July 2019

Half Marathon Hcps 2019 (The runner not visible between pages is Jono Price 1:03:00)

A good field of fifty two will start this Sunday in the AJL Lifestyle/AJLYamaha half marathon.

The 21.1 kilometre race will be run in the reverse direction from recent years, starting at the Turners Beach football ground and taking competitors to West Ulverstone and back using the cycle/walk tracks in the area.

The terrain is mostly flat but the classic distance is a good test of stamina as that flatness usually means faster running rates so care is needed not to go too hard, too early.

There are many Club members who have been in great form and picking a winner is difficult.

Among the frontmarkers, Dale Lancaster could be the best chance. She will be the first runner away and could very well be the first runner to finish as well. Others starting early with great chances include Chris Talbot and Kelly Baxter with Mary-Lou Troughton an outside possibility.

Best of the middlemarkers look to be Michelle D’Monte and Andrew Hay. D’Monte looks a particularly strong chance with seconds in the last two races.

Backmarkers likely to be to the fore include Simon Gates, Hayden Bishop and Brad Taylor while the very backmarker, Brian Lyons, who will give seventy-one minutes start to Lancaster, would be a deserving winner.

Entries have closed for the event, which starts at the earlier time of 9:30.

The nominated time event will be the normal time of 9:15.

One of the most popular events of the season takes place this week with the running of the Spreyton Cider Company handicap, this year extended to six kilometres. The race starts at the cidery and takes competitors on an out and back course through apple and cherry orchards.

Following the recent rain, there are sure to be plenty of puddles and slippery sections to test the footing of runners. However, most Club members love the chance to get off sealed surfaces and will enjoy the mud.

Two weeks ago in the five kilometre race at Burnie, Anna Murton was a close second (behind her father, David). She could well make amends on Sunday and chalk up another victory for the family.

Murton has had several other good results without breaking through, and will prove very hard to beat.

Michelle D’Monte showed a welcome return to form in a tough race last week with a close second and will be seeking to go one better.

Others to keep an eye on include Russell Horton, who has performed well in this event in previous years, Chris Talbot and Tony Stewart.

Members are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the half marathon conducted on August 4^th, and can be made at the Cidery race or on-line before Monday.

New runners are always welcome.

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

A nominated time event will be held at 9:15

Race seventeen of the season takes members to Somerset for the Raymond Spinks/CRC twelve kilometre handicap.

The event starts and finishes at the Somerset soccer ground and commences with a four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway to Village Lane, then continues on country roads until the final stretch along Cardigan Street.

The toughness and distance suits backmarkers and they win this race more often than not. One who is in great form and very close to a win is Ewen Troughton.

Troughton’s most recent start was last week when he was fifth over five kilometres and this followed a top effort in the Ironman (25 kilometres). He has had other recent top ten finishes in recent weeks, including a sixth at Burnie over a similar course. He is sure to prove the hardest to beat.

Simon Gates, Vicky Knapman and Lyn Saint-John are all top chances with Gates especially being well overdue for a victory.

Anna Murton was second behind her father, David, last week and will be very keen to go one better and record a victory before her upcoming trip to Europe.

If a frontmarker was to provide a surprise, it could come from Dale Lancaster who will lead for a long way and prove very hard to catch.

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

A nominated time event will be held at 9:15

NB: This will be a sealed handicap mass start event. All runners will start together and for the handicapped race handicaps will be applied to elapsed times to determine the placegetters.

Also 12, 13 and 14 year old nominated time runners may run in this event starting off at the rear of the field.

This week the PCCCT heads to Burnie for the Fish Frenzy five kilometre handicap and many members will relish the short event following the twenty-five kilometres of last week.

The course starts at West Beach and is an out and back course to Cooee, utilising the board walks and footpaths.

To make this event  more interesting, the committee has decided that it will be a mass start. The handicaps will be applied after the race to determine the winner and placegetters. The race also incorporates the Club’s five kilometre championships, so with all runners starting together, the winners of those, male and female, will be those first over the line.

The women’s competition should see a close contest between Lyn Saint-John, Natasha Mapley and Amie Bramich. The latter two had a great battle last week and after starting together were only separated by nine seconds. Brian Lyons and Thomas Murton look the strongest chances among the men although Brad Taylor will also be a contender.

The handicapped race could throw up a surprise winner. Among those who have shown good form recently and will be strong contenders are Mary-Lou Troughton, Tim Dowling, Michael Bates and Andrew Hay.

Entries close at 9:30 with the gun firing at 10:00. Members are reminded to wear their numbers and timing chips. New runners are always welcome and this would be a good race to commence running with the PCCCT.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:15.

2019 Ironman Classic handicaps (Please note: Phil McConnon was omitted from the handicaps originally published).

The next event on the PCCCT calendar is the Burnie Trophy Centre/ Troy Atkins Accounting “Ironman Classic” at Forth.

One of the blue-ribbon events on the calendar, at twenty-five kilometres it is not as long as the marathon, but is considered by many as the toughest run of the year due to the extremely hilly terrain covered.

Starting at Forth it takes in a circuit in the Forth Valley comprising Wilmot and Paloona Roads to Melrose and return via Forthside Road.

The event best suits fit backmarkers who have proven records over these longer distances and there are three who could fight out the finish.

Hayden Bishop is in wonderful form and ran fourth in this event last year. Starting just behind him will be Ewen Troughton who has two top ten finishes in the last two weeks while Brad Taylor, will be very hard to hold off. He finished second in last year’s marathon and hasn’t managed a win since.

The second backmarker off 92 minutes is Brian Lyons who could also win without shocking.

Other top chances include Amie Bramich, who won two races last year but has improved further, while Chris Talbot will start towards the front of the field and be hard to catch.

Entries have closed with the first runner starting at 9:00.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:15.