Penguin: The Greg and Darlene Jacques Parcel Contracting 5km at Penguin

The PCCCT goes “off the beaten track” this Sunday with the running of the Greg and Darlene Jacques Parcel Contracting five kilometres at Penguin..

The event will start and finish at the Penguin Motocross complex at Dial Road and be run in the bush in the vicinity. With the expected rain this week, there are bound to be plenty of puddles and slippery paths to be negotiated.

Some runners love these conditions and throw caution to the wind while others go steady and take great care with their footing.

Picking a winner here is not easy, however one runner who is getting back to his best is Hayden Bishop.

After taking up running, Bishop made rapid improvement until an injury last year set him back. But with solid training he has returned to great form, as his recent starts show.

His main danger could be Aaron Robertson, who is another who is proven in the conditions which are likely to prevail. He certainly has the class and fitness to give it a shake.

Other runners in form who will be chances are Simon Gates, John Badcock, Amie Bramich and Mollie Powell.

Members are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the following week’s Burnie to Ridgley Mountain Classic.

Entries close at 9:30 ready for a 10:00 start and new runners are always welcome.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:05.

Race 6: MA and LJ Bates 9km at Stowport

Anthea resized

Race six of the season was the longest and toughest of the season to date. The MA and LJ Bates nine kilometre handicap handed runners an out and back course with an uphill run to the turn. Blustery conditions on the outward leg contributed to the challenge.

Numbers were down due to other events occurring at the same time, but a quality field still gathered at the Stowport Hall for the start.

John Purton had the honour of leading the field away and led for some time before being overtaken by Ken Williams before the turn. Tim Dowling running his best race for some time, had raced into contention with White, Caroline Brett and Andrew Hay also looking chances. Williams led until the last kilometre when overtaken by White who finished strongly to repel all challenges.

Josh Febey recorded another promising effort for second with Dowling hanging on for third followed by Williams in fourth.

It was White’s first win with the Club. Although she commenced in 2015, this is the first year she has been able to run consistently. She has, however, been competing the last few years with the Coastal Senior Cycling Club with success. She finds mixing running and cycling training excellent for managing her fitness and avoiding injury.

Fastest male and female were Jason Fehlberg and Amie Bramich respectively.

Earlier, nominated time winners Milla Price, Emily Aichberger, Ashley Fehlberg and Grace Greenhill.

Race06 Stowport 9km Line Position

Race06 Stowport 9km Fastest

Stowport: MA and LJ Bates Plumbing 9km

The longest race of the season to date awaits runners this week when they head to Stowport for the MA and LJ Bates Plumbing 9km handicap.

A new course will be used this year due to the previous circuit having traffic risks at the start/finish.

The race will be conducted over an out and back course, starting at the Stowport Cricket Ground.

The outward leg will contain hills but the payoff will come with the mainly downhill run back from the turn.

Middle and back markers should be best suited and the extra toughness and distance from recent races could provide a surprise result.

One runner who has been in great form and will be well suited, and so wouldn’t surprise, is Thomas Murton who is likely to start from the very back mark and will have to pass every other starter. Murton certainly has the ability to do this and is in form with recent results including a second at Port Sorell and fourths at Devonport and Cooee.

The biggest dangers could well be his sister Anna and father, David, who have both been in great form. A Murton trifecta is not out of the question and would surely be a first for the club.

Others with strong chances include Dallas van Rooyen, Michael Purton and Caroline Brett

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

Nominated time events will be held at 9:05.

Race 5: Dowling McCarthy Tyres 5km at Cooee

Alex Johnstone resized

Race five of the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania’s season was held on Sunday and the Easter Bunny delivered a beautiful day for running with members keen to work off some chocolate-related calories.

Starting and finishing at the Cooee Hall, the course circumnavigated Burnie High School before heading towards the Durham Road hill, climbing five hundred metres to the turn.

Considering the long weekend, a good field gathered to hear the starter’s orders, including twelve having either their first run with the club or first for the year.

Natalie Luttrell and John Purton led the field away with Ken Williams, at 79, the Club’s oldest runner, belying his years to be in hot pursuit..

But it became clear that the winner would come from one of the middlemarkers who were quickly winding in the fronties.

In the last kilometre Alex Johnstone, took over the lead and was just able to hold off Andrew Rolls for a narrow win with Terry Watson running a game third.

Thomas Murton, who started from the very back mark, was fourth, in front of race favourite Josh Febey who was next to finish. Williams hung on well for eighth with promising runs also being recorded by Ewen Troughton and Michael Bates.

Murton recorded fastest time for the men with Brooke Fehlberg was fastest woman.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Armani Walker, McKenzie Troughton and Hanna Francombe.

Race05 Cooee Line Position 5km

Race05 Cooee Fastest 5km

Cooee: Dowling McCarthy Tyres 7km

The Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania travels to Cooee this week for the running of the Dowling and McCarthy Tyres five kilometre handicap.

The interesting out-and-back course which starts at the Cooee Hall, has a short, sharp climb to the turn and traverses roads, paths and grass areas.

With four events now completed this year, several runners have been consistently close-up and will likely break through soon.

One of those is Joshua Febey, who won this event last year, proving his liking for the course and distance. He has continued to improve, as young runners can, and is now very capable of winning again off his revised mark.

Andrew Rolls was a great second last week at Don, finishing slightly in front of Febey and will be his biggest threat.  He also recorded a high placing at his only other start this season.

Roselyn Hendriks was close to a win last year and showed this year she is on track for a win soon and it could well be on Sunday. She finished fourth in the front markers event at Devonport and is well suited by the five kilometre distance. Off a front mark she will prove hard to catch.

Others who would not surprise with a victory are John Badcock, Terry Watson, David Murton and Kelly Baxter.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:05

Ballot regarding a sealed handicap

It has been suggested to the Committee that we consider running Race 16, Fish Frenzy 5km as a sealed handicap.

This event doubles as the Club 5km championship.
So, it would be a mass start and the first three men and women across the line would be the championship placegetters.

Following the race, the handicaps would be applied to the elapsed times to determine the handicap placegetters.

Your Committee determined at Monday night’s meeting that we would put the proposal to members. Consequently, at the next 4 races you will be asked to vote (on paper), yes or no, to indicate if you support the proposal. It will need strong support to be considered further.

Please feel free to discuss and share your views. Thank you, Rod.

Race 4: Cradle Cost Sports and Events 7km at Don

Sven small

Sunny, warm conditions greeted PCCCT members as they arrived at the Don Cricket Ground for the Cradle Coast Sports and Events seven kilometre handicap.

Despite the Ross running carnival also being on, a good field gathered to hear the Race Manager’s address.

The race appeared as if it would be an open one, with many chances.

Nat Luttrell led the field away from the 3:15 mark with John Purton in hot pursuit.

Well into the race, Barry Ling had taken over the lead and was going well but at the five kilometre mark he was overtaken by Burnie runner, Sven Mason, who was then not going to relinquish his lead despite being chased strongly by pre-race favourite John Badcock and a pack of backmarkers including Andrew Rolls and Aaron Robertson.

Mason eventually had a comfortable win from Rolls and Josh Febey who finished strongly.

Others to race into the top ten included Terry Watson and Amie Bramich. Terry Watson continued his good form, finishing fourth while one of last week’s winners, Sally Milbourne, surprised with her seventh.

Mason was pleased to record his third win with the Club and first since 2012. He got very fit over summer doing lots of “fast-packing”, which is bush-walking at pace. He had recorded two seconds this year so was relieved to break through.

Fastest male and female were Jason Fehlberg and Amie Bramich respectively.

Nominated time winners were Hannah Elphinstone, Lucy van Rooyen, Brian Paine and Maverick Baxter.

Race04 Don Line Position 7km D’port Sports and Events

Race04 Don Fastest 7km D’port Sports and Events

Don: Cradle Coast Sports and Events 7km

This Sunday members are able to enjoy the tracks in the Don Reserve as they compete in the Cradle Coast Sports and Event seven kilometre handicap.

The race starts at finishes at the Don Cricket Ground and heads out and back to the river before taking runners on a loop through the bush below the pool.

After three events this year, many runners have shown excellent form and the race will be very competitive.

However, the favourite to break the ribbon could very well be John Badcock, “the flying farmer”. A win would be very well deserved, as Badcock has worked hard to regain fitness after a bad fall from a bike during a race just over a year ago. His form this year has been excellent as he backed up from a close fourth two weeks ago with a great run over a shorter distance last week.

Marcus Cook ran a great race at Port Sorell and will be hard to beat. Others with strong chances include Hayden Bishop, Kelly Baxter and Terry Watson.

Young Gun Thomas Murton is back in great form and a win would not surprise, even starting from the tightest of handicaps.

Runners are reminded to wear both their timing chips and chest numbers and to register by 9:30 with a 10:00 start for the race.

The nominated time events will be held at 9:05.

Races 3 (A & B): the Devonport Mazda Front Markers 5km and Simons Design Centre Back Markers 5km at Devonport

Brooke Fehlberg resized Sally Milbourne resized

It was a day for the female runners at Devonport Bluff on Sunday with the Devonport Mazda Front Markers and Simons Design Centre Back Markers 5km events taken out by Sally Milbourne and Brooke Fehlberg respectively.

Milbourne, who started a strong favourite for her event, ran with the Club for a couple of seasons six or seven years ago but then injuries, work and having children kept her away until this year.

She had a comfortable victory with husband and wife, Sven and Karina Mason filling the placings. Sven gaining the bragging rights for this week by finishing forty seconds in front of Karina. Others to record promising performances included Ros Hendriks, Steve Allen and Barry Ling.

Fastest male was John Badcock with Kelly Baxter fastest female.

The Back Markers was an exciting event, the field being packed with some of the best distance runners on the Coast.  However, Fehlberg wasn’t daunted. Starting from the front mark, she defied all challengers to lead from start to finish and hung on for a narrow win from Amie Bramich and youngster Alex Johnstone.

Great runs were recorded by Thomas Murton and Brian Lyons, the last two runners away, both storming into the top ten.

Fastest male and female were Thomas Murton and Amie Bramich respectively.

Nominated time winners were Jennifer Fuller, Marion Badcock, Ruby Greenhill and Alicia Bramich.

Race03 Devonport Frontmarkers Line Position 5km Devonport Mazda

Race03 Devonport Frontmarkers Fastest 5km Devonport Mazda

Race03 Devonport Backmarkers Line Position 5km Simons Design Centre

Race03 Devonport Backmarkers Fastest 5km Simons Design Centre

Devonport: Devonport Mazda Front Markers 5km and Simons Design Centre Back Markers 5km

This Sunday the PCCCT will conduct split division races at Devonport Bluff with the Devonport Mazda Front Markers and Simons Design Centre Back Markers, both over five kilometres.

These events are very popular with runners because as well as competing in one event, they get to watch the other – the only time this happens in the season.

The races are conducted over a four lap course of Meercroft Park and this also makes them great for spectators.

The strongest chances to take out a victory in the Front Markers look to be Sally Milbourne, David Murton and Sven Mason while Lorraine Shepherd and Tim Dowling must also be considered. Milbourne was a great sixth last week while Mason would have started favourite if he had been able to compete, following his second in the season’s pipe-opener.

The Back Markers looks a perfect race for Simon Gates who has had two close finishes so far this year. He won this event in 2017 and no doubt would like to take it out for a second time. Joshua Febey,  Andrew Bates and Ewen Troughton are three young stars of the Club and any of those could win without surprising.

Thomas Murton will start from the very back mark and could take out the win and fastest time double.

Members are reminded that numbers and timing chips must be worn.

There will be nominated time events at 9:15.