State Series #2 Balt Camp Bullengarook

26 Apr 2016 by Don Cherry

Central Highlands hosted this State event in the gently undulating hills just SW of Gisborne. While many had travelled across to SA for the NOL events, 142 competitors still turned out at Balt Camp for what proved to be a beautiful day in the bush. Course 1 was dominated by junior elites – Patrick Jaffe (MFR) well clear of Glenn James and Lachlan Cherry, both from Bendigo. In M2 Tim Hatley (BKV) was a couple of minutes up on Chris Norwood (EUV) with Stephen Dunbar (BKV) further back. Don Cherry was the best Bendigo orienteer placed 17:31 behind the winner in 6th. W2 was spread out with a big win to Liliia Glushchenko (BKV) 9:25 ahead of Leisha Maggs (BGV) and Nicola Dalhiem (MFR) more than 8 minutes later. Geoff Armstrong (NEV), Tim Dent (YVV) and Robert Edmonts (NEV) led in M3, with John Chellew the best from Bendigo 18:30 behind the winner. A small field competed in W3, with Carolyn Jackson (MFR), Denise Pike (DROC) and Anne Robinson (BKV) taking the honours. Bill Vandendool (MFR) won M4 ahead of Mark Hennessy (CHOC) and John Wilkinson (BGV). W4 was also a small field of 5 with Bendigo junior Karina Cherry winning by more than 23 minutes ahead of Phillipa Lohmeyer-Collins (BKV) and Judi Herkes (BKV). M5 also had 5, won by Peter Prime (TKV), Barry McCrae (BKV) and David Goddard (YVV). Ruth Goddard (YVV), Helen Edmonds (NEV) and Libby Meeking (YVV) took line honours in W5. M6 – Magnus Fossum (BKV), Peter Black (YVV) and John Dempster (YVV). W6 – Debbie Dodd (DROC), Dorothy Adrian (NEV) and Leone Carberry (NEV). M7- John Layton (NEV), Jeff Hughes (NEV) and Paul Main (BKV). Bendigo Junior Caitlyn Steer had a strong win in the W7, over Carolyn Layton (NEV) and Jocelyn Watts (YVV). Two young brothers – Callum and Ashley White (YVV) battled it out for M8, after also running and winning in the M9. W8 – Anita Brierty (BKV), Pat Mews (BKV) and Arika Bogdanovits (DROC). M9 – as mentioned won by the White brothers ahead of David Cassar (BKV). W9 – Wendy Taverna (CHOC), Sophia Taverna (CHOC) and Louise Brierty (BKV).
If you thought there were a lot of BKV in the list above you were right. A total of 47 Bayside orienteers competed, compared to Bendigo’s 17. Nillumbik, Tuckonie and Yarra were also out in force making the event quite competitive in a couple of the classes.