Race 17: Raymond A Spinks/CRC 12km at Somerset

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Horrendous conditions faced runners competing in race 17 of the season – the Raymond Spinks/CRC twelve kilometres at Somerset. While there was no rain, very cold, gale force winds made running extremely difficult.

However, this did not stop a good field of forty-eight hardy competitors from setting off on the hilly circuit course which commences with a four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway.

After showing promise in several races this year, it was Somerset runner, Neville Sweetman who hung on for a well-deserved win, his fifth with the club in over five hundred starts. Sweetman started from one of the front marks, being the eighth runner away, and defied the odds to take out the win as the course and conditions better suited backmarkers. This added credit to his victory.

Sweetman’s win was well overdue as he had run in nearly two hundred and fifty PCCCT races since his last victory in 2006.

Backmarker Troy Reader finished very strongly to finish second, beaten by just five seconds. Josh Febey, with a win under his belt already this year, was third with Ellen Elphinstone first woman home in fourth.

Michael Bates turned in his best run for the year to finish next with great efforts from the very backmarkers, Evan Brett and Bryan Tuit, placing them sixth and seventh respectively.

Brett was the fastest man with and Rachel young the quickest of the women.

The nominated time winners were Lucy van Rooyen, Thomas Ward and Milla Price.

Race17 Line position Spinks 12km

Race17 Fastest Spinks 12km

Race 16: Paine Family Memorial 10km at Burnie

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The Paine Family Memorial ten kilometre handicap at Burnie is conducted over a tough hilly circuit and this is exactly the kind of course favoured by the winner of the race, Yolla runner Cobie Walker.

Walker’s previous win, which was last year, was over a similar course and he enjoys trail running hills, having completed the Gone Nuts event earlier this year.

However, the win came as a surprise to him, so much so that none of his family, who usually support him, were there to see him break the tape.

Walker took up running to lose weight a few years ago and he has lost a total of forty-two kilograms. He is another great example of why this sport is such a healthy one.

Chasing him home for a strong second was Simon Gates. He has not been able to attend many events this year but showed that another win is not far away if he is able to run consistently. Gerard Lowry was a fast-finishing third, just in front of the club’s oldest runner, Ken Williams.

Other strong performances were returned by Ellen Elphinstone and Ann Horton, while Kim Steven looked good in finishing seventh. Winners earlier this year, Owen Thomas and Josh Febey, both continued their great form finishing in “the ten”.

Jono Price and Lyn Saint-John were the fastest man and woman respectively, with Saint-John fifth fastest in the whole field.

The “Feature Race” nominated time winners were Ashley and Mia Fehlberg, Robyn Luttrell, Indra Taylor and Thomas Ward, with Will van Rooyen first finisher.

Race16 Line Position Paine Memorial 10km

Race16 Paine Family Memorial 10km Fastest to Slowest

Race 15: Fish Frenzy 5km and Club 5km championships at Burnie

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Sunday’s race was a fast, flat five kilometres at West Beach. The Fish Frenzy event utilised the Burnie parkrun course and a good field gathered to hear the starter’s orders.

Natalie Luttrell was first away but was soon overtaken by Andrew Plapp running his best race for some time, with Stuart Greenhill and Neville Sweetman in hot pursuit.

Co-markers Ann Horton and Shane Cleaver were looking ominous with Matthew Rolls being the only backmarker making big inroads.

Turners Beach runner Shane Cleaver had been close to winning two weeks ago, and wasn’t going to forego his chance to take out his first victory in three years of competing with the Club.

He took the lead from Greenhill, who held on for second, with half a kilometre to run. Rolls finished strongly for third with Alan Bakes a great fourth.

Cleaver had the added incentive of winning in front of his son who was home on mid-year break from university in Queensland. He will now set his sights on running a good time in the Gold Coast half marathon.

Other good performances were returned by Nick Young and Andrew Bates, both finishing within “the ten”.

The club championships were decided during the race based on fastest time. The woman’s was won by Lyn Saint-John from Natasha Mapley and Susan Moodie while Ewen   Troughton took out the men’s from Jono Price and Will Cleaver.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Chloe Bates, Kasia and Indra Taylor and Milla Price.

Race15 Line Position Corrected Fish Frenzy 5km

Race15 Fastest Corrected Fish Frenzy 5km

Race 14: The Burnie Trophy Centre/Troy Atkins Accounting “Ironman/woman Classic” 25 km at Forth

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Race fourteen of the PCCCT season, the Burnie Trophy House/Troy Atkins Accounting twenty five kilometre “Ironman/woman Classic” at Forth, was a triumph for one of the pre-race favourites, Devonport runner, Greg Smith.

However he needed to pull out every bit of his energy and resolve to overtake the other favourite, the gallant Rick Ferguson, which he did with a couple of hundred metres to run. Ferguson, knowing Smith was in great form and loved this course, went out very hard early in the race and the effort told at the end as he was narrowly defeated. After twenty five kilometres, the margin was only fifty four seconds.

This was Smith’s third win in the event. He prefers the longer races and he is also a multiple winner of the Club’s marathons. This victory was especially pleasing for him as he has had to overcome a persistent calf injury.

Backmarker Bryan Tuit ran a fantastic race to finish third and also took out fastest time honours.

Hayden Bishop was fourth with the first woman to finish, Amie Bramich, putting in a terrific effort to finish fifth.

Other runners to catch the eye were Justin Gossage who was having his first run with the club and finished sixth just in front of the fastest woman, Ellen Elphinstone.

Gerard Lowry. Debbie Riley and Kyle Groenewege rounded out the ten

Earlier the nominated time winners were Will van Rooyen, Lachie Riley, Emily Aichberger and Heath Bramich.

Race14 Placings Queen&King of Mountain (corrected) 25km

Race14 Fastest to Slowest Queen&King of Mountain (coorected) 25km

Race 13: The WT House Betta Home Living “Steve Hanson Memorial” 8km at Stanley

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Race thirteen of the PCCCT season, the W T House Betta Home Living “Steve Hanson Memorial”, was conducted over an eight kilometre circuit course in Stanley.

It resulted in an emotional victory for Burnie runner, Shane Hanson, son of the former member for whom the race is named. The event was taken out in 2002 by Hanson’s sister and he has had a long-held ambition to also win the race that has such special meaning to their family. It was made more special as his mother was there to see him break the tape.

Taking the lead from brave front-marker, Karina Mason, with about a kilometre to travel, Hanson had a comfortable win from a much improved Amie Bramich and pre-race favourite Neville Sweetman who finished just ahead of Madeline Greenhill. Mason held on well for seventh.

Hanson, who specialises in ultra-running events will now turn his attention to a three hundred kilometre event in Queensland in September where he will raise funds for the “Just Like Jack” charity.

Co-markers Shane Cleaver and Rick Ferguson ran great races to finish fifth and sixth respectively in promising performances for coming weeks.

Lorraine Shepherd ran strongly to finish in the “ten’, with other good efforts recorded by Dom McCreadie and Kyle Groenewege.

A good field of seventy-three competed.

Fastest times were recorded by Thomas Wilson and Natasha Mapley for the men and women respectively.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Mitchell Elphinstone, Cayla Ward, Maya Bramich and Phoebe Gillard.

Race13 Placings Stanley 8km

Race13 Fastest to slowest Stanley 8km

Race 12: Total Performance Sports/Physiotas 10 km City of Devonport

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Victory in the Total Performance Sports/Physiotas ten kilometre City of Devonport handicap is much sought after by members, but particularly those who reside in the town it is named for and where it is conducted.

That added an extra dimension of satisfaction for Devonport runner, Ricky Brown, when he took out the event from an excellent field of eighty-three.

Brown is pleased to be running the best he has in four years following a terrible run with injuries. He has recently been able to train consistently and so finally achieved the result he has been looking for, for some time.

He was made to work hard, however, by front marker Karina Mason whom he only caught with about two hundred metres to run. Mason was ruing another close defeat but her winning day must come soon.

Ken Troughton filled third place, showing a return to form. Other strong performances were recorded by Shane Hanson and Matthew Rolls while Neville Sweetman finished sixth indicating that the end of his long drought is in sight.

The Club ten kilometre championships were conducted based on fastest times in the race. For the women, Lyn Saint-John took it out from Natasha Mapley and Susan Moodie, while Brad Taylor won the men’s championship from Bryan Tuit and Matthew Cunningham.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Indra Taylor, Lachie Riley, Kasia Taylor and Kira Brown.

Race12 Placings Devonport 10km

Race12 Fastest Devonport 10km

 

Races 11 and 11(a): Woodhouse Marathon and Priestley 5km at Ulverstone

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The longest race of the PCCCT season is a full marathon, the Greg and Dianne Woodhouse 42.195 kilometre handicap. The course takes competitors from River Park at Ulverstone to the end of the Esplanade at Turners Beach and return, twice.

The weather was fine for Sunday’s version but a stiff headwind on both return legs made for challenging conditions.

The race proved a triumph for Wynyard runner Christine Wright who hung on to defeat fast finishing back marker, Brad Taylor, by less than a minute. This was the tenth marathon for Wright, all with the PCCCT and she was thrilled to finally break through.

Taylor’s tremendous effort resulted in fastest time of 2:38:30 while the fastest female time was recorded by Hobart runner Colleen Denne who finished fourth.

Launceston runner Matthew Zegfeld was a very creditable third. Matthew Atkins finished fifth with one of the pre-race favourites, Shane Hanson, finishing strongly into sixth. In a tremendous effort, teenager Vicki Knapman finished the race to complete her first marathon.

For those not ready for such a gruelling event the Rod and Judith Priestly five kilometre handicap was conducted. Ron Chequer finally broke through for a win, with Karina Mason and Andrew Bates filling the placings. Chequer has been consistent all year and it has been seven years since his last win, also over five kilometres.

Hayden Bishop was the fastest male with Lyn Saint-John fastest female.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Chloe Bates, Mackenzie Troughton, Robyn Luttrell and Alicia Bramich.

Race11 Placings Ulverstone Marathon Greg and Dianne Woodhouse

Race11 Fastest Ulverstone Marathon Greg and Dianne Woodhouse

Race11a Placings Ulverstone 5km Rod and Judith Priestley

Race11a Fastest Ulverstone 5km Rod and Judith Priestley

Race 10: Wilkinson’s Pharmacy 5km at Hellyer College

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Race ten of the PCCCT season was also the second of the trail run series and was held in the park behind Hellyer College at Burnie. The Wilkinson’s Pharmacy five kilometre handicap was conducted over a hilly two lap course in still, sunny conditions.

The venue provides great spectator viewing as the runners are in sight for much of the race and a good audience watched a close and exciting contest.

During the first lap and much of the second, it appeared that the front markers would hold out the chasers. The two best positioned “fronties” were Ron Chequer and Ricky Brown.

With a kilometre to travel it appeared as if Chequer would take a long awaited victory but with about a hundred metres to run he was overtaken by a charging Isaac Troughton who had come through the field from almost the very back mark.

Chequer managed to hang on for second from Brown, who was close up in third. Race favourite, Ann Horton was not far back, finishing fifth.

This was Troughton’s third win with the Club, the other two coming in his first season two years ago. He was surprised but delighted with his victory, pointing out that his brother, with whom he has a friendly rivalry, had not even fronted for the race after a “busy” Saturday night.

Thomas Wilson was the fastest male with Lyn Saint-John fastest female.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Ashley Fehlberg, Lucy and Will van Rooyen, Max Anderson and Jemima McLaren.

Race10 Placings Hellyer Trail Run Wilkinsons Pharmacy

Race10 Fastest Hellyer Trail Run Wilkinsons Pharmacy

Race 9: Bates Plumbing 10km at Stowport

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Race nine of the PCCCT season was the Bates Plumbing ten kilometre handicap and was conducted on a circuit using country roads at Stowport. The weather was kind to the seventy-one starters as they set off on the undulating, scenic course.

Starting from the second front mark, the race proved a triumph for Stuart Greenhill. Amazingly, Greenhill became the second winner in succession to come from the small farming district of Northdown, following on from the win of his neighbour, Owen Thomas, last week.

Taking out his first win with the Club in his third season of running, Greenhill said he took up the sport to not only lose weight and improve his fitness, but for the relief it brings from the pressures and worries of farming. He now just aims to continue to improve and keep running as long as he can.

While he was comfortably in the lead for moist of the race, back in the field, several runners looked strong chances at varying stages. Chief among these were Troy Reader and Greg Smith, with backmarker Ewen Troughton also making his way through the field.

One of the pre-race favourites, Ann Horton, ran up to expectations to eventually finish second, while Don McCreadie showed a welcome return to form with a strong run into third.

Ewen Troughton was the fastest male with Lyn Saint-John fastest female.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Cayla Ward, Ashley Fehlberg, Thomas Ward and Chloe Bates.

Race09 LinePlacings Stowport M&L Bates 10km

Race09 Fastest Stowport M&L Bates 10km


 

Race 8: High on Penguin Burnie to Ridgley King/Queen of the Mountains 16.5km

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Warm sunny conditions greeted the fifty-one starters in the longest and toughest race of the season to date – the High on Penguin, Burnie to Ridgley “King and Queen of the Mountains” 16.5 kilometre handicap.

This event is one of the longest running in the club’s annual programme and is highly sought after due to its prestige and also that it needs a fit determined runner to take it out due to the almost constant uphill course.

Northdown runner, Owen Thomas, showed he had the necessary attributes, to finally break through for a well-deserved win – his first with the club.  He had previously had four seconds and numerous other close-up results and was very excited and relieved to finally break his duck.

The warm weather didn’t worry Thomas as he had been in NSW on holiday for two weeks, training in the heat. He was also fresh for Sunday as he has not been pushing himself so hard. He took up running after losing weight working with EPT and has now lost more than twenty kilograms.

Debbie Riley was second and first female thus taking out the Queen of the Mountains title just in front of Karina Mason. Mason led for most of the race from the second front mark and produced a very gallant performance. Ann Horton finished next, meaning women filled three of the top four placings. Paul Birch was fifth suggesting a win is just around the corner.

Brad Taylor stormed through the field to take fastest time and finish eighth. Fastest woman was Natasha Mapley.

Other excellent performances were recorded by co-markers Gerard Lowry, Kyle Groenewege and Greg Smith with not much between them at the finish to all run into “the ten”.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Trinity Luttrell, Robyn Luttrell and Indra Taylor.

Race08 Placings King&Queen of the mountain

Race08 FastestKing&Queen of the mountain