Sunday’s race, the Virtual Runs Australia five-kilometre handicap utilised a new out-and-back course starting at West Ulverstone’s Tobruk Park and a good field competed. The flat, shorter course made a change from the long, hilly ones of the last two weeks and was certainly enjoyed by competitors, many of whom recorded very fast times.
The event incorporated the Club five-kilometre championships which was conducted as a sealed handicap. This meant all runners commenced together and the handicaps were applied after the race.
In the men’s championship, Wynyard runner, Tom Murton, repeated his success from this event last year and added the five-kilometre title to the ten-kilometre one he won at Devonport earlier in the year. He recorded a very slick 15:18 in winning from teenager Tom Winkler and Hayden Bishop.
The women’s championship produced a fantastic tussle from start to finish between Penguin’s Lyn Saint-John and Devonport athlete, Daile Bennett-Moyle. Saint-John eventually prevailed by one second in a time of 18:36. Third was Rhian Miles.
The sealed handicap was taken out by Ulverstone’s Howard Crispin from Club handicapper, Pat McMahon, and pre-race favourite, Sam Lovatt.
Crispin is in his first year with the Club and deserved this win after continuing improvement leading to several placings. He started running seriously when his wife, Selina, also a Club member, decided to run in the Hobart Easter Half-Marathon this year and competed in that event after a month’s training. He also was inspired by his 11-year-old daughter, Libby, who competes in the Club’s nominated time events.
Earlier the nominated time winners were Xavier and Ruby Mawer and Malcolm Nutting.
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