there were scattered kangaroos, all looking a little put out at being disturbed. 🦘

Results for IKO runners:
5th Margaret W80A
5th Vicki W65AS
11th Peter M75A
13th Belinda W45A
25th Pippa W14A

I have omitted one person from the list above for a good reason. Joel competed in the M20E, a class with 28 competitors including the likes of Rory (SHOO) who won this class. Joel placed a very creditable 14th place in a very competitive field against guys who have been orienteering for many years.
Photos: Sandra Stewart, Margaret Duguid

12/10/2026

Summary of yesterday’s event at Bomaderry Creek
by Keith Jay

The event was successfully completed with live running results on display and final results uploaded into eventor https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/ResultList?eventId=23851&groupBy=EventClass

A long warm day but without any rain, which started at dawn for me.
Luckily the creek water level was still fairly low allowing the long and medium courses to cross without wet feet.

Quite a few encounters with the local wildlife by competitors including Pippa’s black snake, Steve’s Echidna, Belinda and Bianca’s Kingfisher and Waratah (photo evidence was provided). Various competitors said g’day to the local goanna.

My thanks to all the helpers on the day.
Particularly Steve and Natalya who got there early and put out some SI units for me. Margaret and Vicki who womaned the EOD’s and helped set up the assembly area. Vicki also took care of newcomers with expert instruction to get them started.
All those various people who helped with the gear pack up and who collected the controls.

Appreciate the feedback about the courses/map. The map is still a work in progress. Was asked about livelox being available. I hadn’t even thought about this, but Bomaderry Creek is not yet available in eventor due to the fact that it is still not quite finished.

A successful lunch at Berry Pub coach house concluded the event.

Keith

06/10/2026

FREE MEMBERSHIP for 2027
Yes you heard it from us right here
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
Through our Illawarra Spring Series we are running a special offer to any newcomers who compete in any of the three events below. Run 3 events and we will get you signed up. This is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed.

11 Oct - Bomaderry Creek https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23851
18 Oct - Shell Cove https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23852
1 Nov - Port Kembla (new map) https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23853
8 Nov - Oak Flats (new map) https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23854

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

Spring is here
and so is the first event of the Illawarra Spring Series
Bomaderry Creek Orienteering
Sunday 11 October · 10:00am

Explore one of the Illawarra’s most beautiful bush reserves with a classic map, fast courses, and options for all ages and abilities.
Walk, jog, or race, you choose your pace.

Run smarter this spring.
More event info -> https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/23851
More series info -> https://illawarrakareelahorienteers.com/

02/10/2026

See the map. 🗺
Find the route. 🛣
Run the course. 🏃🏽‍♀️
Illawarra Spring Series 2026.

More info -> https://illawarrakareelahorienteers.com/