Profiling Dennis Trewin - Bushflyers Convenor

Friday, 15 March 2013

PROFILE - DENNIS TREWIN

Name: Dennis Trewin

Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

Occupation: Statistician

How long have you lived in the ACT: Since 1968 but with spells in UK, New Zealand and USA

Your first orienteering event: A Score Event at Narrabundah Hill which was the pine forest to the west of Duffy before the 2013 bushfires. It was 1980 and I did as a pair with my son who was then 9. He was hooked immediately.

Your most recent orienteering event: A night time Street event in Oslo in the middle of their winter. It was below zero. I did not wear shorts.

Most memorable orienteering event and why it is memorable: My first international competition at the Swedish 5 Day in 1989. A good run and an early start meant I was on the results board (top 20) long enough to take a photo. Winning the New Zealand North Island Championships against a strong field in 1995 was also a highlight.

Worst orienteering mistake: There have been many to choose from but possibly the most frustrating was on Day 1 of the Finnish 5 day taking the wrong map , spiking the first (very difficult) control but not corresponding with the clue sheet I was given separately. It took 20 minutes to discover the mistake. Those Finnish orienteers are good enough without giving them a 20 minute start. I had entered the AS course (which have a different title in Finland) but took the A course map by error.

Best orienteering tip received: Never leave a control without a plan for getting to the next one especially looking for a dominant feature close to your next control.

Favourite orienteering area in the ACT: I would choose the Sandhills (which has had a few different names over the years). It has a mixture of terrain – granite, spur/gully (some slow, some very fast), pine forest (in the past) and complex sand diggings. It makes for really challenging courses.

Favourite orienteering area outside the ACT: Pittwater Dunes near Hobart. I love the complexity of the dunes and the greater emphasis on navigation, when I get it right, compensates for my lack of fitness. The Scottish 6 day is also great and provides a great variety of maps in a single carnival.

Furthest you have travelled for an orienteering event: In Australia, it is Darwin for the always interesting NT Australian Championships and a break from the Canberra winter. I have competed a lot internationally because my daughter lives in Norway. Most international events I have attended have been secondary to the main purpose of the visit. The Swedish 5 day in Osterand in 1989 is probably the furthest from Australia that I have attended.

Other sports or interests: Golf, theatre, travel to different places especially remote Australia.