2nd Annual aMAZEing Ballarat

Monday, 1 December 2008

20 teams from Ballarat, Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo participated in this 4 hour orienteering/treaure hunt event which had activities and locations centred mainly around Lake Wendouree.

Not only did teams have to solve the cryptic clues to work out where a control point might be located but they had to take on challenges at many of the points designed to test their ingenuity and resourcefulness. 

Team "Where's North" are a picture of concentration at the start

Some of the activities were of a physical nature such as rowing 2 kms on a rowing machine, but others tested the brain power of the group such as the large jigsaw pieces which had to be made into a square.

Local community groups were brought into the event as well with competitors having to fill sand bags for the SES and take a short ride on a tram after pumping water up for a vintage stream tram.

Local landmarks such as the new Boardwalk at View Point, the PM Busts in the Gardens and the Olympic Rings precinct all had questions which tested the team’s observation and skill.

aMAZEing Ballarat will again be able to make a sizeable donation of goods to a worthy local charity, and this year it will go to St Vinnies who through the staff and students at St Patrick’s College provide a ‘Backyard Blitz” garden service to pensioners and other needy persons in the community.

Winners this year came from a group of local girls, Virginia and Rachel Ryan, Kara Orr and Elise Middleton called Go Bananas who edged out another all-female group, The Magpies and in third place were last year’s winners The Erwins.

The organisers divided the entrants up into classes and this meant that a number of family groups and newcomers were able to share in the prizes. 

Results

The event will be run again in November 2009, so if want to play your own version of the TV hit “The Amazing Race” around the streets and parks of Ballarat, pencil this event in as a must do next year.

Mark Valentine

Eureka Orienteers