Race Previews 2018

Race seventeen of the season takes members to Somerset for the Raymond Spinks/CRC twelve kilometre handicap.

The event starts and finishes at the Somerset soccer ground and commences with a four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway to Village Lane, then continues on country roads until the final stretch along Cardigan Street.

The toughness and distance suits backmarkers. Following his great second last week, Simon Gates could start favourite. He won a five kilometre race at Devonport last year and now looks primed to take out his second win.

Matthew Rolls will be the hardest to beat. He is another who missed the last race, but the week before turned in an impressive performance with a strong finish over a much shorter five kilometres.

Hayden Bishop, who would have been a strong chance last Sunday but missed the race to run the Gold Coast half marathon, could make amends this week. He has the form and is constantly getting faster.

Bryan Tuit loves this event, being a previous winner, and if he makes the trip from Devonport he will look the victor at some stage. The distance suits him perfectly.

Other strong chances include the third placegetter from last Sunday, Gerard Lowry, while Ellen Elphinstone and Michelle D’Monte will fly the flag for the women.

Runners are reminded to wear their chest numbers and timing chips for every race.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race starting at 10:00.

A nominated time event will be held at 9:05

A tough task lies in wait for members his week as the PCCCT heads to Burnie for the Payne Family ten kilometre handicap.

Starting at the Council depot at Three Mile Line, runners complete a circuit course taking in the many hills of Mooreville and West Mooreville Roads.

Although challenging, it is very popular and a large field is expected. With the season now more than half completed, there are many runners who have been close to winning, some on several occasions, but who haven’t breasted the tape and will be keen to do so soon. This will make for a close and exciting contest.

One runner who is perfectly suited here is last year’s winner, Hayden Bishop. He finished in “the ten” in a similar race at Devonport a few weeks ago and has performed well since. He could very easily make it back-to-back wins in this event.

Sven Mason has been getting closer almost weekly and would not surprise if he won. His wife, Karina, has also been close to winning all year and a Mason quinella is a possibility.

Matthew Rolls was flying home over a much shorter distance last week and will fancy his chances, but there are many other contenders, including, Amie Bramich, Don McCreadie and Lorraine Shepherd.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race starting at 10:00.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.

This week the PCCCT heads to Burnie for the Fish Frenzy five kilometre handicap and many members will relish the short event following the twenty-five kilometres of last week.

The course starts at West Beach and is an out and back course to Cooee, utilising the board walks and footpaths.

The race incorporates the five kilometre club championships, based on fastest times. The women’s competition should see a close contest between Lyn Saint-John and Natasha Mapley. Brad Taylor will be hardest to beat amongst the men, although he will have a battle on his hands if Thomas Wilson starts and Bryan Tuit can’t be discounted

The handicap event will be keenly contested. It will provide another chance for front and middle markers to garner a win before a series of longer tougher events.

Amie Bramich has run some terrific races lately as the extra training she has been doing has kicked in. She followed a seventh in the City of Devonport ten kilometre event with second at Stanley and then a great fifth last week. She should start favourite here.

Her dangers though are many, and include Ken Troughton, Neville Sweetman, Lorraine Shepherd and Sven Mason.

Entries close at 9:30 with the gun firing at 10:00. Members are reminded to wear their numbers and timing chips. New runners are always welcome and this would be a good race to commence running with the PCCCT.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.

Ironman and woman handicaps 2018

The next event on the PCCCT calendar is the Burnie Trophy Centre/ Troy Atkins Accounting Ironman and Ironwoman Classic at Forth.

At twenty-five kilometres, it is not as long as the marathon, but is considered by many as the toughest run of the year due to the extremely hilly terrain covered.

Starting at Forth it takes in a circuit in the Forth Valley comprising Wilmot and Paloona Roads to Melrose and return via Forthside Road.

The event best suits fit backmarkers who have proven records over these longer distances.

One who ticks all the boxes is Devonport runner Greg Smith. Smith won last year’s marathon and after a slow start to the year while overcoming injury, he has started to run into some top form, showing promise in shorter events.

His main danger will be backmarker, Brad Taylor who was second in the recent PCCCT marathon, while Hayden Bishop and Michael Purton must also be considered.

Best of the middle markers could be Rick Ferguson who caught the eye with sixth at Stanley last week and likes longer races. His co-marker Shane Cleaver will fancy his chances as will Amie Bramich, Debbie Riley and Anna Murton who all have recent good form.

Kyle Groenewege and Matthew Rolls are others who have been threatening to win for some time and it could be this week.

Entries have closed with the first runner starting at 9:00.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.

The PCCCT heads to beautiful Stanley this week for the WT House Betta Home Living “Steve Hanson Memorial” eight kilometre handicap, another of the club’s “blue ribbon events”.

The course is a favourite of members. There is a short testing hill early on but then competitors are rewarded with a great run along the Green Hills before descending with views of The Nut followed by travelling along the main street before returning to the start at the Stanley Oval.

One runner who will be very keen to take this race out is Neville Sweetman. Having had nearly two hundred and fifty runs since his last win many years ago, he is certainly due and a win would be well-deserved.

Sweetman is also starting to show the form necessary to be a serious contender, with a close sixth at Devonport in the last Club race two weeks ago. He would not have to improve much and, if anything, the slightly shorter distance will suit him better.

Several runners have been consistently in “the ten” and will be top chances. Karina Mason must break through shortly, while Amie Bramich, Kyle Groenewege and Shane Hanson could win without surprising.

The event starts at the later time of 10:30 with nominations closing at 10:00. New runners are welcome.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:45.

Runners are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the following week’s Ironman/Ironwoman at Forth.

The next “blue-ribbon” event in the PCCCT season is to be held this Sunday.

It is the Total Performance Sports/ Physiotas City of Devonport 10km handicap which starts at Devonport’s Bluff Beach and uses the foreshore path and tracks in the Don Reserve.

Wins in this event are much sought after due to its history and prestige.

No doubt runners who completed last week’s marathon will struggle until fully recovered from that gruelling distance, so the winner will likely come from among those who ran the shorter 5 kilometre event.

The race looks perfect for Stowport runner, Andrew Bates. Bates is one of the up-and-coming youngsters in the club and he has been showing great form.

In the last ten kilometre event three weeks ago he was tenth and followed up with a strong-finishing third last week. The distance will suit him perfectly, so provided he pulls up okay after playing football on Saturday he could start favourite.

If Don McCreadie is able to compete, he must be the main danger, as he is displaying his best form for years. However, his attendance at events is limited due to work.

There are many other chances, though. Aaron Robertson is running consistently and is always close to winning. Haydon Bishop and Stuart Wilson ran very well last week, while among the women, Ann Horton, Lorraine Shepherd and Amie Bramich look possible winners.

The event starts at 10:00 with nominations closing at 9:30. New runners are welcome.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.

2018MarathonHandicaps

The PCCCT marathon is the longest-running continuously conducted marathon in Australia and the 2018 version will be held this Sunday.

The Greg and Dianne Woodhouse marathon handicap runs from River Park, Ulverstone to Turners Beach and back twice and is a wonderful test of fitness and character.

A small, but select, field will start this year’s event with last year’s winner, Greg Smith, fronting up again. He loves this event and could go back to back. This would be a great result for him as he has struggled with an injury over summer and has had to rush to get fit enough.

Sally Atkinson, Chris Talbot and Shane Hanson have many kilometres training in their legs having competed already this year over even longer distances.

Brad Taylor will start from the back mark and could pass the entire field to break the tape first but will need to get past Matt Zegveld, Matthew Atkins and Kyle Groenewege who will offer stubborn resistance. Courtney Sutton is another who always runs well over this distance and cannot be discounted.

The Rod and Judith Priestly five kilometre handicap will be run at 10:30 for those not attempting the marathon. Entries for this will close at 10:00 with Karina Mason and Ricky Brown looking the best chances.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:45.

The second in the popular trail run series takes place this Sunday with the running of the Wilkinson’s Pharmacy five kilometre handicap at Hellyer College. The course is entirely off sealed surfaces and provides a great contrast from running on asphalt roads.

There are a host of chances as the race suits those who prefer the shorter distances as well as those who favour trail runs. So picking the winner is a difficult task

Runners who will be well suited by the distance include Karina Mason, Ron Chequer, Ricky Brown, Ken Troughton and Alan Bakes. Of this group, Ricky Brown might be the one to break the tape. He has been showing steady improvement and hasn’t been far away in recent runs.

Among those who will enjoy the grass and gravel surfaces, Aaron Robertson, Shane Hanson, Cobie Walker and Troy Reader will be well-favoured. Shane Hanson would be the most favoured of this group. He has covered many kilometres in trail runs already this year so will be right at home here.

However, this looks to be a perfect race for Ann Horton who enjoys all distances and will handle the conditions well. She was second last week, which followed a terrific fourth in the King/Queen of the Mountains the previous week. There is certainly no concerns about her fitness.

Entries will close at 9:30. New runners are always welcome.

Members are reminded that entries for the following week’s Club marathon close this Sunday.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.

Following on from last week’s King/Queen of the mountains, the hills continue this Sunday with the running of the Bates Plumbing ten kilometre handicap at Stowport. However, at least there is some reprieve from the constant climbing as the event is run over a circuit course on beautiful country roads.

The winner of this event should come from among those who finished close to the winner last week. For those who did that, backing up should not be a problem as their fitness is at a high level.

Among that group, the favourite should be Debbie Riley who ran a great second after looking the winner at various stages. Riley didn’t slow over the last tough few kilometres and the course this Sunday should suit her down to the ground.

Ann Horton was not far behind Riley at the finish last week and the shorter distance should suit her better. She looks to be the main danger.

Among other with strong chances are Graeme Barr and Ricky Brown. Barr is starting to show some top form and finished in the ten last week, while Brown is starting to recover from a bad run with injury and is getting back to his best

There will be a morning tea after the race and members are asked to contribute.

Entries will close at 9:30 sharp and runners are reminded to wear timing chips and chest numbers. New runners are always welcome and will be issued with a number and chip.

A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.

KOM-final-entries 2018

The first of the season’s “blue ribbon” events occurs this Sunday with the running of the time-honoured High on Penguin King/Queen of the Mountains.

The course is a tough 16.5km from Burnie Park. It travels via West Park Grove, Mooreville and West Mooreville Roads to the finish at Ridgley. It is mostly uphill and members look forward to this event to test their fitness and resolve.

Being much longer than events so far this year means the winner may be someone who hasn’t yet come to the fore but who loves the longer distances. Among this group, Chris Talbot, Michael Bates and Paul Birch must be considered chances

Of those who have been displaying great form, Owen Thomas stands out. Thomas has recorded some great results, including a second in the 8km race two weeks ago. Although he is not yet proven over this longer distance, his training and races to date suggest he should have no trouble with it.

Ann Horton competes strongly each week and could easily break the tape here.Michael Purton has been putting in some big kilometres in training while Bryan Tuit can never be discounted in any race.

One thing is for sure – whoever crosses the line first will be a deserving winner.

The gun will fire at 9:30 with Dale Lancaster first runner away on a handicap of 4:25.

Runners are reminded to wear timing chips and chest numbers.

A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.