Race Previews 2021

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.

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.

The race commences at the Heybridge (Cuprona) Football ground.

The course takes runners around the outside of ground and then on the road out to the footpath which runs parallel to the highway.

The turn is near the Howth weighbridge, then return via the same route to the finish.

When exiting the ground, please run on the right (east side) of the road and when returning stay on that same side which will now be the left side.

Take care with the uneven footing around the outside of the ground and while on the road to and from the footpath.

Public Health have advised that as of 12:01am Saturday 17 July any person currently in Tasmania who has been in Victoria 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 Victoria since July 8.

The PCCCT returns this Sunday to a course which hasn’t been used for a few years but which was always a popular one – an out-and-back from Heybridge using the footpath beside the Bass Highway, starting at the football ground on River Road.

The event is the Bates Plumbing seven-kilometre handicap, and following the long, hilly Ironman of last week, it will be especially appreciated. No doubt, many of those who competed in that twenty-five kilometre race will still be feeling the effects, so the main chances this week could be those who gave it a miss.

Club handicapper, Pat McMahon, (whose handicap is set by the committee) looks to be the runner to beat. He has been showing great form of late competing in the shorter events, culminating in a close second at West Ulverstone two weeks ago. The extra two kilometres will hold no fears for him.

There are many others, however, who must be strongly considered. Sam Lovatt has been in great form while Jackie Reid and Steve Tammens also finished close up at Ulverstone.

If there was to be a surprise result it could be provided by frontmarker, Dale Lancaster, who is showing continued improvement after missing the first part of the season due to injury.

Entries must be done on-line and close at 6pm on Friday with the race commencing at 9:30.

New members are always welcome and can join at www.pccct.org.

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

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.