Don and Erica enjoy the view

How wonderful to see such a good turnout at the Dumaresq Dam event today, especially the number young families - attracted, no doubt, by the newly re-instated very-easy standard course (thanks to Matt Bedford for the inspiration and the implementation). All up there were around 44 people in 25 teams, one of our best attended events for quite some time.

Wet feet for some on moderate and easy courses?

Despite significant rain on Sunday morning, 19 people attended our first event since March, with 13 separate entries. We even had visitors from Coffs Harbour!

Recovery of the bush from the effects of drought are in full swing, with many trees appearing to be recovering from a fire, with leaves sprouting from their trunks and thicker branches. Several kangaroos and a large echidna were seen. The termites have been busy, and spotting unmapped mounds became a popular sport - unfortunately the course setter did not join that game early enough, with one flag on the longest course coyly hiding behind one of the unmapped mounds!

Sam Woolford (Bush n Beach) won the Hard 1 (Long) course, despite losing time searching for the wrongly placed control. He also was the quickest on any course, being the only entrant to break 10 minutes/km. Hard 2 (won by Peter May) was the most popular, with 6 entries.

Malcolm McPhee was easily the quickest on the Moderate course, with Jack Bedford easily the youngest. Jack finished with an infectious smile, despite spending an hour and quarter out in the rain. Helen O'Callaghan (Bush n Beach), still recovering from a broken leg, was the only finisher on the Easy course, although given the slippery conditions, I'm sure the course was anything but easy!