West Australians did well at the annual Australian 3 Days Orienteering Championships around Bendigo, Victoria, with Oliver Martin winning the Men 14A class, and Natasha Sparg 1st in Women Open B at her first national orienteering carnival. In the very competitive elite classes, Kellie Whitfield finished a very creditable 13th overall in Women 21E, including top 10 placings in two of the four races over the Easter Weekend. WA's best M21E was Craig Dufty in 23rd place.
The Easter events were the Australian team selection trials for the Junior World Orienteering Championships, to be held in the Czech Republic in late June. Oscar McNulty (18) from West Leederville finished 5th overall in M17-20 Elite, and was selected in the JWOC team for the third year in a row. Oscar's younger brother Henry (16) ran very well against older competition to finish 7th in M17-20E, and will be a Reserve for the JWOC team.
Other WA placegetters at the 3 Day Championships were Kellie Martin (2nd in W17-20A), Carol Brownlie (2nd in W60A), Jessica Madden (3rd in W10), Michael Madden (3rd in M35A Short), and Mike Howe (3rd in M70).
Annual awards for services to Orienteering Australia for 2012 were presented at the Easter weekend, and Richard Matthews of Shenton Park received the David Hogg Award for Event Management.
Ngalak kaaditj nidja Noongar Boodjar. Koora-Yeyi-Kalyakool.