A beautiful sunny day greeted members of the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania when they rolled up at the Stanley Football Ground for the WT House Betta Home Living “Steve Hanson Memorial” 8 kilometre handicap on Sunday.
The race is affectionately known as the Ace of the Green Hills because it follows a course across the Green Hills before returning to run through the main street and finishing again at the football ground.
An excellent field of 96 heard the starter’s gun fire at 10:30. John Lucas led the field away but soon John Purton and Louise Morse had taken over in front. A large group of middle markers was in hot pursuit, however and as the town was approached with 2 kilometres to run, Pat McMahon took the lead from Kerrie Murchie, Anna Murton and Kim Denwer. Despite tiring, McMahon held on to defeat the fast finishing Rydge Cooper and Paul Birch.
The veteran, McMahon, was thrilled with the win having grown up in Stanley. A top runner when younger, McMahon is a four time winner at Stawell – the pinnacle of professional running in Australia. He still manages to run 60 to 70 kilometres in training each week and the win was a just reward for effort. He had been sixth in this race last year.
Fastest man was Thomas Murton with the fastest woman being Rebecca O’Garey.
Earlier the nominated time winners were Mackenzie Troughton, Robyn Luttrell, Kelsey Anderson and Isabelle Murchie.
1 Comment
Russell · 29 May 2016 at 8:27 PM
Great win and interesting thank you speech