Schools Relay and Day 3 of the Riverina Run (public courses) 3/10/19

This event was held on a map called Pomingalarna , which is a reserve just out of Wagga Wagga. It is a very popular place for mountain bikes and you could tell by the complex tracks in some places.

The kids ran first (which is the way it should be) , with all the SA team running in SA teams except for Mitchell Stephens, who ran in a composite.  They all ran consistently and no mispunches in the whole state,  We didn't have a winning team, but they were all in the top four .  One of the highlights of the day was Lucy Burley , who ran up with the George girls to make up a senior team, despite her lack of experience.  She really stepped up and ran a solid race to bring them into fourth place.  The whole team streamed in behind her when she finished in a show of their support, which was really heart warming and typical of how this team have been with the guidance of Bridget, Simon and Olivia.

The relays are also  the day when everyone goes all out to get dressed up .  Bridget was wearing a Tutu, and Simon had lipstick on (as did most of the team). We took a great photo of team, leaders and all available parents after the presentations  which said it all really.   Mitch Morcom had sprained an ankle badly on the first day, but had been very much a part of the team, despite no further runs.  Tom Weihart had been included despite coming from overseas and being virtually unknown before joining them just before the carnival.   The team has great depth and is really developing into a solid unit- which looks great for the future of orienteering in SA.

Junior Girls - third

Junior boys - second

Senior boys- second

The big , happy SA family

Bridget in fetching tutu

Lucy coming in to the finish, followed by cameraman.

Trevor and I once again did the shortest , hard course , which was, again, plenty hard enough, especially since we both went wrong on control 6 and had to manage lots of climb on what was a very hot day.  

Our short, hard course.

This finishes off the official School competition, and for the first time ever  we actually attended the schools presentations night.  It was a bit long winded doing all the presentations, but we were so proud of our kids, and really happy to watch it and celebrate the end of a great week with them.  SA team came 2nd overall!!!

Dante was selected into the honour team (the only SA rep this year) . 

We headed out to tea at a nearby pub with the Morcoms, Lewis, Jacque, Kerren, Afnans and Steve and Zara before some of them head homewards, and the rest of us head on towards Beechworth for the final weekend of the carnival.