NATIONAL JUNIOR SQUAD

NATIONAL

JUNIOR SQUAD

Two national Junior training squads have been announced for 2009. Juniors Team Manager, Hilary Wood, has collected a series of profiles of our talented juniors and here we reproduce some of them. The series will be continued in future editions of the magazine.

National Junior Squad 2009

Boys: Joshua Blatchford (NSW), Oliver Crosato (Qld), Lachlan Dow (ACT), Leon Keely (Vic), Simon Mee (Qld), Joshua Neumann (Qld), Kurt Neumann (Qld), Max Neve (Vic), Oscar Phillips (Tas), Patrick Watts (Tas) Girls: Bridget Anderson (Qld), Sarah Buckerfield (Tas), Lilian Burrill (Qld), Belinda Lawford (ACT), Krystal Neumann (Qld), Brea Pearce (Tas), Aislinn Prendergast (Vic)

Junior Development Squad 2009

Boys: Aaron Breed (Qld), Ian Lawford (ACT), Stuart Lawrie (Tas), Alex Massey (NSW), Todd Neve (Vic), Tom Palfrey (Tas), Oliver Poland (ACT) Girls: Katie Doyle (Qld), Mary Fleming (Vic), Morgan McIntyre (Qld), Naomi Mitchell (ACT), Melanie Neumann (Qld), Glennie Nottle (Qld), Georgia Parsons (ACT), Rebekah Sunley (Vic)

Oscar Phillips

Nickname: Scar Attackpoint name: I don’t need ANOTHER reason to waste time on the computer….J but I have given in and got one - Scar Age: 18 (DOB) 3/1/91 Class: M17-20E Club: Esk Valley Orienteering Club Live? Launceston, Tasmania Current status: Year 12 student at Launceston Church Grammar School.

Current job/subject studying:

after school job at “Jacka’s” (Hungry Jack’s). School subjects - Biology, English, History, Health. Other Interests: Mountain biking, music.

How did you start Orienteering?

My mum saw an ad for EVOC in the school newsletter or local newspaper and thought it would be something I’d like as I was into cross country running.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve Orienteering

success is: I always thought my running speed was my strongest point but I have since been told by observers that I run pretty conservatively out on courses, and my favourite win was on a course covered in rocks not really conducive to fast running, so yeah I guess I must sometimes do something else other than run fast….. Orienteering successes: I am proudest of making the JWOC team to Sweden in 2008, and of my National Schools wins in 2007 and 2006, of making the schools Honour Team from 2005-2007, and being in National Squads.

Orienteering goals for 2009:

make the JWOC team to Italy, and win a lot of stuff in AUS, starting with Easter 2009. Future plans: Survive Year 12, then Uni or Gap Year (to be decided); do more than make up the numbers at future JWOCs; represent at senior level and continue with Orienteering until I am in M80 +.

One interesting thing about you

is: I have been running since I was three years old (and boy, am I tired………ha ha ha ha ha). Orienteering successes: 1st Australian Schools Champs 2005,2006,2008, 2nd Australian Schools Champs 2007, 2008; Australian JWOC team, 2007, 2008; Australian Oceania Schools team

Orienteering goals for 2009:

Australian JWOC team; improve my ability. Future plans: make future JWOC and eventually WOC teams.

One interesting thing about you

is: the name I use today was not the name given to me at birth.

Josh Blatchford

Krystal Neumann

Nickname: krysy, pistal Attackpoint name: kryso Age: 17 (DOB) 20/5/91 Class: 17-20E Club: Enoggeroos, Qld. Live? Brisbane, Qld. Current status: student Studying: Year 12 Other Interests: touch footy, netball, soccer and other sports.

How did you start orienteering?

Dad took me and my brother along one day.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve Orienteering

success is: complete focus.

Nickname: Josh, joshy b?, joshwa? Attackpoint name: joshwa Age: 17 (DOB) 26/07/91 Class: M17-20 E Club: Newcastle. Live: Ashtonfield, NSW. Current status: Student. Maitland Grossmann High School Studying: HSC Other Interests: running, mountain biking, music.

How did you start orienteering?

Through family.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve Orienteering

success is: well, you’ll always have to work hard if you wanna achieve. Make sure you enjoy it. Planning ahead is important. And as soon as something doesn’t seem right, slow down.

Orienteering successes: 1st M16 Easter 3 Day 2007; 2nd Aus Schools Individual Champs 2007+2008; ASOC honour team 2006, 07, 08; Aus Schools Orienteering Team 2007, 2008/09 Orienteering goals for 2009: Do well in NZL; Do well at Easter and make JWOC; Do well at ASOC; Continue to improve. Future plans: umm…see above?

One interesting thing about you

is: I play a bit of netball here and there. And I’m a bit of a fan of boost juice and JB Hi-Fi (can’t stop buying cd’s) :P

Orienteering goals for 2009:

Australian JWOC team to travel to Italy. Future plans: make future JWOC/ WOC teams. big commitment and I’m travelling overseas to compete.

Patrick Watts

One interesting thing about you

is: I used to live in Newcastle and then Canberra but never heard of Orienteering until I moved to Tasmania in 2003.

Sarah Buckerfield

Joshua Neumann

Nickname: josh Attackpoint name: josh88 Age: 17 (DOB) 5/8/1991 Class: M17-20E Club: Enoggeroos. Live: Cashmere, QLD. Current status: Student, finished grade 12 in 2008 Other Interests: mountain biking.

How did you start orienteering?

Family friend.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve Orienteering

success is: concentrate. Orienteering successes: 2008 Australian Schools Test Team. Nickname: Pat; Waddy Potts Age: 18 (DOB) 29/11/1990 Class: M17-20E Club: Wellington Rangers. Live: Hobart, Tasmania. Current status: just finished TQA(HSC) looking for work to have a study free year. Current job: Still looking. Other Interests: Soccer, music (hip hop), most team sports e.g. rugby league.

How did you start orienteering?

Through the Tasmanian Institute of Sport Talent Search program -selected as a result of running the beep test in 2003.

Age: 18 (DOB) 21/6/1990 Class: W17-20E Club: Australopers. Live: Hobart, Tasmania. Current status: Just finished school. Current job: working for parents in Vet practice. Other Interests: Horse riding, hiking.

How did you start orienteering?

I did a local schools O course in 2006.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve Orienteering

success is: be open to learn all the time. Orienteering successes: Schools Honour Team 2008 and Australian Schools Team 2008.

Orienteering goals for 2009:

JWOC Team 2009. Future plans: Possibly JWOC 2010. To ride my bike around Australia.

One interesting thing about you

is: I started orienteering as one afternoon a week and now it is a

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve Orienteering

success is: Keep contact with the map. Don’t run faster than you can navigate. Orienteering successes: 4th Schools Champs 2008. Orienteering goals for 2009: Do well at Easter (top 6) and other NOL events. Stay injury free. Future plans: Get a job. Go to uni in a couple of years.

Leon Keely

Age: 18 (DOB) 23/3/90 Class: M20E Club: Bendigo Orienteers Live: Bendigo Vic Working: Purtill’s Nursery Bendigo Current job: Disc Jockey/ Nurseryman Other Interests: Running, Music, Disc Jockey

How did you start orienteering?

Uncle Jim took me to an orienteering event around Ballarat when I was 14.

One important strategy/skill you apply to achieve orienteering

success is: Hard Work Orienteering successes: Team Australia member at Jukola 2008, 12th in relay leg at JWOC 2008.

Orienteering goals for 2009:

To make the Australian JWOC Team 2009; top 3 at Australian 3 days 2009; Top 3 at Australian Champs. Future plans: no definite plans at this stage

One interesting thing about you

is: Not many orienteers DJ and I do.

Orienteering Australia – National Training Centre