Race Previews 2020

Course map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3213786961

The PCCCT is trialling a new course this week when it conducts Race 5 of this reduced season at Romaine Park Reserve, Burnie.

Numbers of race starters have been excellent and another large field of runners is expected for this 6km event which will be run on paths within the Reserve.

The quiet and scenic venue will make for pleasant running although undulating conditions could prove testing towards the finish.

One runner who will thrive on the course is Owen Thomas and there is no doubt he will prove very hard to beat.

Thomas has some good recent results, running eighth and ninth the last two weeks. He will not have to improve greatly on those efforts and looks well suited by the terrain.

The hardest to beat could be Aaron Robertson who was fifth over a similar course two weeks ago. He is another who seems to prefer non-sealed surfaces.

First year runner, Kendall Buckley, has returned some promising efforts and will win soon while Shaun Batten was a close second last week and will be looking to make amends.

Others to keep an eye on include Paul Birch, Hayden Bishop, Jono Price and Ellen Burgess.

New members are welcome and must register and enter by 9pm Friday.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:00.

Runners 12-, 13- and 14 years old may do their nominated time in the main (handicapped) event.

Your Committee has decided that we will have a short presentation time following our races. You are invited to stay for this but please remember your distancing from others.
Our COVIDSafe Plan has been updated to reflect this.

Please ensure you are at the start line for your posted handicap time. Race start is at 9:30am.

Welcome to new runners: Matthew Lardner, Sabrina Shields, Narelle Jacobs and Geoffrey Reid and new nominated time members today.

The meeting place is at the Spreyton Cider Co cidery on Melrose Road. However, the start will be in the big paddock across Sheffield Road where we have started in recent years. Please be careful crossing Sheffield Road.

IMPORTANT: do NOT do your warm-up on Sheffield Road. Use the paddock or the area around the cidery.

The course: Run straight up the paddock to Jowetts Lane and turn left. Follow the road (stay on the left) until a finger directs you left into an orchard where you immediately turn right and run along the top of the orchard.

Follow the witch’s hats which will take you along the top of the apple orchards until you come to an enclosed cherry orchard. Continue straight through and exit onto Pilgrims Road. Turn left and continue down to Sheffield Road.

Turn right and run along the footpath about 50 m until the turn. Return retracing your steps.

It will be well marked with witch’s hats and fingers.

The Spreyton Cider Co will be providing the voucher for the winner plus numerous random draw prizes. The random draw prizes will need to be collected after the race so please stay for the draw.

Please keep COVIDSafe distance between you and other runners, especially if you are following someone else. Please read our COVIDSafe plan if you haven’t done so. Thank you very much to our wonderful season sponsors which are all listed on our website.

Course Map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3222106114

This Sunday members are able to enjoy another great course, run mainly on non-sealed surfaces.

The 5km event starts at the Spreyton Cider Co and will take competitors through paddocks, apple orchards and even a cherry orchard.

This course, unlike last week’s, is quite flat but will provide some mud and puddles, especially if it rains before Sunday.

After a great run last week to go with a placing at his only other start this year, Shaun Batten will start a “short-priced” favourite. He is in great form as evidenced by the fact that he ran the third fastest time on the day. He ran a quicker time than some runners who had to concede him a start from their handicaps.

One of the frontmarkers, Darlene Jacques, has been doing much quality training and this resulted in a strong second last week. This flatter course won’t suit her as well, but she will still prove very hard to run down.

First year Club runners, Graham Higgins and Paul Pilkington will go close, while a win by either Terry Watson or Ros Hendriks would not shock.

New runners are very welcome. New registrations (min age 15) and all entries close at 9:00pm on Friday.

There will be nominated time events at 9:00 for those wanting a shorter event.

Runners aged 12-, 13- and 14-years old (and older runners) can do their nominated time race in the main handicapped event

Your Committee has decided that we will have a short presentation time following our races. You are invited to stay for this but please remember your distancing from others.
Our COVIDSafe Plan has been updated to reflect this.

Please ensure you are at the start line for your posted handicap time. Race start is at 9:30am.

A very warm welcome to Jackie Reid who is having her first run with the Club today. Welcome to any new nominated time members, also.

We will be running on Fern Glade Road for part of the run. Please keep on the edge and watch for traffic.

Here is a description of the course – it’s the same as we used last year (you may want to follow this while looking at the map).

Run from the start down to the bottom gate of the reserve, run into the reserve and take the lower path up beside the river. After running to the end, turn and then take the road towards the top gate but turn left through the big rocks half way up.

Continue back to the bottom gate, exit and run up the road keeping ON THE RIGHT until the turn. Cross and keeping ON THE RIGHT, return to the Pony Club and enter the top gate. Follow the fence down behind the cars until you are turned back up through the bush to the Pony Club arena. Run the perimeter clockwise, past the finish for 30 metres where you will turn 180 degrees and run to the finish.

It will be well marked with witch’s hats and fingers.

Please keep COVIDSafe distance between you and other runners, especially if you are following someone else. Please read our COVIDSafe plan if you haven’t done so. Thank you very much to our wonderful season sponsors which are all listed on our website.

Course map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3216108412

This Sunday the PCCCT will conduct its third race of the season with a 6km handicap at Fern Glade, Burnie.

Starting at the Pony Cub, the course will take runners through the reserve, followed by some road running and then a bush trail back to the finish.

Although it is the same distance as last week’s race at Ulverstone, it presents competitors with several hills and so is likely to lead to some different people fighting out the finish.

Aaron Robertson loves this type of course and, although he hasn’t been to the fore in the first two races, would not shock with a strong showing.

Kendall Buckley, a first year runner with the Club, was a strong third last week and will go close to taking this out. She can work up the field with her co-markers, Will van Rooyen and Graham Higgins who are both also good chances

Others to watch include Owen Thomas and John Badcock. Both will be very used to the uneven terrain so the course will hold no fears for them.

New runners are very welcome and can register for membership on the website. Entries can only be made on the website and close at 9:00pm on Friday.

There will be nominated time events at 9:00 for those wanting a shorter event.

Race 2 Handicaps

Please ensure you are at the start line for your posted handicap time. Race start is at 9:30am.

A very warm welcome to all those having their first run with the Club today: Graham Higgins, Kendall Buckley and Selina Crispin. There are also several new nominated time members. Welcome to you, too.

We will be using shared paths for some of the run. Please give due consideration to others and stay at least 1.5m away.

Here is a description of the course (you may want to follow this while looking at the map).

Leave start and run along Braddon St on path behind Tennis courts to the 1st train crossing then turn right onto the grass at the entrance to the Caravan park. After crossing train line turn left to run to Picnic Point along road.

You will find a witch’s hat on the left where you will turn and head along grass to the entrance to the beach. Run along the beach till you see another witch’s hat and marshal to turn you onto the entrance to Penguin Rd.

When you get back onto Penguin Rd you will turn left & head back along the road until you get to the grass section. You will then come back the way you went out passing the start line till you get to another witch’s hat and turning point before you go under the car bridge.

You turn there and head back along the path to the Finish/Start line

It may sound complicated, but it isn’t and will be well marked with painted arrows, witch’s hats and fingers.

Please keep COVIDSafe distance between you and other runners, especially if you are following someone else.

Please read our COVIDSafe plan if you haven’t done so. Thank you very much to our wonderful season sponsors which are all listed on our website.

Course map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3237315436

Following the successful, if belated, start to the 2020 season last week, this Sunday running moves to Ulverstone for race 2.

Commencing at Legion Park, West Ulverstone, the event is six kilometres. As well as using tracks along the Leven River, there are sections on asphalt and grass and even a short beach section, giving plenty of variety.

With last week’s run under the belt to shake off the cobwebs, a very competitive race should ensue.

After his excellent second last week, Jason Scott certainly looks hardest to beat. In his second season with the Club, Scott showed he has made good improvement from 2019 and with the same handicap will start favourite.

Pat McMahon missed much of last year due to injury but showed with his run into fifth last Sunday that he is back in great form. He won’t need to improve much to take this out,

Fifteen-year-old Will van Rooyen is in his first season of handicapped running after coming through the nominated time ranks. He showed last week he has immediately adjusted and will be a top chance.

Others with undeniable chances include Dale Lancaster, Nick Young, Anne Thomas and Catherine Bell.

Those who haven’t registered and taken the season entries option are reminded that they need to register and enter by 9pm on Friday. The race will start at 9:30 with nominated time events at 9:00.

Handicaps

Please ensure you are at the start line for your posted handicap time. Race start is at 9:30am.

A very warm welcome to all those having their first run with the Club today: Amy Lamprecht, Andreas Petersen, Paul Pilkiigton, Emily Rataj, Catherine Bell, Will van Rooyen, Adrian Mann, Kristie Wilson, Anne Thomas and Troy Donald.

We will be using the main cycle/walk track. It is certain that there will be members of the public also on the track. Please give due consideration to others and stay at least 1.5m away. The path is quite wide and, in most places, has wide grass verges.

The course: We will start just over William Street near Coles Beach Road. Follow the main sealed path all the way to the railway crossing at Don College. Cross over and stay on the sealed path heading towards the pool. The turn is about 40 metres from there. Turn and come back the same way. See the map.

Please be very careful crossing the road near the Coles Beach carpark. We will have a marshal there.

We don’t expect there to be trains crossing but if there is, don’t take any risks.

Please keep COVIDSafe distance between you and other runners, especially if you are following someone else.

Please read our COVIDSafe plan if you haven’t done so.

Thank you very much to our wonderful season sponsors which are all listed on our website.

Course map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3216066868

With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 season of the PCCCT finally gets underway this Sunday with a 5km handicap commencing at Devonport Bluff. The out-and-back course heads west towards the Don River but follows the walking/cycling track up to towards Don College.

It is hard trying to pick a winner as it is unknown how much training some runners have been doing and there have been no other races to give an indication of form.

However, the shorter distances usually suit frontmarkers so this gives runners such as Allan Bakes, Tim Dowling and Nicole Sharpe good chances.

Among the middle markers, Sven Mason will be looking to make an early strike while Nick Young will prove hard to beat also. Young was close to a win without breaking through the last two years.

Other competitors who would not surprise include Carolyn Brett, Michelle D’Monte and Paul Birch.

Among the backmarkers, the best chances could be Alex Reimer, Hayden Bishop and Andrew Winkel.

The race will begin at 9:30. Entries can only be made on-line on the Club website and close at 9:00pm Friday evening.

The minimum age to run in the handicapped races is fifteen, but shorter nominated time events open to all ages will be held at 9:00am. Twelve-, thirteen- and fourteen-year olds can do their nominated time run over 5km.

New runners are very welcome. The Club has had to make special arrangements to hold races. All potential runners are asked to read the further information, including COVIDSafe requirements, on the Club website at www.pccct.org.