Race Previews 2017

King of the Mountains 2016 Handicaps

This Sunday, members of the Professional Cross Country Club will head to Burnie for the race which is arguably the toughest of the season. It is also the second “blue ribbon” race for 2016. The High-on-Penguin Burnie to Ridgley “King of the Mountains” is a hard, challenging 16.5 kilometres which starts at Burnie Park and makes its way to Ridgley via Mooreville and West Mooreville Roads. But this sort of challenge is what most endurance runners relish and a big field is expected.

The winner is likely to be a runner who has been training in similar conditions and doing big kilometres and Sally Haynes fits the bill. Haynes ran second last week over a hilly 10 kilometre course and looks even better suited this week. She has been consistently the fastest woman this year so her fitness cannot be questioned. Women have quite a good recent record in this race, winning three of the last six runnings. Other women with great chances include the two Rebeccas – O’Garey and de Groot – along with Anna Murton.

Mark Saint John won the event two years ago and a second win would not surprise, while other strong chances include Gerard Lowry and Matthew Greenhill who was a strong third last week.

Evan Brett was well fancied last week but didn’t end up competing. He is another with a strong chance if he is able to run on Sunday.

Club champion Thomas Murton has been starting from the extreme backmark and passing nearly every runner, week after week. This Sunday it would not surprise if he were to pass everyone and take out the prestigious event.

Entries for the race, which will commence at 9:30, have already closed but there will be nominated time events a little earlier this week at 9:00 sharp.

The Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania heads to Stowport this Sunday for the MA and LJ Bates Plumbing 10 kilometre handicap.

The course, a circuit on over country roads, is undulating but very scenic. It will suit the tougher middle and backmarkers and among these none have a stronger chance than Evan Brett. Brett has had a several placings in recent weeks with his fourth in the Devonport 10 kilometre race two weeks ago a strong pointer for Sunday.

Running from the same mark, wily veteran Gerard Lowry will provide stiff opposition.  Lowry won the Wynyard to Burnie Feature Race a few years ago and has been looking close to breaking through again.

Thomas Wilson and Wayne Wiseman are sure to look winners at some stage. Wilson is a young runner continually improving, while Wiseman finished a strong third at Devonport so the distance will hold no fears.

If there is to be surprise winner it could come from the strong middle group of Matthew Greenhill, Sally Haynes and Rebecca O’Garey. These three co-markers can work together on the hills and be ready to challenge prior to the last tough run up the Glance Creek Road hill.

Members are reminded that they need to enter Sunday for the following week’s King of the Mountains.

Entries for Sunday’s race close at 9:30 with the starter’s gun to be fired at 10:00. There will be nominated time events at 9:05.

The Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania heads to Penguin this Sunday for its ninth run of the season.

Meeting at the motocross track at Dial Road, this is a new course. It is the first of a new series of four trail runs the Club will conduct this year, enabling members to get off sealed surfaces.

The Renaessance 5 kilometre handicap will be keenly contested and finding a winner is difficult. With three longer tougher races to come, many runners will be looking to get a win under the belt.

Kate Hawley might prove the hardest to beat. She has been close up several times lately and being a young runner is improving each week. The main dangers to her might be a couple of veterans in Wayne Wiseman and Patrick McMahon who will offset her youth with their experience. Patrick was noticed sneaking into the “ten” last week and looks to be getting back to his form of last year which saw him a threat in each race he started.

Others to keep an eye on include Matthew Greenhill, Evan Brett and, from a back mark, Thomas Wilson.

Fastest time for the women should be taken out Bec O’Garey while Thomas Murton looks to have a mortgage on the fastest time for the men.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race to start at 10:00. New runners are always welcome. There will be short nominated time events at 9:05.