Race Reports 2022

The Paine Family Memorial ten-kilometre handicap at Burnie is conducted over a tough, hilly circuit and on Sunday was run in perfect winter running conditions it being sunny and cool with no wind.

A large number of Paine family members, travelled from the south of the state to join the north-west contingent and they were treated to a great race.

Last year there was a one-second margin between first and second and while it wasn’t as close this year, the winner was unclear until the last kilometre.

At that stage, Devonport runner Rhian Miles, finally overtook the gallant frontmarker Ken Williams and was able to hold on to complete the victory from Sabrina Shields, the fast-finishing backmarker, Josh Febey, Gerard Lowry and David Murton.

This is Miles’ second season with the Club and she was thrilled to finally get her first victory after many placings this year. Miles began running about eighteen months ago when encouraged by her sister, Daile Bennett-Moyle, and she now loves it. Interestingly, Bennett-Moyle won this event last year so Miles was excited to emulate that victory.

This year Miles has completed one main running goal – finishing a half-marathon – and now is hoping to do a full marathon later this year.

Miles was fastest female (42:08) with Febey fastest male (39:31).

Sunday also saw the running of the nominated time “Feature Race”. The winner was Libby Crispin from Ellen Burgess, Emma Turner, Chad Burr and Emily Aichberger.

Well done to all competitors today in the Paine Family Memorial 10km at Burnie.

Congratulations to Rhian Miles who won from Sabrina Shields, Josh Febey, Gerard Lowry and David Murton.

Fastest male and female were Josh Febey (39:31) and Rhian Miles (42:08).

The Nominated Time Feature Race was won by Libby Crispin from Ellen Burgess, Emma Turner, Chad Burr and Emily Aichberger.

Sunday’s race, the Aviva Parfumerie five-kilometre handicap was run on a flat out-and-back course starting at West Ulverstone’s Tobruk Park and led to some fast times being recorded. Most runners relished the change from the long, hilly races of the last few weeks and a good-sized field competed.

The event, which incorporated the Club’s five-kilometre championships, was conducted as a sealed handicap. This meant all runners commenced together and the handicaps were applied after the race.

The SC Concrete Pumping Women’s championship saw a victory to young-gun Darcy Miller who recorded the very slick time of 18:28. She had a comfortable margin to spare from a gallant Rhian Miles with another strong young runner in Sabrina Shields finishing third.

In the Cahill Family Men’s event, Hayden Bishop, added the five-kilometre championship to the ten-kilometre one that he won at Devonport earlier in the year, recording a very good 16:38. Bryan Tuit and Josh Febey took out the placings.

The sealed handicap was taken out by cyclist-turned-runner, Jordan Matthews who broke through for a well-deserved win after several placings. In his first season with the Club, Matthews has really taken to running and has exhibited great improvement. He still mixes running and cycling in training, finding the combination keeps him fresher and is less hard on his body. He also enjoys the fact that he can get a solid running workout done in about a third the time it would take cycling.

Steve Tammens and Rhian Miles filled the placings just in front of David Murton and Nick Young

Earlier the nominated time winners were Paige Aitken and Libby Crispin.

Well done to all runners in today’s events at West Ulverstone – the Aviva Parfumerie 5km handicap, the SC Concrete Pumping Women’s 5km Championship and the Cahill Family Men’s 5km Championship.

Congratulations to Jordan Matthews who took out the handicap event from Steve Tammens and Rhian Miles.

Congratulations too, to Darcy Miller who won the women’s championship from Rhian Miles and Sabrina Shields and to Hayden Bishop who won the men’s championship from Bryan Tuit and Josh Febey.

The nominated time winners were Paige Aitken and Libby Crispin.

The PCCCT headed to Somerset for race 14 of the season – the Raymond Spinks/Coastal Running Club 12km handicap. Due to the toughness of the course and the unpleasant weather, numbers were down on recent weeks but a very competitive field gathered to hear the starter’s orders. The hilly, circuit course is a challenging one, commencing with a steady four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway.

Turners Beach runner, Felicity Lovatt, ran a terrific race to break through for her first victory with the Club after showing recently that a win was imminent. She displayed promise last year in her debutant season with the PCCCT, but has had to overcome a couple of nagging injuries to return to her best form.

Although she has always enjoyed running, Lovatt was nervous about running competitively until last year when she and her brother Sam decided to join the Club. Now she speaks highly of the friendship and support she has received from members.

Trail running is her great love and next week Lovatt is travelling to the East Coast to compete over 29 km at Freycinet.

She had a narrow victory over Jordan Matthews who, after starting just 15 seconds behind Lovatt, chased her all the way to finish just ten seconds in arrears.

Perennial placegetter, Jason Scott, chalked up another third while Andrew Lucas, Gerard Lowry and Adrian Mann were next to finish.

Andrew Winkel was the fastest male (46.12) while Lovatt was quickest of the women (55:56).

The nominated time winner was Malcolm Nutting.

Well done to the 29 starters in the Ray Spinks/Coastal Running Club 12km Handicap today at Somerset.

Congratulations to Felicity Lovatt who won from Jordan Matthews, Jason Scott, Andrew Lucas and Gerard Lowry.

Fastest male was Andrew Winkel in 46:12 and fastest female was Felicity Lovatt in 55:56.

Nominated time winner was Malcolm Nutting.

Race thirteen of the PCCCT season, the Dowling McCarthy Tyres/Hanson Family “Steve Hanson Memorial”, was conducted over an eight-kilometre circuit course in Stanley.

The race, also known as “The Ace of the Green Hills”, was conducted in very tough weather conditions with runners subjected to strong winds, hail, rain as well as brief periods of sunshine.

Nevertheless, thirty members competed as the scenic course certainly compensated for the weather.

Devonport runner, Pat McMahon, was thrilled to take out his second win in ten years of competing with the Club. Interestingly, his first win, in 2016, was also this race. The Stanley event means much to McMahon as this was where he lived during his childhood.

McMahon was a top track runner in the past, with four wins at the prestigious Stawell carnival and is a member of its Hall of Fame. Now he his happy to just keep fit and active.

He had a narrow win from the very much in-form Steve Tammens who once again indicated a win is very close, Jordan Matthews, Jason Scott and Josh Febey. Race favourite, Gerard Lowry finished seventh while eight runners finished within fifty seconds of the winner meaning it was an exciting race.

The fastest man was Josh Febey (29:45) while Sabrina Shields (35:53) was fastest female.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Hannah Elphinstone, Susan Morris and Mitchell Elphinstone.

Well done to the 31 starters who braved the elements and made their way over to Stanley for the Dowling McCarthy Tyres/Hanson Family “Steve Hanson Memorial” Ace of the Green Hills 8km Handicap.

Congratulations to Patrick McMahon, who won from Steve Tammens, Jordan Matthews, Jason Scott, and Joshua Febey.

Fastest Male was Joshua Febey in 29:45, and Fastest Female was Sabrina Shields in 35:53.

Nominated Time winners were Hannah Elphinstone, Susan Morris, and Mitchell Elphinstone.

The longest race of the PCCCT season is a full marathon, the Greg and Dianne Woodhouse 42.195-kilometre handicap. The course takes competitors from River Park at Ulverstone to the end of the Esplanade at Turners Beach and return, twice.

The event was first held in 1973 and has been run without a break since then making it the longest continuous marathon in Australia.

Perfect running weather on Sunday greeted competitors in the 2022 version. It was third time lucky for Devonport runner Lib Smith, who had finished third in 2019 and second last year. Starting off the Go-mark, Smith defied all chasers and hung on for a well-deserved win.

Smith, 61 years old, only took up running five years ago following a health scare and, although she has completed 6 marathons, specialises in ultra-running events. Her longest was a 72-hour race last year when she covered an impressive 231km.

Next up will be a 12-hour run around Melbourne’s The Tan in August to be followed by a 48-hour run in Adelaide.

Smith beat Launceston runner Pete Wierenga, Ben Brockman, who recorded fastest time (3:06:07), Troy Reader and Jordan Matthews.

The Terry Watson Memorial Teams 4 x 10.55km Marathon run in conjunction with the marathon was take out by Snails (Pat McMahon, Paul Birch, John Badcock and Matthew Lardner) from Meercroft B, Meercroft A, Bluff Buddies and The Pacemakers.

Well done to all the participants in today’s Terry Watson Memorial Teams Marathon and the Greg and Di Woodhouse Marathon.

Congratulations to Lib Smith who won the marathon from Pete Wierenga, Ben Brockman, Troy Reader and Jordan Matthews.

Fastest male was Ben Brockman (3:05:31) while Lib Smith ran 4:22:40.

The teams event was won by Snails from Meercroft B, Meercroft A, Bluff Buddies and The Pacemakers.