Find us on Facebook

September 2018

Race 27: Sea Lyons Swim School 6km at Burnie

Allan BakesresizedSpook Life MembershipresizedKarina consistency resized

The Sea Lyons Swim School six kilometre handicap was the final race for the 2018 season and was run on an out-and-back course from West Park, Burnie, in fine but windy conditions.

Off a front mark, Ros Hendriks led clearly at the half-way turn from Darlene Jacques and Barry Ling and maintained her lead until overtaken by Allan Bakes, with a kilometre to run.

Bakes, in turn, was being pursued by the race favourite, Arnie Elphinstone, who was running very strongly and looked the likely winner.

However, Bakes was able to use the leg speed he trains for to sprint strongly over the last two hundred metres and hang on for the win. He only took up running ten years ago at the age of sixty-five, and this was his fourth win with the Club – an impressive effort.

Rod Viney was third with Hendriks hanging on for fourth in front of Nick Young.

Fastest male and female were Jono Price and Lyn Saint-John respectively.

The nominated time winners were Chloe Bates, Brain Paine, Lucy van Rooyen and Dominic Troughton.

Following the event, the Club Champion awards were presented to Brad Taylor and Lyn Saint John with the consistency title going to Karina Mason, who was the first female to win this in the Club’s fifty-two year history.

Life membership was given to Club treasurer, Gerard Leary with John Lucas, Rod Viney and Rick Ferguson receiving Club service awards.

Race27LinePositionBurnie6km

Race27FastestBurnie6km

By Rod Viney, ago

Burnie: The Sea Lyons Swim School 6km

The final race of the 2018 season is the Sea Lyons Swim School six kilometre handicap at Burnie.

A new out-and-back course will be used, starting at the rear of West Park and travelling east to the yacht club. This will take in the new path, recently completed along Marine Terrace.

Racing will be keen as members without a win this year will want to take advantage of a season of solid training.

The clear favourite must be Arnold Elphinstone who has been showing great form with several close up finishes culminating in a second last week to his wife, Ellen. This shorter course will suit him even better and he will definitely be the one to beat.

Frontmarkers should be to the fore over this distance and the top chances could be Roselyn Hendriks and Allan Bakes. Hendriks was  a great fifth last week and Bakes was sixth the week before.

Strongest of the middlemarkers look to be Nick Young, Terry Watson, John Badcock and Kelly Baxter.

If backmarkers are favoured by conditions, then any of Simon Gates, Thomas Wilson or Mark Saint-John could break the tape.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race beginning at 10:00. There will be a nominated time event at 9:05.

Following the event, end-of-year festivities will occur at The Point, West Park. There will be a club provided barbecue and trophies will be presented to the season’s consistency winners and club champions.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 26: Somerset Pharmacy 10km at Somerset

Ellenresized

The Somerset Pharmacy ten kilometre handicap was run Sunday on a tough hilly course utilising Somerset’s Back Cam Road.

The event gave runners their second last chance to record a win for the season and so was keenly contested.

It proved a triumph for Burnie husband and wife, Arnold and Ellen Elphinstone, who ran the quinella with Ellen earning bragging rights by crossing the line first.

The pair have been enjoying close competition in recent weeks although neither has quite managed to break though.

Ellen won last year’s Burnie to Ridgley race so was well proven on this type of course. She mixes her running training with cycling which she was forced to take up a couple of years ago due to a persistent hip injury.

Roselyn Hendriks was the first away and led for all but the last kilometre when caught first by Ellen and then Arnold. She battled on very strongly to finish fifth with Troy Reader and Simon Gates running superbly from back marks in to third and fourth places respectively.

Other eye-catching performances were recorded by Josh Febey and Nick Young while Thomas Wilson finished eighth and also recorded fastest time. Terry Watson and John Badcock rounded out “the ten”.

The fastest female was Natasha Mapley.

The nominated time winners were Ashley and Mia Fehlberg, Brain Paine, Hannah Elphinstone and Lucy Campbell.

Race26LinePositionSomerset10km

Race26FastestSomerset10km

By Rod Viney, ago

Somerset: The Somerset Pharmacy 10km at Somerset

The penultimate race of the 2018 season is a tough one – the Somerset Pharmacy ten kilometre handicap at Somerset.

The out-and-back course starts by the Cam River and follows the Murchison Highway to Back Cam Road and then continues on that hilly route until the half way mark.

However, with a season of running behind them, competitors should find a long, hilly race no problem and many will be looking for the win with only two chances left this year.

Table Cape runner, David Murton, looks to have a second-to-none chance. After a strong start to the year, his form dropped off a bit but in recent weeks he has shown he is back to his best, culminating in a great seventh in the Feature Race two weeks ago.

Andrew Bates has not been able to compete in many races due to football commitments but his strong effort for fifth last week has him on track for a win here. He is another who looked close to a win earlier in the year.

Natasha Mapley looks the best of the women runners if she can produce an effort like she did in the Feature Race although Ellen Elphinstone will also be very hard to beat.

Other runners to keep an eye on are Arnold Elphinstone, Matthew Greenhill, Marcus Cook and Thomas Wilson.

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

There will be a nominated time event at 9:05.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 25: McLean, McKenzie and Topfer Big Six 6km at Burnie.

Bryanresized

The McLean, McKenzie and Topfer Big Six six kilometre handicap at Burnie was run in perfect conditions and a good field gathered to hear the starter’s orders.

John Purton led the field away on the circuit course which incorporated the short but steep climb up Brickport Road.

Although front markers Barry Ling, Ken Williams Stuart Greenhill and Liz Murton featured for the first three kilometres, once the hill was reached middle-markers Alan Bakes, Andrew Bates and  Michelle D’Monte soon took over at the front.

However, backmarkers, Thomas Wilson and Bryan Tuit, were storming through the field and started to look the main chances.

As the ascent was completed with a kilometre to run, Tuit had taken over the lead with Wilson in hot pursuit. Tuit was able to hold on for a well-deserved victory, with husband and wife, Arnold and Ellen Elphinstone running into third and fourth.

Tuit was pleased to finally break through for his first win since 2015. He was well suited by the course which was hilly but also had sections that allowed him to utilise the speed on which he has been working in preparation for the coastal Christmas carnivals.

Other eye-catching performances were recorded by Mark Saint-John and Michael Bates with Alex Johnstone impressing with his ninth.

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

The nominated time winners were Dominic Troughton, Cayla Ward, Lucy van Rooyen and Mackenzie Troughton.

Race25PlacingsBigSixBurnie6km

Race25FastestBigSixBurnie6km

By Rod Viney, ago