Team Blackheart sponsor of the day - SILVA compasses

SILVA are the leading compass manufacturer in the world. Starting in 1993, this iconic Swedish business started by an entrepreneurial trio of champion Swedish orienteers invented the liquid-filled compass, which was more precise and easier to use than other such instruments. At the same time they launched their first headlamp, setting the stage for innovation in diverse areas of outdoor sport. Though much in the company has changed, Silva compasses remain the first choice for Orienteers and Adventurers around the world. Check out more on SILVA at www.silva.se. 

SILVA Spectra OMC 66 Wrist compass

Team Blackheart, and in particular myself (Rob) and Kathryn Ewels have been using SILVA compasses for years for Orienteering and rogaining. Since taking up Adventure Racing I have found the SILVA Spectra OMC as the most useful part of my kit. Since it sits nicely on the bottom of the big thumb, it doesn't get in the way when biking or kayaking unlike other compasses. 


But don't just take my word for it. The top 3 teams from last years World Adventure Racing Championships in Tasmania were using SILVA compasses. Per from champion Team Thule is pictured with his OMC 66 on his wrist. 2nd place Team SILVA, well of course they use SILVA compasses. And kiwi World Rogaining Champion Chris Forne would be lost without his Jet 6 Spectra thumb compass. 


Check out our SILVA compass specials here. 


Get in touch if you need a compass for your next Adventure, eg Geoquest 48hr in June. 

Per from champion Team Thule is pictured with his OMC 66 on his wrist. 

Ultimate Adventure Racing gear- SILVA OMC 66 Wrist Compass

The SILVA OMC 66 Wrist Compass arrives just in time for AR World Championships. This is my favourite piece of race kit and I've been waiting two years to get some more Southern Hemisphere compasses. So if you want a compass that is comfortable and doesn't get in the way while riding, running or kayaking then check it out here and get in your order in quickly.

And don't miss out on the great prices for Shotz Sports Nutrition either. A box of 25 Shotz Gels is just $65 and Electrolyte Tablets $18 for tube of 20.  Orders need to be in by 10pm Tuesday 25th October to get free deliver to ARWC in Burnie.

Contact Rob on rob_preston@hotmail.com

Get a SILVA compass in your hand for the World AR Champs

Rob Preston is a member of the Australian Orienteering team and has been using SILVA compasses for 25years. Rob is an agent for SILVA and is offering a great special for competitors of the 2011 Adventure Racing World Championships in Tasmania. You wouldn't skimp on a new part for your bike, so why buy an inferior compass? SILVA compasses are guaranteed to improve your Adventure racing performance*.

All compasses are greatly discounted- you won't find cheaper prices anywhere in Australia.

Payment is available via PAYPAL, and purchases can be collected at registration for ARWC2011.

Contact Rob on rob_preston@hotmail.com or 0403296516 for more information.

*Compass cannot be blamed for human error ;-)

Compass Model	Description	ARWC Special Price	RRP
SILVA Jet 6 Spectra	·      Available in both right and left handed ·      Silva 6 Jet Spectra is the optimal thumb compass for orienteers ·      it is the favourite among most National Orienteering Teams. ·      The transparent baseplate with distinct markings ensures easy map reading. ·      Elastic thumb strap and rubber pad for safe grip.	$135	$198
SILVA 6 NOR Spectra	·      The classical Silva 6 Nor compass features a straight and wide needle for easy and fast reading. ·      Strong magnet gives quick dampening. ·      The transparent baseplate with distinct markings ensures easy map reading. ·      Elastic thumb strap and rubber pad for safe grip. ·      Left hand version only	$75	$106
SILVA Jet 5 Baseplate	·      Specially constructed capsule with the focus on quick dampening in combination with stability while running ·      Clear baseplate. Wide, straight, fluorescent needle for easy and fast reading ·      Special magnet in combination with dampening plate on the needle give optimal orienteering features ·      Two points in the capsule bottom	$140	$200
Eclipse Compass GPS 96	·      Baseplate compass with special scales for defining co-ordinates ·      Perfect for use with a GP ·      Five different Romer scales	$100	$145
SILVA Ranger 3 Baseplate	·      A classic baseplate compass that is used all over the world. ·      Easy-grip compass housing in Dryflex ·      Built in magnifier ·      Map scales in millimetres ·      Recommended for Secondary schools, Scouts, Hikers	$40	$54
SILVA Clip-on compass	·      Compass in "clip‐on" model for easy fastening on the map ·      Perfect for MTBO and AR Useful for all types of map reading ·      Fixed liquid filled compass housing	$30	$35
	Miry Mapboards (25mm diameter mount only)	$100	$149
	Shotz Energy Gels Available in 8 flavours $65 for box (25gels) Mixing of flavours available
	Shotz Electrolyte Drink Lemon or Orange/Vanilla flavours $18 (20 tabs)= 10L drink

Blackheart members competing in SILVA National Orienteering League

Round 3 of the SILVA National Orienteering League and final World Championship selection races are on this weekend in Tasmania. Team Blackheart members Rob Preston and Kathryn Ewels are hoping to continue their recent good form this season.

First up on Saturday morning is a sprint race on University of Tasmania’s Launceston campus. A quick recovery will be followed by a short drive to Benbullen for the Middle distance race. This map was previously used for the 2009 Easter Carnival and features a mixture of open farmland, plantation and native forest with a scattering of granite boulders. Sunday’s Long distance race is on Lively’s Bog near St Helens, and with recent heavy rains the marshes could be more boggy than ever.

In the women’s series, Kathryn holds a small lead from Victorian Nuggets teammate Jasmine Neve and SA’s Vanessa Round. Kathryn’s Victorian team is leading the National League and look confident of retaining their 2010 title. In the recent competitions in WA, Kathryn picked up 2nd in the 2011 Australian 4-days Championships, and also the Australian Sprint Distance Championships. 

In the men’s series, Rob is currently sitting in 3^rd place behind SA’s Simon Uppill and Canberra Cockatoo’s Grant Bluett. Rob has had a consistent start to the season, winning race 3 and not finishing worse than 6^th in any race.  The  competition will be tough this weekend with the return of NSW’s star Julian Dent. Dent missed the last round of races due to commitments with his Swedish club Malungs, but his form shows he is the hot favourite. NSW Stingers are looking to extend their lead in the team competition, with the aid of Dent and Ian Meyer who is returning from an injury induced break.

Next week the Australian team to compete at the World Championships in France in August. 

Rob finishing the Aus Sprint Orienteering Champs in Mandurah

Kathryn on the podium at the Aus Sprint Distance Champs

Rob Preston and Damon Goerke Australian 24hr Rogaining Champions

Rob and Damon have teamed up to win the 2010 Australian 24hr Rogaining Championships. The event was held at Providence, near Adaminaby in the northern part of the Snowy Mountains. Rogaining is similar to Orienteering, but competitors chose their own route and have to return to the finish within a set time frame- in this case 24hrs.
The course was set by experienced rogainers and ARers David Baldwin and Julie Quinn, who presented the competitors with a course full of choices and navigational challenges. The intricate contour detail made the control sites very challenging, especially at night. The terrain consisted of alpine ash forests, through snow gum woodlands and granite boulderfields, to open plains and ranged over an altitude of 1100 to nearly 1700m. The course covered by the team was about 90km, and collected 56 out of the possible 74 controls for a total score of 3510points. Western Australian team of Ben Corry and Paul Williams followed closely behind with 3460 points and Victorian Mixed team of Kevin Humphry and Kath Copeland were 3rd with 2890 points.
The guys used the event as training for the upcoming XPD Adventure race in May, and will also head to New Zealand for the World Rogaining Championships in November to try and improve on their 2nd place at the 2006 WRC.

Thanks to our sponsors who helped achieve this result.
Shotz Sports Nutrition for the truckload of gels, bars and electrolyte tablets we consumed during the 24hrs.
SILVA- Rob and Damon used SILVA Jet 5 baseplate, Spectra OMC Wrist compass and Jet 6 Spectra Compasses throughout the race, and the Alpha Headlamp turned night into day.
Salomon- the XA Pro 3D is still the best offroad shoe for a race this long