NEAR perfect weather conditions at The Sandmine, near Coffin Bay, on Sunday, June 1 gave orienteers the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of this area while out on their course.

Stunning views of the white sand hills against a clear blue sky could be seen by most participants at some stage during their course.

Event organisers Brian Ashton and David Winters offered five courses. The 2.5km Course 2 was an easy recreational course. Course 3 was shorter at 2.4km, but required some careful map reading. All Course 5 events were “good for character building” according to the organisers. They were hard navigational courses, varying in length and the climb involved. 5X was 2.3km long, 5 Short 4.5km and the 5 Long 6.9km.

Lessons were learned by some orienteers when they discovered that exact map marking of control locations is essential here.

Orienteering in this area is very tricky because there are not many big physical features to use for locating position. It was essential to read the fine features on the map and to keep close track of position on the map at all times.

This was not possible if the map was not marked precisely.

Jade Forbes, Georgia Dickie and Kevin Hicks all enjoyed course two.

Conner Dickie was first to complete the course three event, taking 37.07 minutes. He was coached after by David Winters who shadowed him on his course. Morgan Hull was next taking 47.22 minutes. This was her last event as the family is moving to Adelaide.

Patrice Glass took 84 minutes to finish the 5X course, just a minute ahead of Gordon Pope.

Course 5 short was the most popular event. Kevin Vigar took his time in marking his map but it paid off because he had the best time, taking 91.30 minutes.

Phil Dansie was next, taking 97.20 minutes. Karen McConnell had already competed in a triathlon that morning but managed to come third, taking 111.48 minutes, well ahead of the remaining competitors.

Peter Sheridan was first to complete the 5 long course in 79.33 minutes. Tim Klau came in ahead of Marc Dickie by 75 seconds. David Winters took up the challenge to do the event with an unmarked map and only a clue sheet for the controls!

He succeeded taking 40.14 minutes.

The next event will be the EP Relays on Sunday, June 29, at Corunna Gap, near Whyalla. This event will be hosted by Saltbush, the Whyalla orienteering group.

The next local event will be on Sunday, July 20 at Mena View, near Frenchman’s. Details for this and coming events can be seen in the Port Lincoln Times or visit the Lincoln O website.