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March 2017

Race 4 at Heybridge

Race 4 of The Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania season is the Glow Cosmetics 7 kilometre handicap.

Popularly known as the “Heybridge to weighbridge” race, the course is flat and fast and should suit front and middle markers.

One of these, who is in great early season form and who will have a second to no one chance, is Kelly Baxter.

Baxter finished second two weeks ago and is another who has trained hard over the summer. She looks very well suited to take out her second win with the Club.

Others with a strong chance include Ricky Brown and Don McCreadie, who surprised with his strong showing at Don last week.

Cobie Walker is another showing strong form and a win would not shock.

If there is a backmarker to show up, it could be Bryan Tuit while Ewen Troughton and Hayden Bishop will also be racing through the field at the business end of the race.

The race will begin at 10:00 with entries closing at 9:30.

Nominated time events, will be held at 9:05.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 3 – Brad wins at Don

Brad small

Devonport runner, Brad Taylor, has finally broken through for his second win with the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania.

Taylor won the Cradle Coast Sports and Events 7 kilometre handicap at Don on Sunday in hot and sunny conditions. His previous win had been in a 5 kilometre event eleven years ago. For a variety of reasons he has not been able to run regularly since then until last year

Running about 100 kilometres a week under the guidance of his coach and father, Leigh, he has been close to a win for some time.

He also trains twice a week with a group of very keen and experienced runners who meet at Meercroft Park for speed and strength work.

This enabled Taylor to recently complete his first marathon in an excellent time. His next aim is to break thirty minutes minutes for 10 kilometres.

Second and third were Greg Smith and Keegan Powell, while the fastest male and female were Taylor and first time club runner Daile Moyle.

Other excellent performances were turned in by Bryan Tuit, Stuart Young and Ann Horton.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Isabelle Murchie, Thomas Ward, Mackenzie Troughton and Dominic Troughton.

Race 3 2017 Placings – Don 7km

Race 3 2017 Fastest to Slowest – Don 7km

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 2 – Cooee

Liane small

Burnie runner, Liane Hanson was thrilled to cross the line first on Saturday for her maiden win with the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania.

The Dowling McCarthy Tyres 5 kilometre handicap took place on an out-and-back course at Cooee.

Quickly taking the lead from go-marker, John Lucas, Hanson, who started off the second front mark, was never in danger. She has greatly improved her fitness this year through heavy training over the summer. She acknowledged her husband, Shane, for inspiring her to enter and successfully complete some challenging events in recent months.

Hanson has no great plans for the remainder of the year but just wished to continue to enjoy her running with the club, although it will now be off a more challenging mark.

Second was Kelly Baxter with Dallas Van Rooyen a promising third. Other good performances were returned by race favourite Greg Smith, who finished fourth, and Ann Horton while Ricky Brown showed a win is not far off.

Young runner Edward Murchie was just outside the top ten in a promising effort.

Fastest male and female were Ewen Troughton and Judy Ray.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Isabelle Murchie, Thomas Ward, Mackenzie Troughton and Dominic Troughton.

Race 2 2017 Placings – Cooee 5km

Race 2 2017 Fastest to Slowest – Cooee 5km

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 2 preview

This week’s race, the Dowling and McCarthy Tyres 5 kilometre handicap at Cooee will take place on Saturday because of Run Devonport on Sunday.

Starting at the Cooee Hall, the course is out and back with a short sharp climb to the turn.

Last week’s race showed up those who have worked hard over summer and this week’s winner should come from among those.

Two who fit this category and who could well fight out the finish are the evergreen Greg Smith and Brad Taylor. Smith finished strongly into fourth last week, while Taylor was close to winning for most of 2016 and was a fast–finishing fifth in race one this year.

Seventeen year old Andrew Bates will be keen to get a win before the football season starts. He has shown good improvement from last year.

Others with good prospects include Thomas Wilson, Bryan Tuit and Ann Horton. Horton was the first woman to finish last week and looked strong.

The race will begin at 10:00 with entries closing at 9:30.

Nominated time events, will be held at 9:05.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 1 Burnie SportsPower 5km handicap at Wivenhoe

Aaron small

The PCCCT season got underway on Sunday with the Burnie SportsPower 5 kilometre handicap at Wivenhoe. It was raining as runners gathered to hear instructions but it cleared away to create great running conditions by the time the starter’s gun fired.

A good field of 92 set off on a course that involved a large lap through Wivenhoe streets before an out-and-back section to Fernglade Road.

Angela Wilson and Roselyn Hendriks soon took over from go-marker John Lucas but it was apparent that several very fit middle and back markers had the race between them.

Racing towards the finish, Aaron Roberston moved to the lead and held it to record his third win with the club.

Robertson’s last win was July last year but heavy training over summer to enable him to compete as part of a team in the recent Gone Nuts 101 saw his fitness greatly improve and enable another win despite the rehandicap. In fact it was Robertson’s fastest 5km time for 10 years.

Hayden Bishop and Keegan Powell were second and third while fastest male and female were Bryan Tuit and Judy Ray.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Will van Rooyen, Conor Purton an Catherine Greenhill.

Next week’s race at Cooee will be on Saturday due to Run Devonport being on Sunday.

Race 1 2017 Placings – Wivenhoe 5km

Race 1 2017 Fastest to Slowest – Wivenhoe 5km

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 1 – The SportsPower 5km Handicap – Wivenhoe

The 2017 season of the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania gets underway this Sunday with the Burnie SportsPower 5km handicap commencing at Wivenhoe Showgrounds. The course takes competitors to Fernglade Reserve and return.

Each new season is eagerly anticipated by members and this one will be no different. It is always interesting to see who has been training hard over summer and who has naturally improved. These factors make it hard to predict those likely to be break the tape.

Husband and wife team, Brett and Debbie Riley, have both been putting in many kilometres as well as competing in other events and either could take out the main prize.

This race tends to favour front and middle markers so others in strong contention include Louise Morse and Lorraine Shepheard among the women while Richard Lawson and Chris Purton are men with strong chances.

The race will begin at 10:00 with entries closing at 9:30. As registrations for the new season will need to be done also before this time, runners are urged to arrive early.

New members will be very welcome. The minimum age to run in the handicapped races is fifteen, but as in past years, nominated time events, which are open to all ages, will also be held. Those intending to compete in theses need to register by 9:05.

By Rod Viney, ago