Pictures and Results from the Orienteering Fun Day

Mullabrack GFC
In Association with

Lagan Valley Orienteers
www.niorienteering.org.uk/lvo

Mullabrack GFC held a very successful orienteering fun day in Gosford Forest on Saturday 26th August. The weather was very favourable on the day and certainly encouraged everyone in the park to have a go at Orienteering.

The Lagan Valley Orienteers in association with Mullabrack GFC planned the day with 4 courses in operation ranging from a beginners course to a more advanced course.

The event also introduced everyone to the new system of electronic punching using a SportIdent dibber. All participants wore a small electronic dibber on their hand which they scanned at each control point that they managed to find on the respective course. Once the participant finished all the information was downloaded onto computer and a full range of results, times and controls reached were available immediately after the finish.

On the day we had two experienced orienteers from Australia, Mr Michael Burton and Ms Connie McNamee who had spotted the event on the website. Michael who is working at the Armagh Observatory on a 3 month sabbatical lead the way on the advanced course competing it in a time of 25 minutes and 46 seconds which remained unbeaten on the day.

There was a large turn out from the Mullabrack GFC ladies and all of them proved they were up to the challenge by competing in the medium and long courses. Special congratulations go to Joan Murphy who was first home for Mullabrack Ladies in both the Medium and long courses. Very special thanks also to Ita Crossan, Marian Rice, Josephine McSorely and Mary Rice for all their help and assistance on the day and in planning the event.

The results on the day were as follows:-

First home on the short Course [2km] was Andrea Stefkova from Lagan Valley Orienteers.

First home for Mullabrack on the medium course [3km] was Joan Murphy in 36 minutes finishing 5^th in this category.

First home for Mullabrack on the long course [4.6km] was Joan Murphy in 52 minutes and second was Lorraine McAllister in 60 minutes. A respectable 3^rd and 4^th overall. Other Mullabrack finishers in this category were as follows

In 5^th Place David Comiskey & Kathryn Rice in a time of 1:11.58. In 6^th Place was Breige Crossan and Gemma Rice in a time of 1:16.17. In 7^th Place was Lisa Fields with a time of 1:17:01.

On the extra long course [5.6KM] first home for Mullabrack was Declan McAllister in 42:28  a respectable 6^th  place overall behind the eventual winner Mr Michael Burton from the Big Foot Orienteers Club in Sydney, Australia in a time of 25::46 and Declan McGrellis from the lagan Valley Orienteers in second place in a time of 26:12.

Full results can be found on the Lagan Valley Orienteers website at http://www.niorienteering.org.uk/lvo/Results/index.php

Overall the day proved a big success with all the Mullabrack Ladies who took part. A special thanks to Declan McGrellis from Lagan Valley Orienteers who organised the event on behalf of Mullabrack GFC. With all the enthusiasm on the day from everyone it is anticipated that this event will now run annually on the Mullabrack GFC fund raising calendar.

All Results can be found by clicking on the link below and choosing the section headed up Other events. Once you see Fund Raiser, Gosford Forest then click on the links to the right of this either winsplits or browser splits

 http://www.niorienteering.org.uk/lvo/Results/index.php

All the pictures from the day [Click on the picture to enlarge] Briege, Gemma and Lisa just ready to start Fay 'rearin' to go  at the start The Mullabrack 'Crew' all set at the start     LVO and Mullabrack Committee Organisers on the day Fearghal ready to take off at the Orienteering Day