Congratulations to the 35 finishers in the Winkler Electrical Contracting/Troy Atkins Accounting Ironman Classic 15km Handicap!
Thomas Murton took out the victory and fastest time with an outstanding time of 1:22:29.
Second was Steven Connelly, with the fastest female Ellen Burgess finishing third with a time of 2:01:57.
John Saltmarsh and Hayden Bishop rounded out the top five.
Nominated time winners were Brian Paine, Lucy van Rooyen, and Lachie Riley.
The race starts at 9:00am on Forth Main Road, Forth. There are changerooms and toilet facilities at the Forth Football Ground (the meeting place) which is a short walking distance away. The race is over 25km and contains two major hilly sections. As the race is on public roads runners are asked run with caution and obey any directions from race officials. Runners must run on the righthand side of the road facing oncoming traffic. Shortly after the start runners turn right onto Wilmot Road, they run about 10 kilometres on Wilmot Road, on the western side of the Forth River, until they are crossed over onto Paloona Road on their left. The race proceeds over the bridge and a hilly section on Paloona Road until Melrose. Here runners turn left onto Bellamy Road. After about three kilometres there are some major hills which take the runners to Forthside. Runners then turn right onto Forthside Road which leads to Forth Road where runners will be crossed over onto the righthand side of the road. Then it is downhill and over the Forth Bridge turning right into the Forth Football Ground for the finish line.
There will be race officials to cross runners at the start of Paloona Road, where Paloona Road meets Bellamy Road, and where Forthside Road meets Forth Road.
There are two drink stations – one on Paloona Road soon after crossing the bridge, and one on top of the hilly section at Forthside. There will be two tubs at the Forth Football Ground for runners to deposit named drink bottles (either name or race number) and gels etc. Due to COVID restrictions there will not be water served in cups at the drink stations. Drinks etc. must be in the tubs by 9:30am as they will be transported to the drink stations at this time. It is strongly recommended runners only take drinks from the designated drink stations.
People following the race in cars are reminded to obey all road rules and be conscious of other road users.
The next event for the PCCCT is the Winkler Electrical Contracting/ Troy Atkins Accounting “Ironman Classic” at Forth.
A long-standing event on the calendar, at twenty-five kilometres it is not as long as the marathon, but is considered by many as the toughest run of the year due to the extremely hilly terrain covered.
Starting at Forth it takes in a circuit in the Forth Valley comprising Wilmot and Paloona Roads to Melrose and return via Forthside Road.
The event best suits fit middle or backmarkers who have proven records over these longer distances and there are several who have entered who have great chances.
Ben Brockman looks to have a second-to-none chance. He is having a much more consistent season and is performing well over shorter distances which don’t suit him as well. He certainly has the training in his legs
Kim Steven needs it long and hilly to bring out his best and he will get that here, while Troy reader has been showing up in the longer races in recent weeks and won’t need to improve much to take this out.
Other top chances include Shaun Batten, Ellen Burgess and Josh Febey.
If there was to be a surprise result it could be provided by John Saltmarsh who loves this event and placed two years ago.
Entries have closed already and the first runner will start at 9:00.
A nominated time event will be held at 9:15.
Sunday’s race, the Virtual Runs Australia five-kilometre handicap utilised a new out-and-back course starting at West Ulverstone’s Tobruk Park and a good field competed. The flat, shorter course made a change from the long, hilly ones of the last two weeks and was certainly enjoyed by competitors, many of whom recorded very fast times.
The event incorporated the Club five-kilometre championships which was conducted as a sealed handicap. This meant all runners commenced together and the handicaps were applied after the race.
In the men’s championship, Wynyard runner, Tom Murton, repeated his success from this event last year and added the five-kilometre title to the ten-kilometre one he won at Devonport earlier in the year. He recorded a very slick 15:18 in winning from teenager Tom Winkler and Hayden Bishop.
The women’s championship produced a fantastic tussle from start to finish between Penguin’s Lyn Saint-John and Devonport athlete, Daile Bennett-Moyle. Saint-John eventually prevailed by one second in a time of 18:36. Third was Rhian Miles.
The sealed handicap was taken out by Ulverstone’s Howard Crispin from Club handicapper, Pat McMahon, and pre-race favourite, Sam Lovatt.
Crispin is in his first year with the Club and deserved this win after continuing improvement leading to several placings. He started running seriously when his wife, Selina, also a Club member, decided to run in the Hobart Easter Half-Marathon this year and competed in that event after a month’s training. He also was inspired by his 11-year-old daughter, Libby, who competes in the Club’s nominated time events.
Earlier the nominated time winners were Xavier and Ruby Mawer and Malcolm Nutting.
Congratulations to the 68 runners who competed in the VRA 5km handicap at West Ulverstone today and especially Howard Crispin who won from Pat McMahon and Sam Lovatt.
The men’s championship was won by Tom Murton (15:18) from Tom Winkel and Hayden Bishop while the women’s champion is Lyn Saint-John (18:36) who won from Daile Bennett-Moyle and Rhian Miles.
The nominated time winners were Xavier Mawer, Ruby Mawer and Malcolm Nutting.
West Ulverstone 5km
Mass start at Tobruk Park, Helen St.
NB: There is limited parking in Helen Street. Please park in the basketball stadium carpark and walk under the bridge to Tobruk Park
Stay on cement path all the way, under the bridge, beside the river, behind basketball stadium and past legion Park. Heading along Maud St turn right into Braddon St then follow path till you get to a PCCCT finger sign. Follow path behind the tennis courts until you come to the train crossing.
Continue to the end of the track then turn hard right along the road. There will be a finger and a witches hat and another hard right to enter the caravan park entrance.
Cross the train line, take care and turn left and run along Picnic Point Rd until the yellow gate.
There will be a turn point witches hat. Then return the same way you went out.
This is a shared path so please be mindful of other users.
Care is needed crossing the boat ramp near the basketball stadium.
This Sunday the PCCCT heads to Ulverstone for the Virtual Runs Australia five-kilometre handicap and many members will relish the short event following two tough courses the last two weeks.
The event was originally scheduled for West Beach at Burnie but has been moved due to the UTAS construction work at West Park.
Tobruk Park at West Ulverstone is the meeting place and the event will take competitors on paths west towards the Apex Holiday Park and return.
The race incorporates the Club’s five-kilometre championships, so will be conducted as a mass start with the handicaps being sealed until after the finish.
The women’s competition looks quite open. Lyn Saint-John and Daile Bennett-Moyle look the strongest chances, but Felicity Lovatt, Rachel Young and Ellen Burgess can’t be ruled out of contention. Sam Mawer and Thomas Murton look the strongest chances among the men although Shaun Batten will also be a contender.
The handicapped race could throw up a surprise winner, but on recent form Sam Lovatt must start favourite. He has consistently figured in the top few placings and will be fresh after having to miss last week’s tough twelve-kilometre event.
Entries close at 6:00pm on Friday with the gun firing at 9:30.
A nominated time event will be held at 9:00.
Members are reminded that entries for the following week’s Ironman Classic close at11;59pm on Sunday.
The PCCCT headed to Somerset for race 15 of the season – the Raymond Spinks/Coastal Running Club twelve-kilometre handicap. Numbers were down on recent weeks but a very competitive field gathered to hear the starters’ orders. The hilly circuit course is a challenging one, commencing with a steady four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway.
It looked like history was about to repeat itself, as last week’s runner-up, Ken Williams, led from a front mark for much of the race and was being chased down hard by Jason Scott over the last kilometre.
Last week, Williams was caught in the last few strides to lose by just one second. However, on Sunday he was able to hold on and defeat the fast-finishing Scott by six seconds.
It was a well-deserved victory for Williams who travels from Smithton every week to compete. What is more remarkable is that he is doing this at 81 years of age. He doesn’t train as much as he used to, but still tries to get out each day for a run or walk.
He commenced with the Club in 1985, has had over 750 runs and this was his twelfth win.
Scott’s run was his best for a while and he should break through soon, while Howard Crispin, Rod Viney and pre-race favourite Josh Febey, filled the next three placings.
Febey was the fastest male (49:27) while Rachel Young was quickest of the women (57:05).
The nominated time winners were Libby Crispin, Mackenzie Troughton and Freya Crispin.
Congratulations to the 39 starters who contested the Ray Spinks/ Coastal Running Club 12 km handicap at Somerset today.
The winner was Ken Williams from Jason Scott, Howard Crispin, Rod Viney and Josh Febey.
Fastest male was Josh Febey (49:27) with Rachel Young the fastest female (57:05).
Nominated time winners were Libby Crispin, Mackenzie Troughton and Freya Crispin.
Briefing
This week presents a challenging 12 km course using predominantly back roads behind Somerset, with plenty of hills to test the legs. The meeting point for this race is the Somerset Soccer Club off Cardigan St, Somerset.
The course starts in Cardigan Street at the western end of the Soccer Club. Runners proceed west on left hand side of road to Old Cam Road. The course then turns left down Bread and Butter hill. Past the bridge a marshal will cross runners onto the right-hand side of the road before turning right onto the Murchison Highway. The course continues south along the highway (runners keeping on right hand side of the road) before turning right onto Village Lane (approx. 4.1 km into the course). Runners continue on Village Lane until it meets Seabrook Rd. The course turns right at this point, with runners staying on the right-hand side of the road. The course continues straight onto Malakoff Street, before crossing a small park. At this point runners join Cardigan Street on the left-hand side of the road and finally finishing outside Yarrandoo.
Safety notes: