fitness
ORIENTEERING GANNON GIRLS
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f you ever thought athletes were all brawn, no brain then you’ll have to hold your tongue. Julia and Nina Gannon twins who compete at an international level in orienteering, a sport which requires the competitors to navigate a course locating checkpoints in order and eventually reach a finish point. The girls were introduced to the sport when their older sister participated with her school. “Mum and Dad used to do it at university when they were younger, and when our older sister did it at school for HPE, they encouraged the whole family to get back into it,” Julia Gannon says. It’s not as easy as long-distance running, and the girls say it requires the integration of mental and physical strength. “Learning to think while running and navigate at speed was definitely one of the hardest things to learn,” Nina Gannon says. With the added difficulty of various distance, an orienteering course can range from short, to middle and long. Julia’s preference is the middle distance and even relay events when it comes to course length. “I like middle and relay events as they are long enough that physical endurance is tested,
but short enough to ensure accuracy must be maintained,” she says. In last year’s Oceania event held at Charles Stuart University in Wagga Wagga Nina was even lucky enough to come away with a first place in the Women’s U18 sprint event. Although already competing at an international level, the Gannon girls know their ultimate goal is JWOC (Junior World Orienteering Championships). “JWOC is the ultimate dream, however, it requires an immense amount of commitment and hard work,” Julia says. When asked if they had any good tips for those wanting to give the sport a go, they didn’t hold back. “Never lose contact with the map, even if you have to run slower, it is better to know where you are than to make errors that will cost you time later on,” Julia says. “Remember to look up as it’s extremely easy to lose yourself when your head is focused in the map and you are not paying attention to what is going on around you.”
SCOOP JULIA GANNON
NINA GANNON
Toowoomba Multi-Service Centre “Your home away from home” Located at: 4-8 Buckland Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350, open 24hours/7days, encourages wellbeing of both the client and the carer, with expertise in dementia care. Our wellness and reablement philosophy is applied through every day familiar activities to give meaning and enjoyment to those we support. Services offered through our specifically chosen Queenslanders include: • Home Maintenance • Domestic Assistance • Personal Care • Social Support • Carer Support Groups • 24 hour Dementia Advice 1800 639 331
For further information please call 1800 639 331 or 07 4635 2966 or visit www.alzheimersonline.org. V1 - TCHE01Z01ST
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