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The 2022 season of the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania gets underway this Sunday with the Burnie Sports Power 5km handicap commencing at Wivenhoe Showground. The course takes competitors to Fernglade Reserve and return.

Picking a winner is very difficult as it is unclear how much training runners have been doing over the summer.

The shorter distance tends to suit front and middlemarkers and there are several who missed a win last year despite being close and who will be keen to get a victory under the belt early on.

One competitor that will be well suited is Steven Tammens while Ken Troughton and Rhian Miles can’t be discounted.

Danielle Newell should be getting back to her best form and that would be good enough to take this out. Among the backmarkers Mark Saint-John and Gerard Lowry will be strong contenders while Josh Febey is always a chance.

The race will begin at 9:30 with all entries to be made on-line on the Club’s website. They close at 6pm this Friday. Membership registrations for the new season will also need to be done at the same time.

The minimum age to run in the handicapped races is fifteen, but nominated time events over shorter distances and open to all ages, are also held. Those intending to compete in these need to register for membership on-line but can enter on Sunday by 9am.

New runners are always welcome.

The 2022 PCCCT – Running Club season commences this Sunday with a 5km handicap at Wivenhoe.

The Club will conduct 26 races across the North West Coast from Stanley to Port Sorell over a range of distances and courses to challenge competitors but also allow beginners to find their feet.

Most races are between 5 and 10 kilometres but there are also longer, tougher runs with the Greg and Dianne Woodhouse Marathon – the longest continuously conducted marathon in Australia – to be held on May 29 while the Wynyard-Burnie Feature Race, will be held as the last race on September 11.

Last year team relays were run in conjunction with both the marathon and half-marathon for the first time and were every popular so they have been retained and a new 4 by 5km relay has been added.

Most races are run on quiet country roads and or/paths but there are also some trail runs for those who prefer off road courses.

Races take place on Sunday mornings, with most starting at 9:30.

They are all handicapped which allows for runners of all abilities to be in with a chance of crossing the line first and taking home the prize money, trophy and sash.

The popular nominated time events return and these 2 to 4 kilometre events will be held thirty minutes before the main races. These provide a run for those under 15, the threshold age for the handicapped events, or any runners just preferring a shorter event.

Membership registrations and race entries must be done on-line at www.pccct.org where the full programme and further information can be found. New members are always welcome.

This Sunday sees the running of the Devonport/Burnie Toyota/Wild Ride Cycles Wynyard to Burnie Feature race.

This event, which is the richest and most prestigious of the season, is run over 17.6 kilometres, starting outside the post office and ends with a lap of West Park oval giving spectators a good view of the finish. The first runner away, Brett Riley, will commence his journey at 9:30 with the winner expected to finish at around 11:15

All members would like to add their name to the honour board listing previous winners, but only one will have that privilege. To win, a number of factors have to come together, but principal is a quality, injury-free preparation to enable a competitor to utilise the handicap provided.

The best of the frontmarkers looks to be Darlene Jacques who will be second runner away and prove very hard to catch while Kathy Franks also has a strong chance.

Best of the middlemarkers look to be Steven Tammens, John Saltmarsh, Nigel Baptist, Gerard Lowry and Rhian Miles. Miles especially will be very hard to beat after great recent results.

Any of several backmarkers would not surprise and be deserving winners. Mark Saint-John, Bryan Tuit, Lukas Pilkington, Shaun Batten and Tom Murton are all top chances but co-markers Ben Brockman and Josh Febey look to be the two most likely to take the victory and could run together the whole way before contesting a sprint finish on the oval.

Following the race there will be a luncheon at The Point for members and their families.

There will be no nominated time event this week.

Race Notes
• Meet at Goliath Park in Giblin Street
• Head down Giblin Street and turn right into Ennis Ave. Stay on RHS of road
• This turns left into Dowbiggin St
• Proceed south on Dowbiggin St and across the mainroad at the marshal
• Continue further on Dowbiggin St and turn right at the marshal onto the old Trainline which will take you through to Sunnyside Road
• Veer right on Sunnyside road and continue back to the main road.
• Stay on RHS of road until crossed over by a marshal.
• Proceed left around the corner of New Bed Road. Cross safely onto the RHS of NewBed Road.
• Take a big breath because here comes the hill!
• Proceed up ….and up…and up NewBed Road. At the top it will bring you along the top of the hill and turn right to bring you back down to a T junction.
• Turn right and stay on RHS of road to proceed back to Ennis Ave. Fingers and witches hats will guide you along the path to the finish in Goliath Park where we started.

Notes
Although Railton is usually quiet on Sunday mornings, keep to the right hand side of all roads and be aware of any traffic.
3 Marshals are required for this event. Anyone prepared to help in this regard, please see Gerard Lowry.
This race is a deferred penalty race; handicaps are done for the feature race.
*Special note, it is possible on this race to take home the chocolates without winning. 😊

The Club will be providing sandwiches but we ask members to support the luncheon.

Could those with family names beginning A to M please bring a plate of savoury to share and those with family names beginning N to Z please bring a plate of sweet to share. Thank you!

Emma Turner will be able to bring your dishes from Wynyard to the function if you want to drive straight through to the start.

Handicaps for the 2021 Feature Race: