News

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:

• Apart from small sections at the start and end of the course, all runners are required to keep on the right-hand side of the road
• Runners must not cross from one side of the road to the other outside of the designated crossing points
• Runners are expected to take extra care while running along Murchison Hwy; keep on right hand side road at all times using the verge where possible
• For front markers, a car will lead the way along the Murchison Highway
• Toilets will be available at the Somerset Soccer Club

Race fifteen of the season takes members to Somerset this Sunday for the Raymond Spinks/Coastal Running Club twelve-kilometre handicap.

The event starts and finishes at the Somerset soccer ground and commences with a four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway to Village Lane, then continues on country roads until the final stretch along Cardigan Street.

The toughness and distance suits strong middle and backmarkers and they win this race more often than not. One who is in great form and very close to a win is Cooee runner Josh Febey.

Febey’s most recent start was last week when he was third over a similar hilly course. He finished very strongly in that race and the extra two kilometres will suit him down to the ground. This followed a string of top runs going back to 2019. He will be keen to break through for a win soon.

Shaun Batten is another bursting to win a race, while Anne Thomas, Troy Reader and Kelly Baxter are all top chances.

If a frontmarker was to provide a surprise, it could be Ken Williams who was narrowly edged out last week. He is sure to lead for a long way and prove very hard to catch.

Entries close Friday evening at 6pm (online) with the race starting at 9:30am.

New runners are always welcome and they can register at www.pccct.org.

A nominated time event will be held at 9:00am.

Race #14 2021

Meet at McKenna Park Hockey Complex

Sponsors: The Paine Family

Race Manager:  Mark Saint-John

Course

• Race begins on North side of 3 Mile Line, opposite Burnie Council works depot
• Proceed up 3 Mile Line on RHS of road, heading West
• Cross over Mooreville Road under the direction of the marshal, at the roundabout and continue West, staying on the RHS
• At West Mooreville road, turn Right and remain on RHS
• West Mooreville will take you past E Cam road and continue up to the junction of Brickport road at Umina Park.
• Turn Right and continue up Brickport Rd on RHS
• A marshall will cross runners over to the LHS between witches hats at Freer farm. Continue to the roundabout and turn Left.
• A second marshall will cross runners over the road approx. 200m from the roundabout
• Continue up over the hill on RHS and down the the finish outside the Council depot car park.

Notes

• Marshal required at Brickport Rd roundabout on the way out
• Marshal required at Freer Farm crossing on the way back
• Marshal required at 3 Mile Line crossing on the way back

Imperative that runners remain on RHS of road and only cross at marshal points where they can be easily seen by traffic

Coming down off W Mooreville near TLC aquatics can be slippery, depending on weather: be alert.

Toilets can be accessed 200m East of our starting point at McKenna Park Hockey Complex

Please be careful crossing the road near the start and finish area and ensure children are well supervised also.

A tough task lies in wait for members his week as the PCCCT heads to Burnie for the Paine Family Memorial ten-kilometre handicap.

Members will meet at the McKenna Park Hockey Complex ready for a start on Three Mile Line and will complete a circuit taking in the many hills of Mooreville and West Mooreville Roads.

Although it is a challenging course, it is very popular with runners wishing to test themselves over the classic distance

Now the season is half completed, most runners are at peak fitness and will be looking to take out the victory.

Following a string of top runs while showing continued improvement, Adrian Mann will be a top chance on a course that will suit him. His best result this year has been a third in a tough event at Fernglade, He has consistently finished in the top ten, including last week at the Arboretum when he was eighth.

Tom Murton will start from the back mark but has the form to pass every runner and break the tape. The hills won’t worry him at all.

Others with strong chances are Josh Febey, Sam and Felicity Lovatt, while Nigel Baptist and Ellen Burgess can’t be discounted.

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

This week also sees the running of the nominated time “Feature Race” to be held at 9:00 with extra prizes provided by the Paine Family.