Mareeba Metrogaine – Course setters Report

November could be an unsettled time of year to have a 3 hour metrogaine especially in Mareeba but that was the challenge set by Mike in asking myself and Brad Weaver to host in our home town. We learnt a lot in a short time about organising a Metrogaine but we’d have to say that the hour concluding the race was where the hardest lessons were learnt about running a points event.
Enough of an administrators rambling and to the event: 78 competitors split between 15 teams on foot and 13 teams on bike.
The weather was kind for Mareeba in November and the catering had worked out well so we were set. Two maps were presented to competitors with a smaller orienteering course set in the bicentennial lakes and the larger street map of Mareeba township pushing competitors into the nooks and crannies of the ex-tobacco kingdom.
It didn’t take long for the first report of a new to the sport team losing their clue sheet on course. It was just after two hours when the first teams started arriving back with team CART (Craig House, Rhonda Coyne) walking in, doing the course with a little one in tow (when I say little I mean little).
Next was Giddiup (Chris white, Sue Crowe, Stru Lamont) on bike at 2 hr 14 knocking the whole course off for maximum points, including an extra 10 points for locating the attacking magpie.
Around the 2hr 15 mark saw team Brittwill deliver Amelia to the hash to recover after a crash on the bike which later turned out to be a very serious injury. A late report reveals that she’s fine and should be released from Cairns Base on Sunday.
The girls of Supernatural (Jordan Mcdougall, Tracy Townsend, Lesly Veschetti, Renee Price) strolled in next and doing very well for first timers and one of the girls was overheard saying it was the ‘best thing ever’; music to an organisers ears!
Special mention goes to the first of the foot Metrogainers (Rachel Reid, Lisa Plozza) who won the event as first timers. Another mention goes to the team Los Burros Blancos (Michael Alba, Lindy Alba) for bringing a Spanish flavour with the team name to the event (translates to ‘the white Donkeys’).
By the 3 hour 10 mark all competitors were hoeing down to some fine chow put on by Sonya, Liana and Susie W so thanks girls as the HUGE reputation for great food still stands for a Mareeba held event.
All that was to be held was the random draw prizes which were in the dozens and we can’t thank the sponsors of those enough – It’s Extreme, Pump n Pedals, Adventure Equipment.

Thanks again to all competitors and helpers and stay tuned for another Mareeba held event.
Rob Miller.