Hi Bushie’s
I hope you are all well.
2025 is progressing at a pace, and there are many events that have happened in the past few months in the world of orienteering. We have had the ACT championships, many other local events, and some members are overseas participating in events further afield.
And I’d also like to congratulate and thank Nina Davis for taking on role of President role of the Orienteering ACT Board of Directors. And she won’t be alone as a representative from the Bushflyers, with Valerie Barker, David Stocks and Alison Inglis all taking on positions as Directors. Thank you all for your contributions!
This year we have had a number of new members join us, and a few returning to the fray. We hope you are enjoying the challenges of navigating around the town (street-O), buildings (sprint), and bush (mid, long) in Canberra and beyond. And if you see them out there please make them welcome.
Kirsten Wehner, Christian Piiroinen, Dean Davies, Aaron Broughton, Liam Broughton, Anthony Powell, Monica Lindemann, Dan Neluschi, Inge Stokkel, Cam McLaren, Caitlin McLaren, Clara Spencer, Thomas Spencer, Willem van Galen, Lucy Porter, Murray Wilson, Jane Gordon, Anne Maree Solomon, Lillian George, Christina Starr, Christopher Starr, Zhi-Hui Lim, Zhi-En Lim, Prisilla Reyenga-Holborow, Edith Rickerby, Christopher Bradley, Madeleine Gisz, Jack Shipton, Leanne Haupt, Grace Spencer, David Spencer, Sheryn Ringland, Orson Reynolds
This weekend the Bushflyers are responsible for the ACT League event at Picaree Hill and although the winter weather is here, it should be a fantastic day out. Thanks to everyone who is involved in making this event happen, particular Matt and Chris Stocks for setting the course and Valerie Barker for organising the event. And best of luck to the 24 Bushflyers participating.
Summer Swarm and Annual Awards for 2024
In February, we gathered for the Summer Swarm and reflected on the year that had been, enjoying good food and drink. Another swarm will be held towards the end of the year and we look forward to catching up in a social gathering away from the orienteering courses. Part of the Summer gathering was dedicated to reflecting on the achievements of our members through various awards and I’ve included these awards below.
OA MERIT BADGES
An aim of the Badge Scheme is to recognise the achievements of a consistent orienteering standard relative to one’s age-group peers.
The events at which badge credits may be earned are
- Australian Long Distance, Middle Distance and Sprint Orienteering Championships;
- Australian 3-Days;
- State Long, Middle or Sprint Distance Championships as nominated to OA;
- Nominated Orienteering Australia controlled badge events
An orienteer qualifies for an OA merit badge by earning three credits at specific events within a two-year period. The two-year period commences on the date of the event at which the first credit is earned.
While a large number of Bushflyers earn badges each year, Bushflyers buys and presents badges to club members when they are earned for the first time in an age-class, and in subsequent years if they achieve a higher ranking! (That means that if you win Gold in your first year, you will get a badge; but even if you win Gold for the next four years, you will have to wait for another five years and a new age class to be eligible for another one!)
- Ari Piiroinen, M60 Silver
- Ben Mansell, M14 Silver
- Chris Andersen, M60 Silver
- Chris Stocks, W55 Gold
- Craig Johnson, M50 Bronze
- David Penton, M40 Silver
- David Stocks, M21 Gold
- Emma Penton, W40 Bronze
- Helen Sheridan, W21 Bronze
- Joshua Mansell, M20 Silver
- Matty Maundrell, M20 Gold
- Naomi Penton, W14 Gold
- Nina Davis, W21 Silver
- Patrick Maundrell, M14 Gold
- Toby Lang, M21 Gold
- Tom De Jongh, M65 Silver
BUSHFLYERS FLY SWAT AWARD – Memorable moments and dastardly deeds
when everything splatted around you but you kept on buzzing anyway
CHRIS STOCKS
Control Descriptions
Chris Stocks at the Oceania Relay. She likes to have control descriptions in a holder, not on the map. She was first runner, so carried a little pair of scissors to cut the description from the map. Great idea. Except as she finished cutting off the descriptions she realised that they only had about 5 controls .. hmmm, a map flip. And she’d cut part of the map off for the other side. Luckily there were no controls on the bit she cut off.
BUSHFLYERS BLUE BOTTLE AWARD – SERVICES TO BUSHFLYERS
VALERIE BARKER
Valerie’s contribution to the Bushflyer’s is well known to most club members. Serving as convenor for seven years, represents just a small part of her contribution. She has been a constant presence at events around Canberra and the surrounds, taking on responsibilities for making events happen with great gusto. She is definitely worthy of recognition of her efforts to make the Bushflyers a great club to be a member of, and we look forward to her ongoing presence for many years to come!
Note that previous winners have been:
- 2018 Ross Stewart
- 2019 Alison Inglis
- 2020, 2021 – no club awards
- 2022 Matt Stocks
- 2024 Valerie Barker
IAN BOOTH AWARD
SILKE SPEIER
This is named after Ian Booth, a Bushflyers club stalwart who died suddenly of a heart attack in 2011. Ian enjoyed a red wine very much, so in the early years this award was based on a good quality red wine. In recent years, however, a gift voucher ($120) from the Runners Shop has been awarded in lieu of the wine. The prize is awarded to the most improved Master’s level competitor. It is calculated on relative improvement based on ACT League results. The winner must have competed in at least 50% of events in the year, and the award cannot be won by the same person on more than one occasion.
Previous winners have been:
- 2024 Silke Speier
- 2023 Craig Johnson
- 2022 Jo Hobson
- 2019 Matt Stocks
- 2018 Chris Andersen
- 2017 Anita Scherrer
- 2016 Valerie Barker
- 2015 Chris Stocks
- 2014 Carol Harding
- 2013 Toni Brown
- 2012 Robyn d’Ascenzo
- 2011 Pauli Piiroinen (the inaugural recipient)
Orienteering ACT Awards for 2024
Congratulations to the following Bushflyers who were recipients of 2024 OACT awards.
Audun Fristad awards
Gregor Dowe
Services to Coaching
David Stocks
2024 National Representative Teams
The following Bushflyers have been selected to represent Australia in competitions overseas this year.
World Orienteering Championships, 9-12 July, Kuopio, Finland
Justine Hobson, Caitlin Young
Non-travelling reserve David Stocks
World Games 2025, 5-12 August, Chengdu, China
Caitlin Young
theworldgames.org/editions/Chengdu-CHN-2025-14
The World Games is a multi-sport event for sports and disciplines that are not in the programme of the Olympic Games. It was last held in the USA in 2022, and the next is planned for Germany in 2029.
World Cup 2025 Round 1, 18-22 June, Idre Fjäll, Sweden
Justine Hobson, Caitlin Young
This event is happening as I send this out, due to the fact that I have taken a while drafting this newsletter. You can hop online and follow the events live if you are interested.
World Cup 2025 Round 2, 27-31 August, Belguim
Toby Lang
These international events are wonderful opportunities for our elites to experience orienteering on an international stage. Those travelling to Europe will be enjoying a range of training and competition opportunities in Europe both before and after their competitions.
We wish them all successful training and preparation, safe travel, and personal best performances in their competitions. The Bushflyers club is pleased to announce that it is again providing sponsorship to these athletes, to support them with the significant expenses that travel to Europe in particular involves for athletes in Australia.
I have included links to the relevant websites for the competitions. They are very exciting to watch in real time, and I do encourage you to follow our own athletes, and all of the other Australian team members, in their competitions.
ACT Championships
ACT Sprint Championships, 16 March, Australian National Botanic Gardens
Bushflyers had 45 out of the 199 entries in this year’s ACT Sprint Championship.
Results included:
- Justine Hobson W21A, Matty Maudrell M16A, David Penton M35A, Patrick Maundrell M14A, Sam Dowe M/WOpenEasy
- David Stocks M21A, Ben Mansell M14A, Lachlan Dowe M/WOpenVEasy, Julia Howard M/W JuniorB, Charlotte Papworth M/WOpenB, Andrew Hobson M55A
- Nina Davis W21A, Naomi Penton W14A, Andrew Shipton M35A
ACT Middle Distance Championships, 5 April, Cooma
Bushflyers had 31 out of 280 entries
Results included:
- Jane Barnett W55AS, Emma Penton WOpenB, Nina Davis W21AS, Ian de Jongh M21AS
- Natalie Miller W21A, David Stocks M21A, Sam Dowe M12A, Ben Mansell M14A, Coral DowW65AS, Alison Inglis W55A, David Penton M40A, Valerie Barker W70A, Alan Sargeant M65AS
- Joshua Mansell M18A, Blair Trewin M50A
ACT Long Distance Championships, 6 April, Highlands
Busflyers had 31 out of 263 entries
Results included:
- Matty Maundrell M18A, Emma Penton WOpenB, Jane Barnett W55AS, Nina Davis W21AS, Christopher Bradley MOpenB, Alan Sargeant M65AS, Ian de Jongh M21AS
- Natalie Miller W21A, David Stocks M21A, Sam Dowe M12A, Ben Mansell M14A, Matthew Stocks M50A, Coral Dow W65AS, Vicky Mansell W45AS
- Chris Andersen M60A, Valerie Barker W70A, Patrick Maundrell M14A,
Bushflyers Events
Thanks to all the Bushflyers who have been involved in organising and running the events this year. Nothing happens without the effort of members, be it planning and setting the courses, or helping out with the logistics.
We have a number of event coming up that we are running and I’m sure that there are opportunities to help out if you have the time.
| ACT League #6 | Picaree Hill | 22-Jun-25 |
| Metro League #9 | Mt Painter | 26-Jul-25 |
| ACT League #7 | Location TBA | 3-Aug-25 |
| Metro League #12 | Narrabundah Hill | 16-Aug-25 |
| ACT League #10 | Glendale | 21-Sep-25 |
Sprint Series
Orienteering ACT has a sprint series of nine events starting on Sunday 29 June. The sprint course will be about 2.5km, with a beginner course of about 1.0km will be available at each event, with starts anytime between 9:30am & 10:30am. As with most local events you can get The Season Pass that provides a 40% discount on entry to all nine events.he easiest way to do this is via Eventor. If you need assistance, please contact the OACT office office@act.orienteering.asn.au
Bushflyer clothing
I now house the range of Bushflyers’ clothing (O-tops and jackets mostly) for sale. As noted in previous newsletters, the range of sizes is becoming a little limited, but we will still be able to meet the needs of some of our members. Please check with me if you would like wear our Club colours, especially if you are competing in major interstate events.
Keep safe; keep well; and keep moving!
Craig Johnson (Club Convenor)
cmj109@gmail.com
0408 492 808
For Bushflyers Orienteering – where no-one gets left on the bench!