Club News 2025

And there's a lot more to read in the Club's Newsletter - Vivien de Remy de Courcelles is the editor Open the latest issue

WHO is represented at all levels in 2025 NSW Schools Orienteering Team

Junior Girls

Justine DE REMY DE COURCELLES (WH),
Tiffany PALMER (WH),
Isobel NEWTON (NC)
& Alexandra SLATER (GS).

Junior Boys

Rory SHEDDEN (SH),
Baxter PEEL (NC),
Euan SHEDDEN (SH),
William HEADLEY (GO) &
Ho Lam Marcus CHEUNG (WH).

Senior Girls

Maggie MACKAY (UR),
Rebecca CRAIG (NC),
Savanna SWEENEY (WH),
Matilda SAUNDERS (WH),
Stephanie DUN (HOG),
Jessica DUN (HOG).

Senior Boys

Alton FREEMAN (BF),
Jonathan NOLAN (UR),
Curtis PEPPER (BN),
Matthew SLATER (GS),
Lachlan COADY (WH).

Two WHO Juniors are also in the reserves: Shay SWEENEY (WH), Presley SCOULLER-EVANS (NC), Levi COADY (WH).

7-9 June 2025

Braving real winter conditions in The Rocks Reserve and neighbouring farms, a large contingent from WHO achieved some outstanding results.

Our top placers over the three days were:
Justine de Remy de Courcelles W14A with an overall time of 97:12, 18 minutes ahead of Tessa Radajewski (Parawanga). A great achievement in a large field of 33.
Matilda Saunders W18A achieved an overall time of 99:39, 25+ minutes in front of Lena Barasci (Garingal).

Four of the WHO Team made it into second position:
Micaela Ashton W45AS in a field of 18.
Tin Yan Nathan Cheung M12A in a field of 21.
Ho Lam Marcus Cheung M16A in a field of 9.
Lee Coady M35A in a field of 20.

And Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M35A achieved third place in a field of 20.

Detailed results for all three days are on Eventor

10-11 May 2025

SL #5-6 Olney State Forest

For the Saturday Middle Distance event the damp conditions from earlier showers activated the leech community! After Newcastle WHO had the most entries. The Club's top point scorers were:
In 1st position: Matilda Saunders W18A 58:37; Justine de Remy de Courcelles W14A 34:35; Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M35A 1:13:20;
Ho Lam Marcus Cheung 16A 52:18; Barry Hanlon M90A 52:54.
Matthew Palmer took 2nd place in M40A 55:08.
3rd place achievers were: Tiffany Palmer W14A 39:00 and Nerise McQuillan W45AS 1:22:25.

A smaller club contingent braved the Long Distance event on Sunday. Of those who stayed on to fight the leeches nine intrepid WHO navigators achieved top point scores taking the first three places in their divisions.
Our 1st placers were: Elliott McQuillan M12A 17:18; Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M35A 1:19:02; Justine de Remy de Courcelles W14A 29:24.
Four WHOs crossed the line in 2nd position: Matthew Palmer M40A 1:35:57; Paul Sweeney MOpenB 1:05:12; Tiffany Palmer W14A 31:28; Ho Lam Marcus Cheung M16A 1:25:16.
3rd across the line were: Micaela Ashton W45AS 1:24:01 and Shay Sweeney M14A 30:53.

Full detailed results for both days are on Eventor.

26-27 April

Anzac Weekend - Middle and Long Victorian Championships

Six intrepid WHOs stayed on in Victoria after the Easter events to compete in the local state championships at Wehla Hill and Mount Korong.

Their results were consistent on both days with Justine de R. de C. (W14A) finishing in 1st place in both the Middle and Long Championships and top junior, Tin Yan Nathan Cheung (M12A) and Vivien de R. de C. (M45A) crossing the line in second place, also on both days.

18-21 April

WHO was at the Easter 3 Days, Loddon Shire, Victoria

Friday 18 April, Tappit Hen, Tarnagulla
The weekend started off with the Family Relay and Prologue. In the Family Teams division WHO's Sweeney family romped into third position in the Family Teams Race. Seth completed Hard 1 in 18:24; Savanna finished Hard 2 in 25:19 and Shay crossed the line in Easy 4 in 8:44 with a total team time of 52:27. The Big Foot Shinglers led in first with a time of 45:17 and Red Roos Dent family were only 8 seconds ahead of the Sweeney team, finishing in second place overall with a time of 52:19.

Our best performer in the Public Sprint was Shay Sweeney who took first place in the Easy course.

Saturday 19 April, Psalm Singing Gully, Inglewood
12 Club members started with four finishing in the top placings. Mathew (Sledge) and Tiffany Palmer (W14A) romped into second position in their classes. Tin Yan Nathan Cheung (M12A) and Vivien de Remy de Courcelles (M35A) took third places.

Sunday 20 April, The Granites, Borung
Justine de Remy de Courcelles (W14A) was the best WHO runner taking second place in only 23:54. Vivien de Remy de Courcelles (M35A) crossed the line in 3d place with a time of 93:21.

Monday 21 April, Poverty Reef, Tarnagulla
Justine was running better each day coming in first in W14A (24:15). Shay Sweeney was 2nd in M14A (21:15) and Tiffany Palmer W14A and Vivien de R. de C. M35A both crossed the finish tape in 3rd place.

Overall best places for the 3 Days were Justine in 1st place (W14A) and Tiffany (W14A) and Vivien (M35A) in 3rd position overall.

Full details are on EVENTOR.

6 April 2025

SL #4 Long Distance - Highlands

(West of Nimmitabel)

The 21 WHO starters lined up for a long challenge.
In first places on the day were: Justine de Remy de Courcelles W14A; Matilda Saunders W18A; Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M35A; Tin Yan Nathan Cheung M12A.
Our second placer was Robert Bradley M55AS.
Four intrepid WHOs romped across the line in third place: Tiffany Palmer W14A; Matthew Palmer M40A; Lachlan Coady M18A; Ho Lam Marcus Cheung M16A.

5 April 2025

SL #3 Middle Distance Cooma

WHO were the 21 Club runners at Pine Range?
In first place in their grades were: Tin Yan Nathan Cheung M12A; Matilda Saunders W18A; Justine de Remy de Courcelles W14A.
Our second placer was Lee Coady M35A.
Our five third placers were: Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M35A; Matthew Palmer M40A; Robert Bradley M55AS; Ho Lam Marcus Cheung M16A; Anthony Saunders M45AS

2 April 2025

Season 34 Presentation Dinner

At the Northbridge Golf Club

Savanna Sweeney Shared the Summer Series Course Setters of the Year with Sue Froude (IKO) Nick Barlow (GO)

Ian Miller received a Special Award.

23 March 2025

Club Achievers at Falnash - SL#2

24 keen WHO bush runners trekked across the Blue Mountains to compete at Big Foot's State League event in Falnash State Forest.

Our first placers all earned 100 points in the second event of the 2025 SL series. They were: 1 Janet Morris W85A; Barry Hanlon M90A; Emmanuelle Convert W45A; Tin Yan Nathan Cheung M12A; Matilda Saunders W18A.

In second place in their age grades were: Justine de Remy de Courcelles W14A; Lee Coady M35A; Ho Lam Marcus Cheung M16A; Matthew Palmer M40A.

Our third place point scorers were: Shay Sweeney M14A; Aiden McQuillan EOD Moderate; Savanna Sweeney W20A; Charlotte Palmer W45A.

The series point scoring is interesting as third placers can earn more point that second placers in other divisions depending of the gap between their finish times and the winners.

22 March 2025

WHO was at the 2025 NSW Sprint Championships - SL #1 ?

35 intrepid WHOs flashed past the start flag at Macquarie University. Eleven crossed the ribbon in first position, almost a third of the WHO Team, an amazing result. Six runners up made it into second place and five followed in third. Fastest time across the terrain was clocked up by Seth Sweeney who achieved an average kilometre time 4:17, closely followed by Ho Lam Marcus Cheung with a time of 4:47/km and James McQuillan closely behind with a time of 4:55/km. Congratulations Team!

Our team results are:

1st Place
Tin Yan Nathan Cheung M12A 9:16
Shay Sweeney M14A 11:24
Matthew Palmer M40A 13:32
Barry Hanlon M90A 16:05
Ho Lam Marcus Cheung M16A 16:23
James McQuillan M45A 12:30
Janet Morris W85A 20:37
Tiffany Palmer W14A 13:59
Vivien de Remy de Courcelles M35A 19:13
Blake Read EOD Moderate 22:43
Wai Man Wong W45A 17:29

2nd Place
Levi Coady M12A 9:30
Steve Dunlop EOD Hard 17:25
Lachlan Coady M18A 19:45
Justine de Remy de Courcelles W14A 14:57
Lee Coady M35A 20:35
Matilda Saunders W18A 19:40

3rd Place
Seth Sweeney M21A 14:40
Saffron Sweeney W50A 13:39
Constance Valais W Open B 24:04
Nerise McQuillan W45AS 19:28
Savanna Sweeney W20A 14:38

Excellent results in large fields were achieved by
Charlotte Palmer W45A, 4th in a field of 8.
Tahlia Chapman W14A, 5th in a field of 12.
Paul Sweeney M50A, 5th in a field of 10.
Niamh Cassar W21A, 6th in a field of 10.
Aiden McQuillan M14A, 8th in a field of 13.

January 2025

Nine WHO Club members crossed the ditch for the Oceania Challenge.

Matthew Palmer and Savanna Sweeney were selected for the Oceania 2025 Australian Challenge Team. Matthew for the M40 Sprint and Middle distance challenges and Savanna was the only reserve for the W18 team.

Our best team results were Tiffany Palmer, 2nd in the Middle Distance W14A only a minute behind Naomi Penton of Bushflyers. Mathew Palmer crossed the line 1st in the Long Distance M40A and Saffron Sweeney achieved 3rd place in Middle Distance W40B.

On the last day's relays Tim Yan Nathan Cheung's M12 team results, when added up, put them solidly in 3rd place.

There are more photos on our Facebook pages.