News

This week there are two events being conducted concurrently over the same course – the AJL Heavy Equipment Half Marathon and the Stevo and Salty’s Half Marathon Teams’ Race.

The half marathon races will start at 9.30am. Competitors need to wear a race bib, which will be provided, to identify which race they are in and what team. It is a flat, out-and-back course. As sections of the race is on public roads runners are asked run with caution and obey any directions from race officials. Runners need to supply their own drinks in clearly marked bottles. There will be a tub for drinks at the start which will be taken to the race turn.

The races start at the Turners Beach Football Club, Henry Street, Turners Beach. The course starts with a clockwise lap of the oval heads out of the ground on Henry Street and runners then turn left onto Susan Street and left again onto Boyes Street. There will be a race official at the junction of Boyes Street and The Esplanade to turn the runners left and onto the right-hand side of The Esplanade. Runners continue on the right-hand side of the road to the coastal pathway through to Beach Road. The runners join the Fairway Park pathway near to Ulverstone Surf Club, continue along the pathway past Otto’s Grotto and take the top footpath at the wharf and onto the Ulverstone Bridge. The race heads right off the bridge footpath onto the coastal walkway next to the Leven River to Maud Street. At Maud Street runners turn right into Braddon Street and continue on the right-hand side to the turn just before the Ulverstone Tennis Courts where there will be a drink station. The teams’ second runner commences their run at the turn. Runners return on the same course to the finish at the Turners Beach Football Ground.

Post-race presentations will take place in the Turners Beach Club clubrooms. There will be free soup, tea and coffee available for runners, volunteers and supporters. There are toilet and shower facilities available.

This Sunday sees the running of the AJL Lifestyle/AJLYamaha half marathon.

The 21.1 kilometre event will commence at the Turners Beach football ground and take 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.

One runner who improves greatly over these longer distances and has been showing a win is imminent is John Saltmarsh. He was fourth in the Ironman over 25km in early July and the three runners who finished in front of him in that race are not running this week.

Kelly Baxter was a great sixth in that event and will be hard to beat on Sunday while others who will be well suited include Ben Brockman, Josh Febey and previous winner, Chris Talbot.

Following the success of the teams’ race at the marathon, the Club has decided to hold another as part of this event and there are 22 teams of two which have entered the Salty and Stevo teams’ half-marathon. Each team member will run 10.55km.

Entries have closed for these events, both of which start at 9:30.

There will be a nominated time event at 9:00.

This week’s race is a mix of off road, mountain bike trail, gravel road and asphalt. The course includes a significant hill early on to challenge competitors’ legs in the short 5.3 km distance.

Runners meet at Dial Regional Sports Complex carpark. Start on main driveway footpath, head south along the driveway and turn right onto footpath that follows Sports Complex Road. Cross the driveway of Athletics Track onto the grassy area. Follow fence line to the dog exercise park and cross Sports Complex Road at the marshalled crossing. Follow Sports Complex Rd on left hand side to where runners enter the mountain bike track immediately prior to the intersection.

The course then follows the track for approximately 1.5 km. While on the track, cross over the Mountain Bike Club carpark driveway. Continue along the bike track following markings to the Montgomery Road carpark. Turn right and follow Montgomery Road on the right-hand side until it ends at Ironcliffe Road. Turn right onto Ironcliffe Road and staying on the right-hand side follow this road back Sports Complex Road. Turn right onto Sports Complex Road and cross back over to the left-hand side at the marshal point. Backtrack along the grass area, through the Athletics Track carpark to the Dial Sports Complex driveway. Cross the driveway following the path. Where the path ends adjacent to the Golf Clubhouse continue on the road on the left-hand side down to the intersection with Dial Road. Turn left onto Dial Road and follow this road on the left-hand side back to Recreation Drive. Turn left into and stay on the left of Recreation Drive. Follow this road and finish in front of the Dial Park Community Pavilion.

Safety warnings:
This course takes in 1.5 km of technical uphill track. Runners should make their own decisions as to whether this race is suitable for their ability in the those conditions.
Beware of mountain bikers. Do not turn around and go against the flow on the MTB Track. On narrow sections of the track be courteous and allow faster runners to pass by stepping to the left of the track.
Trail running shoes strongly recommended; at a minimum take shoes to get muddy in as the course will be wet and muddy in sections.
Recommend runners do not use sunglasses as there are exposed roots and rocks on the track.
This course crosses three carparks (Dial Park, Athletics Track, Montgomery Road carparks) and the mountain bike club driveway. Runners should take due care at all times.

The COVID-19 situation is escalating and changing quickly. Please visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au for the latest updates and restrictions, especially if you have travelled recently or been in the Launceston area. Do not attend the race if you have any cold or flu symptoms.

The PCCCT will use a new course this Sunday for Race 21 – the Jacques Parcel Contracting 5.3km handicap.

The race will start and finish at the Dial Park sporting complex at Penguin. While the first and final parts of the race will be on sealed roads, there will be a tricky section of trail in the middle part, using mountain bike trails on the Dial Range. This section will provide muddy, difficult footing as well as being quite undulating making it both interesting and challenging.

With the season rapidly coming to a climax, many runners who have been close without winning in recent weeks will be keen to take out the victory.

One who will be perfectly suited by the course is Paul Pilkington.

Pilkington is a relative newcomer to the Club, has been impressive all year and in recent weeks has been looking a likely winner at various stages of races. He may break through on Sunday.

Josh Febey has been finishing strongly from a backmark each week and finished second just two weeks ago. The tough sections of this course will aid backmarkers in catching slower runners and he might finally be able to take the win.

Rhian Miles in her first year with the Club is performing very well and will be a chance while, others to consider are Nigel Baptist, Shaun Batten and the youngster, Emily Aichberger.

Entries close at 6pm Friday with the race starting at 9:30am.

There will be a nominated time event at 9pm. Runners are reminded that entries for the half-marathon and teams half-marathon close at 11:59pm on Sunday.

We invite you to wear a black armband at the race in honour of our friend, member and sponsor, Terry Watson, who died this morning.

The race commences at Wings Wildlife Park, Winduss Road, Gunns Plains.

The Park would prefer we park up near the private cabins. Reach these by driving up between the café and the toilets. Please do not park in the café carpark nor over any gates.

Most of the race is run on public roads. You are responsible for keeping yourself safe. Watch for traffic on the road and also entering onto the road.

The Course: Exit the park using the the left-hand side of the road and run to the junction of Winduss Road with South Riana Road. Turn left, cross carefully to the right side of the road and continue over the bridge to Gunns Plains Road.

Turn right and continue approximately 3.5km until turning right into Marshalls Bridge Road.

Continue over the bridge, and turn right again on reaching Lowana Road.

Continue on this road which becomes South Riana Road until reaching Winduss Road again, cross carefully then continue along to re-enter the Park and on to the start/finish.

Public Health have advised that any person currently in Tasmania who has been in SE Queensland since July 17, are required to self isolate. You should not attend the race tomorrow if you have been in SE Queensland. For more information, please visit https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/ or call the Public Health Hotline.