The Illawarra Kareelah Orienteers staged the event starting at the Berry Showground and around the township on a new orienteering map produced for the day.

A fairly even spread of numbers across the three courses on offer with most opting for the medium course of 3.5km.

There were quite a few family groups who went out together enjoying the challenge of finding a number of checkpoints in and around the township.

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Competitive singles were the norm though, with some smart times recorded by those who enjoy the navigational challenge of running while following a course marked on a map.

The electronic timing device was a novelty for the first timers who were given a printout of their total time and split times between each checkpoint.

Comparing split times between legs is always a point of serious discussion between competitors who had a close total time on their course.

The competition was staged to promote orienteering in the local area as well as giving everyone a chance to discover locations around the township that visitors as well as locals may never visit.

This was an opportunity for everyone to discover the natural delights of urban Berry and have a fun competitive run at the same time.

There is another competition planned for September 24, 2022 in Berry which will be on another brand new orienteering map taking in some of the township but mostly in the Huntingdale Estate on the west side of the town.

This is another opportunity for locals and visitors alike to expand their experience of Berry's natural environment.

Keep a lookout for more details as the date approaches by visiting the website at Illwarrakareelahorienteers.com or contacting Keith Jay on 0433 390595.

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