Race Reports 2021

The PCCCT Devonport and Burnie Toyota/ Wild Ride Cycles 17.6 kilometre Wynyard to Burnie Feature Race was run in excellent conditions on Sunday and a good sized field gathered to hear the starter’s orders.

The prestigious and much sought-after race looked very open on paper with many chances and this was how it turned out with less than three minutes separating the top twelve finishers.

Greatly inform runner, Burnie’s Greg Malley created a little bit of Club history by taking the win – his third for the season.

Following seconds in the first two races of the season, Malley won the third, a seven-kilometre event at Port Sorell and then showed his versatility by taking out the Club marathon at the end of May.

But Sunday’s race put the icing on the cake when after taking the lead from Kathy Franks entering West Park oval, he hung on to beat the fast-finishing Mark Saint-John by just twelve seconds.

Franks finished third in front of Ellen Burgess and Gerard Lowry.

Club male champion, Thomas Murton recorded the fastest time (56:30) in finishing seventh while female champion, Lyn Saint-john was fastest woman (71:59).

Other awards were first female, Kathy Franks, first novice, Rhian Miles, first over 50, Mark Saint-John and youngest finisher, Lukas Pilkington.

At the post-race luncheon, a special presentation was made to Club stalwart, Barry Ling, who retired from the committee at the end of 2020 after serving for thirty-eight years with thirty-four of those being as president.

Congratulations to the 49 members who ran today in the Devonport and Burnie Toyota/Wild Ride Cycles Wynyard to Burnie Feature Race.Special congratulations to Greg Malley who won from Mark Saint-John and Kathy Franks.Fastest times were Tom Murton (56:30) and Lyn Saint-John (71:59).Other trophies from the race were:First female: Kathy FranksFirst Novice: Rhian MilesFirst over 50 years of age: Mark Saint-John Youngest Finisher: Lukas PilkingtonSeason trophy winners will be posted during the week.

Recent weeks have seen the Club plagued by bad weather. By contrast, at Sunday’s race at Railton a beautiful clear day greeted competitors as they arrived in Pioneer Park so that a good-sized field assembled for the start.

The course takes runners on back streets and through a bush track before heading up the tough Newbed Road hill and continuing to complete a circuit.

This was the final race before the big one next week – the Wynyard to Burnie Feature race – and was penalty free until after that event. Consequently, it was expected to be a very close contest and it was outside the winner.

Young Turners Beach runner, Sabrina Shields, showed the more seasoned competitors a clean pair of heels and recorded a comfortable victory by forty seconds.

This is Shields’ first serious season with the Club following on from a handful of races last year and the increased competition has certainly paid off. She is having a big year, as she also plays football with the Ulverstone women’s team which recently won the north-west premiership.

The consistent Josh Febey ran into second place and with it favouritism for next week’s event although he did not have much to spare over the next runners to finish, Ben Brockman, Kathy Franks and Gerard Lowry.

Others to stand out included Mark Saint John, Rhian Miles and the backmarker, Club champion, Tom Murton.

Murton was fastest man (31:49) with Daile Bennett-Moyle (43:31) fastest woman.

The nominated time winners were Lucy van Rooyen, Libby Crispin and Malcolm Nutting.

Congratulations to the 50 members who ran today in the House of Anvers 10km handicap at Railton.

Special congratulations to Sabrina Shields who won from Josh Febey and Ben Brockman.

Fastest times were Tom Murton (31:49) and Daile Bennett-Moyle (43;31).
Nominated time winners were Lucy van Rooyen, Libby Crispin and Malcolm Nutting.

The third last race of the season used a scenic out-and-back course at Turners Beach. Mostly flat, the seven-kilometres were relished by the runners and some good times were recorded. Unfortunately, although not windy, it was run with intermittent showers and this kept numbers low.

The weather was not a deterrent, however, for determined Ulverstone runner, Nigel Baptist, who took the victory after being close in recent weeks.

Baptist, who also enjoys mountain-biking, looked likely to win a race early in the year but a biking accident left him with a cracked sternum and unable to run for a couple of months. Since getting back on track he has regained fitness and continued where he left off prior to the accident.

This was his first win in three seasons with the Club and he is now setting his sights on competing with a team, including his wife, in the Bruny Island Ultra-marathon (64km) in December.

In second place, just five seconds adrift, was Steven Tammens recording his best result to date with Aaron Robertson and Josh Febey next to finish.

Mark Saint-John and Gerard Lowry also ran great races while frontmarker, Michael Taylor, surprised with a good return to form.

Lyn Saint-John was the first female to finish and also had fastest time for the women recording 29:12. Fastest man was Tom Murton in 23:41

Earlier, nominated time winners were Montana Robertson, Brian Paine, Lachie Riley and Libby Crispin.

Next week sees the last race to be run before the Feature Race. The winner of that race will not be rehandicapped until after the Feature Race.

Congratulations to the 40 finishers in the Race 24 Turners Beach, Rod and Judith Priestley 7km Handicap today!

Special Congratulations to Nigel Baptist, who won from Steven Tammens and Aaron Robertson.

Thomas Murton was the fastest male (23:41) and Lyn Saint-John was the fastest female (29:12).

Nominated time winners were Montana Robertson, Brian Paine, Lachie Riley and Libby Crispin.

The McLean, McKenzie and Topfer Big Six six kilometre handicap at Burnie was run in fine conditions and a good field gathered to run the tough circuit course.

Veteran Ray Spinks was first away and still had a good lead up the the short but steep climb of Brickport Road.

However, from this point on a succession of runners made their presence felt with several looking winning hopes at different stages.

Eventually, Devonport athlete, Shaun Batten, overtook pre-race favourite, Nigel Baptist, and Gerard Lowry on the downhill run to the finish and broke the tape for a well-deserved win.

Batten had been threatening to get a victory from the start of the season but has usually found one or two others better on the day. However, this time he would not be denied and broke through for his first win. To add to his success, he also ran the fastest time of 23:09.

In his third season with the Club, Batten took up running to keep fit when he finished playing football and basketball but also values the social and family aspects of the PCCCT.

Kathy Franks continued her great form to finish fifth while Jason Scott, Josh Febey and Rhian Miles all ran great races to place in “the ten”.

Lyn Saint-John fastest female (25:11).

The nominated time winners were William Robertson, Libby Crispin and Brian Paine.

Entries are now being taken for the 2021 Wynyard to Burnie Feature Race. All information is on the website: www.pccct.org.

Congratulations to the 43 runners that competed in The McLean, McKenzie and Topfer “Big Six” 6km Handicap today!

Special congratulations to Shaun Batten who took out the win, from Nigel Baptist, Gerard Lowry, Kathy Franks and Jason Scott.

Shaun Batten was also the fastest male (23:09), and Lyn Saint-John was the fastest female (25:11).

Nominated time winners were William Robertson, Libby Crispin, and Brian Paine.

A reminder that entries for the Feature Race are now open, and close Sunday August 29 at midnight.

The AJL Yamaha and Lifestyle half-marathon and the Salty and Stevo teams’ half-marathon were run in horrendous weather on Sunday morning,

With powerful head-on winds driving freezing rain, the first half of the course from Turners Beach to West Ulverstone was covered in the worst conditions in recent memory.

However, the return trip meant a strong tail wind and this was greatly appreciated. The course is very flat so at least there were no hills to add to the difficulty of the event.

Despite the weather, both events had good fields and were very competitive.

The individual half-marathon was won by the pre-post favourite, Ulverstone athlete John Saltmarsh. Starting on one of the middle marks, Saltmarsh again showed his love for longer events and after taking the lead at the 17km mark raced away for a comfortable win.

Saltmarsh commenced with the Club in 2010 and this was his third win. His last coming in 2014. He is very fit as he is training with the Melbourne marathon in mind.

Strong runs from backmarkers Ben Brockman and Shaun Batten saw them fill the placings while recent winner, Kathy Franks, continued her great form finishing fourth just in front of Daniel Yaxley.

Hayden Bishop was fastest man (1:20:48) with Susan Moodie fastest woman (1:45:56).

In the teams’ event, Plus 1 (Benny Parsons and Sebrina Shields) took the victory from Having Fun (Tony Yaxley and Rhian Miles) with Lardner/Hendriks (Mathew Lardner and Ros Hendriks) in third.

The nominated time winners were Maya Bramich, Libby and Freya Crispin and Brian Paine.

Congratulations to the 28 individuals and 20 teams of two who braved the severe weather conditions to compete in the The AJL Lifestyle/AJL Yamaha Half Marathon 21.1km and the Salty and Stevo Teams’ Half Marathon.

John Saltmarsh won the The AJL Lifestyle/AJL Yamaha Half Marathon 21.1km, from Ben Brockman, Shaun Batten, Kathy Franks, and Daniel Yaxley.

Fastest Male was Hayden Bishop (1:20:48), and Fastest Female was Susan Moodie (1:43:44).

Plus 1 (Benny Parsons and Sabrina Shields) took out the Salty and Stevo Teams’ Half Marathon Handicap, from Having Fun (Tony Yaxley and Rhian Miles), Hendriks/Lardner (Roselyn Hendriks and Matthew Lardner), The Crispins (Howard and Selina Crispin), and Bec & Bronty (Rebecca de Groot and Bronty Halley).

Nominated time winners were Maya Bramich, Libby and Freya Crispin, and Brian Paine.