“Unbackable” favourite, Devonport’s Paul Birch, has finally broken through for a win at the Fish Frenzy 5 kilometre handicap at Burnie on Sunday. It was 276 starts and nearly 16 years since his last win (in the Marathon in 2000) so it was with great relief that Birch finally broke the tape first again.
Birch has been dogged with injuries over recent years – each time he was getting fit and close to another win something would go wrong. However, there has been nothing worrying him this year and after some promising results has been rewarded for the effort he always gives.
Chasing him home were some young gun runners. Kate Hawley (17), Keegan Powell (20), Ewan Troughton (18) and Maddi Baxter (17) were the next four runners home after Birch used his experience to hold them off.
It was great to see another veteran in Wayne Wiseman showing great form running into eighth spot, while Anna Murton and Rebecca O’Garey also showed they are not far off winning.
O’Garey took out the female 5 kilometre championship which was based on fastest times within the handicap race. She ran an excellent 20:12 to narrowly beat Sally Haynes and Michelle D’Monte.
In the men’s championship it was Thomas Murton who proved quickest taking it out in 15:51, an excellent rate of 3:10 per kilometre. Second was Bryan Tuit with Ben Hoare in third.
1 Comment
Rick · 17 April 2016 at 6:31 PM
Top effort today Paul. Thoroughly deserved a win.