News

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.

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

The longer distance over a mostly flat course will be a change from recent races but also be a preview for the upcoming half-marathon and Feature Race, both similar events.

The race could see some different winning contenders, as a high cruising speed will be needed, rather than an ability to run hills as in several recent races.

One runner who will relish the distance is Aaron Robertson. He has been “thereabouts” in recent weeks without really being to the fore but Sunday’s course will suit him admirably.

Others who are sure to be in contention are Troy Reader, who has been very consistent, and the improving Paul Pilkington. They were fourth and fifth respectively last week and are sure to go close to victory again.

Josh Febey must be a very strong chance. He has been finishing very strongly from a back mark and ran into second last week. A similar performance will see him break the tape here.

Entries close at 6:00pm Friday at www.pccct.org with the race starting at 09:30.

A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:00.

Entries for the half-marathon and half-marathon teams’ race are also being taken now and will close on August 8.

HANDICAPS UPDATED AT 3:10pm. Please recheck handicaps if you checked before this time.

The race starts at 9.30am from the Pirates’ Park, Murchison Highway, beside the Cam River. There are toilet facilities at the park. The race is an out and back course over 10km and contains hilly sections. As the race is on public roads runners are asked run with caution and obey any directions from race officials. The race heads south on the Murchison Highway. Runners run on the left-hand verge of the highway. After about one and a half kilometres runners turn left onto Back Cam Road. There will be a race official at this intersection. Runners continue to run on the left-hand side of the Back Cam Road to the turn at the 5km mark. There will be a race official at the turn. Runners return on the left-hand side of Back Cam Road. Before the intersection with the Murchison Highway there will be a race official to guide runners to the right-hand side of highway. Runners run one and a half kilometres down the highway to finish where the race started. Post-race presentations will take place in the car park at the Pirates’ Park.

Public Health have advised that any person currently in Tasmania who has been in South Australia on or since July 8, and not currently subject to a quarantine requirement, should limit their movement in the community and avoid attendance at public gatherings. You should not attend the race tomorrow if you have been in South Australia since July 8, unless fourteen days have elapsed since you returned to Tasmania. For more information, please visit https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/

The next race of the 2021 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 almost a full season of running behind them most members are very fit and the race will hold no terrors.

This looks like a good opportunity for the “Railton Rocket”, Gerard Lowry, to make a return to the winners’ list. Lowry had a couple of years off running with illness and injury but this season has been exhibiting some of his old form.

He trains over very similar terrain and will relish the hills.

If Anne Thomas can repeat her great run of last week, she will prove very hard for Lowry to rein in. In just her second year with the Club, Thomas has improved greatly and is very close to a victory

Steve Tammens is another runner gradually moving up the placings each week, and will fancy his chances here, while others who would not surprise include Troy Reader, Aaron Robertson, Kelly Baxter and Josh Febey.

Entries must be made online at www.pccct.org  and close 6:00pm Friday with the race beginning at 9:30. New runners are always welcome.

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