May 2018

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

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 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 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