Event report: Aust Long & Sprint

The final weekend of the Kambarang Carnival saw the Australian Long Distance and Australian Sprint Championship competitions play out.

Start times for the Long Distance Championships on Saturday in Avon Valley national park (Gogulgar Werdin) had been brought forward by an hour due to hot weather forecast, but the temperature had already climbed to almost 30 degrees before it was time for the earliest starters to head out to the bush at 8.30am. The temperature reached 37 degrees towards the end of the competition, leaving the control collectors with a sweaty job for the afternoon.

The terrain at Avon Valley was varied. It included lots of open running, but could be quite rough in places with burnt branches, parrot bush and steep gullies & spurs. Combined with the heat, many competitors found it a tough experience, but there were no unusual numbers of DNFs. There was, however, a very long queue to the ice-cream / slushy van back at the arena!

Congratulations to Victoria who won the OA Shield at Avon Valley!

Sunday’s Sprint competition was held in more tolerable weather on a brand new map at the Christ Church Grammar School / Methodist Ladies College (Karbomunup) in Claremont, Perth. Many spectators showed up early to watch the elites race from 9.30am. The courses were complex, and many included a run down (& back up) a steep slope to the riverfront.

Once again the event went smoothly without bigger dramas, but just as the organisers were about to breathe a sigh of relief, there was a surprise during the last presentations with the sprinklers suddenly coming to life and spraying water indiscriminately all over the presenters, spectators, shelters and power sources. The presentations were finished at a safe distance from the green grass.

Thank you to the long distance course setter Paul Dowling and controller Craig Dufty, and sprint setter & mapper Nick Dale and controller Ceri Pass. Thanks again to Andrew Lumsden for acting as the IOF event adviser for elite courses on both races, as well as all volunteers helping out at these events.

Congratulations to all placegetters!

See the results for Long Distance and Sprint on Eventor.
Have a look at the routes on Livelox for Long Distance and Sprint.

These events conclude the 9-day Kambarang Carnival in Western Australia. Thank you to all volunteers who put in their time and helped make this Carnival possible. And thank you to everyone who participated and made all that work worthwhile - we have really enjoyed having you here!

Photos: (top) Elite start at Sprint, (bottom) OA shield winners from Victoria at Avon Valley.