26/05/2026
A strong contingent of Newcastle Orienteers headed south down the freeway for Round 2 of the new Winter Sprint Series, this time taking on the challenging grounds of St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah.
Like Avondale in the opening round, St Peter’s offered competitors a deceptively demanding hillside campus. While not brutally steep, the terrain featured enough elevation change, stairways and twisting ramps to reward smart route choices and punish hesitation. This was tighter, more densely packed layout than the Avondale School map featured in round 1.
Conditions were far kinder than the previous day’s weather, although a slick grassy sections still kept runners on edge. Greg Newton found that out firsthand.
At the sharp end of the field, Justin Stafford (Men 40–49) stormed to the fastest overall time of the day in 21:41, bouncing back emphatically after a costly mispunch in Round 1. Stafford’s victory was anything but comfortable, edging out young gun Baxter Peel (Men 13–18) by just 15 seconds after Peel produced another outstanding run in 21:56.
The battle for the podium was fiercely contested, with only 31 seconds separating the top three. Greg Newton (Men 50–59) completed the podium in 22:12, just 16 seconds behind Peel after another typically consistent performance.
The women’s competition saw junior standout Isobel Newton (Women 13–18) produce an excellent run to finish seventh outright and fastest female of the day in 26:37. Carolyn Matthews (Women 60–69) followed in 27:48, while Samantha Howe (Women 40–49) rounded out the top three women in 30:36.
There were also several impressive emerging performances deeper in the field. Lucy Jenkins and Hannah Stafford both showed excellent composure and pace in the junior ranks, while Hayley Jenkins continued to display strong promise with another determined run.
The popular mini course again attracted a large group of juniors and first-timers, with Oscar Dent delivering one of the standout performances of the day. Dent blitzed the field and recorded the fastest min/km rate on of the day on either course in an eye-catching display.
A big thank you to our series partners Central Coast Orienteers for organisation, especially course planner Julian Dent who designed an enjoyable but challenging course.
Attention now turns to Round 3, which will also remain on the Central Coast as the inaugural Winter Sprint Series continues to build momentum.
https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/24185
Results by class
https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/ResultList?eventId=24184&groupBy=EventClass
Overall Position
1 Justin Stafford; Men 40–49; 21:41; 6:30
2 Baxter Peel; Men 13–18; 21:56; 6:35
3 Greg Newton; Men 50–59; 22:12 ;6:40
4 Isaac Feeney; Men 40–49; 23:37; 7:05
5 Jay Ludriks; Men 19–39; 23:54; 7:10
6 Emile Altmann; Men 40–49; 26:31; 7:57
7 Isobel Newton; Women 13–18; 26:37; 7:59
8 Glenn Burgess; Men 60–69; 27:27; 8:14
9 Carolyn Matthews; Women 60–69; 27:48; 8:20
10 Samantha Howe; Women 40–49; 30:36; 9:11
11 Malcolm Roberts; Men 60–69; 30:38; 9:11
12 Monika Lockwood; Women 40–49; 31:00; 9:18
13 Bridget Bennett; Women 19–39; 31:01; 9:18
14 Shane Jenkins; Men 50–59 ; 31:59 ; 9:36
15 Robert Hembrow; Men 19–39; 32:17; 9:41
16 Lucy Jenkins; Women U13; 32:45; 9:50
17 Hannah Stafford; Women U13; 33:02; 9:55
18 Brigitta Hembrow Gersey; Women 19–39; 33:16; 9:59
19 Caroline Jenkins; Women 40–49; 34:18; 10:18
20 Felicity Whitehead; Women 19–39; 35:31; 10:39
21 Jim Lee; Men 70+; 35:34; 10:40
22 Graeme Taplin; Men 70+; 37:48; 11:21
23 Clare Newton; Women 50–59; 37:51; 11:21
24 Bridget Whitehead; Women 60–69; 38:08; 11:27
25 Bronwyn Stafford; Women 40–49; 38:15; 11:29
26 Hayley Jenkins; Women U13; 38:19; 11:30
27 Freja Dent 2; Women U13; 38:31; 11:33
28 Margaret Peel; Women 50–59; 38:53; 11:40
29 Geoff Peel; Men 60–69; 39:26; 11:50
30 Tindra Helgstedt; Women 13–18; 40:57; 12:17
31 Rudi Landsiedel; Men 70+; 43:11; 12:58
32 Maria Orr; Women 60–69; 44:15; 13:17
33 Kirsty Smith; Women 40–49; 45:52; 13:46
34 Peter Orr; Men 70+; 46:35, 13:59
35 Deborah Dickson; Women 60–69; 47:18; 14:12
36 Diana Charlton; Women 60–69; 48:47; 14:38
37 Robyn Pallas; Women 70+; 50:25; 15:08
38 Viola O'Connor; Women 60–69; 50:50; 15:15
39 Sally Quill; Women 40–49; 51:13; 15:22
40 Charlotte, Ophelia Caleb; Men 40–49; 52:22; 15:43
41 Koen Moses Cavanagh Stafford; Open Men; 53:25; 16:02
42 Carolyn Rigby; Women 70+; 54:51; 16:28
43 Lynda Hewson; Women 60–69; 1:02:51; 18:52
44 Estrid Helgstedt; Women U13; 1:05:43; 19:44
45 Dennis Sparling; Men 70+; 1:11:11; 21:22
46 Linda Salway; Women 70+; 1:12:38; 21:48
Central Coast Orienteers
