Race Previews 2019

The final race of the 2019 season is the Sea Lyons Swim School six kilometre handicap at Burnie.

The out-and-back course starts at the rear of West Park and travels east to the yacht club.

Racing will be keen as members without a win this year will want to take advantage of a season of solid training.

There are several runners who have been close to winning in recent weeks without breaking through and any of them could take out this final race.

Among the frontmarkers Dale Lancaster looks like a solid chance although she would prefer a longer distance while David Wright also has strong hopes after a return to form last week.

Strongest of the middlemarkers look to be Nick Young, Andrew Hay, Jason Scott and Josh Febey.

If backmarkers are favoured by conditions, then any of Thomas Murton, Keegan Powell, Natasha Mapley or Mark Saint-John could break the tape.

However, following his storming finish into fourth last week, Jono Price could be the hardest to beat. Although showing some form during the year, this was his best result and could indicate he his peaking just in time for a victory.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race beginning at 10:00. There will be a nominated time event at 9:15.

Following the event, season celebrations will occur at The Point, West Park. There will be a morning tea (members to bring a plate, please) and trophies will be presented to the season’s consistency winners and club champions.

The penultimate race of the 2019 season is a tough one – the Somerset Pharmacy ten kilometre handicap at Somerset.

The out-and-back course starts by the Cam River and follows the Murchison Highway to Back Cam Road and then continues on that hilly route until the half way mark.

However, with a season of running behind them, competitors should find a long, hilly race no problem and many will be looking for the win with only two chances left this year.

Andrew Hay looks to have a second-to-none chance. He has had a very consistent year, normally never far from the winner and recording many top ten finishes, including fifths last week and three weeks ago. He has been able to train much more consistently this year and it has paid off.

Jason Scott has shown gradual improvement in the latter half of the season leading to a strong third last week. He could easily take this out.

If Natasha Mapley produces a great effort like she did in the Feature Race, she will go close to winning. She followed that up with a good run into the ten last week. However the best pointer to her chances is her third in the half marathon a few weeks ago.

Other runners to keep an eye on are Simon Gates, Josh Febey, Lorraine Shepheard and Thomas Murton.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race beginning at 10:00.

There will be a nominated time event at 9:15.

As the excitement of the Gowans Toyota Wynyard to Burnie Feature race dies down, runners are preparing for Race 25 – the McLean, McKenzie and Topfer Big Six 6km handicap at Burnie.

The course is a circuit starting and finishing at the Howe Street Netball Centre and uses West Park Grove, the Bass Highway and Brickport Road. It requires runners to be proficient at steep gradients, both downhill and uphill.

With only three races left in the season, runners without a win this year will be looking to make all the training payoff by taking out a victory in one of those races.

Russell Horton has been continually improving as the season has progressed and as he will miss the last two races will be keen to win in his last opportunity this year. Prior to last week, he was in the top six four races in succession and will be hardest to beat here.

Danielle Newall was a great sixth last week and could be the best of the female runners, although Natasha Mapley is certainly coming good as the season closes and a win would not surprise. She was a strong eighth last week and the toughness of this event will suit her.

Other competitors whose recent form gives them chances include Joshua Febey, Nick Young, Jason Scott and Andrew Hay.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race beginning at 10:00.

This Sunday’s race is being run for the first time. It’s the Pat McMahon eight kilometre handicap starting at East Devonport Beach. The course will be out-and-back heading easterly on the Heritage Walking Track. There is some sealed pathway along with a sandy track to provide variety.

As it will provide members with their last chance for a solid hit-out before the following week’s Feature Race, it promises to be a very keen affair. The winner will not have a handicap readjustment until after that event, so a victory here will not affect his/her chances in the big one.

Based on recent efforts the runner likely to start favourite is Terry Watson. He was in excellent form early on the season before missing many weeks with shin splints but since returning has been quick to display his best form. He was fourth last week at Gunns Plains following on from a fifth in the half marathon and then a second at Railton. Starting from a middle mark, he is certainly the one to beat.

Off a handicap just behind Watson, Josh Febey has looked close to breaking through all year and could do so here. He will certainly have Watson in his sights all the way and could overtake him towards the finish.

Others who look top hopes include Natasha Mapley, Mark Saint-John and Andrew Hay while backmarker, Thomas Murton, can not be discounted.

Nominated time events will be conducted at 9:15.

Gunns Plains is the venue of the Kevin Burn Memorial/Brown Family 13.5km handicap to be raced over a circuit course taking in both sides of the Leven River starting at Wings’ Wildlife Park.

With the Feature Race just two weeks away, members will be looking for a good strong hit out over this longer distance.

Club races run the last three weeks have all been won by women members and one of the best chances this week is also a woman who has shown the distance will suit her perfectly.

Although she was only eleventh in last week’s six kilometre event, Kelly Baxter was an excellent second in the recent half marathon showing she is extremely fit and ready to win. She will certainly look a likely victor at some stage of the run.

Terry Watson has impressed in recent races and could be the main danger following his second two weeks ago at Railton.

Others who look strong chances include Russell Horton, Andrew Hay, and the winner of this event last year, Amie Bramich. Although rehandicapped, Bramich has continued to improve and has looked a likely winner for some time.

Entries will close at 9:30, with the race starting at 10:00.

Entries for the Feature Race also close this Sunday and can be made at the race or on the PCCCT website.

A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:15.

This Sunday’s race is the Molly Malone’s six kilometre handicap commencing at Roundhouse Park, Devonport. The course takes runners to the Bluff lighthouse and return via Victoria Parade and the Devonport Bluff.

With the Feature Race looming – just three weeks away – members will be looking for a sharp hit out, especially after the longer races of the last two weeks.

One of the most improved runners in the Club, Mary-Lou Troughton, could be the hardest to beat. She was a great third last week, her best result of the year. This distance and course will suit her admirably.

One of the backmarkers, Mark Saint-John also had a season best last week when he was a fast-closing fourth. He ran his fastest time ever for that event underlining his current fitness.

Terry Watson, Andrew Hay and Jason Scott have all been prominent in recent events and are strong possibilities while Dale Lancaster Is sure to win a race before the end of the season and it could well be here.

Others who wouldn’t surprise include Tony Stewart, Russell Horton and Amie Bramich.

The race will start at the normal time of 10:00 with entries closing at 9:30.

Nominated time events will be conducted at 9:15 and, in line with our new policy, 12, 13 and 14 year olds may have their nominated time run as part of the main event.

Railton is the venue for race 20 of the season as members compete in the Anvers Confectionery ten kilometre handicap.

The course is a circuit, starting at Goliath Park and is affectionately described as flat with one hill. However, that one hill, is a long and high one and presents a good challenge.

A runner who will love the course is Devonport athlete, Michelle D’Monte. The distance is perfect for her and she handles hills beautifully. She also is on sparkling form. She was runner-up three weeks ago over a similar course, and followed this with a very unlucky second at Spreyton. Last week she finished seventh in the half-marathon but this shorter race will suit her much better.

Kelly Baxter ran a great race for second in the half-marathon to go with other excellent recent efforts. She looks to be getting back to the form that she showed last year when she went close to winning without getting that well-deserved victory.

Terry Watson could be the best of the men. After missing much of the season due to injury he is now getting back to his best and will be looking to win soon. It could well be on Sunday.

Other good chances look to be Anna Murton, Amie Bramich, Andrew Hay and Ken Troughton (a previous winner of this event).

Entries will close at 9:30, with the race starting at 10:00.

A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:15.

Half Marathon Hcps 2019 (The runner not visible between pages is Jono Price 1:03:00)

A good field of fifty two will start this Sunday in the AJL Lifestyle/AJLYamaha half marathon.

The 21.1 kilometre race will be run in the reverse direction from recent years, starting at the Turners Beach football ground and taking competitors to West Ulverstone and back using the cycle/walk tracks in the area.

The terrain is mostly flat but the classic distance is a good test of stamina as that flatness usually means faster running rates so care is needed not to go too hard, too early.

There are many Club members who have been in great form and picking a winner is difficult.

Among the frontmarkers, Dale Lancaster could be the best chance. She will be the first runner away and could very well be the first runner to finish as well. Others starting early with great chances include Chris Talbot and Kelly Baxter with Mary-Lou Troughton an outside possibility.

Best of the middlemarkers look to be Michelle D’Monte and Andrew Hay. D’Monte looks a particularly strong chance with seconds in the last two races.

Backmarkers likely to be to the fore include Simon Gates, Hayden Bishop and Brad Taylor while the very backmarker, Brian Lyons, who will give seventy-one minutes start to Lancaster, would be a deserving winner.

Entries have closed for the event, which starts at the earlier time of 9:30.

The nominated time event will be the normal time of 9:15.

One of the most popular events of the season takes place this week with the running of the Spreyton Cider Company handicap, this year extended to six kilometres. The race starts at the cidery and takes competitors on an out and back course through apple and cherry orchards.

Following the recent rain, there are sure to be plenty of puddles and slippery sections to test the footing of runners. However, most Club members love the chance to get off sealed surfaces and will enjoy the mud.

Two weeks ago in the five kilometre race at Burnie, Anna Murton was a close second (behind her father, David). She could well make amends on Sunday and chalk up another victory for the family.

Murton has had several other good results without breaking through, and will prove very hard to beat.

Michelle D’Monte showed a welcome return to form in a tough race last week with a close second and will be seeking to go one better.

Others to keep an eye on include Russell Horton, who has performed well in this event in previous years, Chris Talbot and Tony Stewart.

Members are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the half marathon conducted on August 4^th, and can be made at the Cidery race or on-line before Monday.

New runners are always welcome.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race starting at 10:00.

A nominated time event will be held at 9:15