News

The next race in the PCCCT season is another of the popular off-road trail runs when members will meet at Fernglade for The Wilkinson’s Pharmacy six kilometre handicap.

The course starts at the Pony Club grounds and consists of a circuit in Fernglade followed by another in the vicinity of the grounds.

With all the wet weather of recent days, there are sure to be many muddy, slippery patches to test the sure-footedness of competitors.

It will be interesting to see how those who completed the marathon last Sunday back up for this shorter event. A runner who didn’t run last week and who looks perfectly suited here is Isaac Troughton.

Very capable over all distances, Troughton particularly enjoys off-road conditions and the hills will also be to his liking. He has several placings this year, the latest  being at Penguin over similar terrain when he was a very close second. In addition, he was third in this race last year.

Young runners, Josh Febey and Andrew Bates, also look well suited and wins for both are overdue. Febey in particular has had several placings and a win would be well deserved.

Other chances look to be Hayden Bishop, Amie Bramich and Anna Murton. If there is to be surprise, it could come from Michelle d’Monte or Ellen Elphinstone.

Entries will close at the normal time of 9:30, with the race starting at 10:00.

A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:05.

The PCCCT marathon is the longest-running continuously conducted marathon in Australia and the 2019 version will be held this Sunday. It is also unique in that it is a handicapped race.

The Greg and Dianne Woodhouse marathon runs from River Park, Ulverstone to Turners Beach and back twice and is a wonderful test of fitness and character.

Entries have closed, and a small, but quality field will start the event with almost every runner in with a chance of victory. The go-marker, Hobart runner Wendy Meadowcroft, will set off at 7:00am with Kyle Groenewege last to leave 1 hour 45 minutes later.

Second backmarker, Matthew Atkins, looks one of the strongest chances. He specialises at this distance and in the last two runnings of this event he has been second and fifth. He would be a very deserving winner.

Chris Talbot and Shane Hansen are others who can run all day while Karina Mason has been in great form and will have set herself for this event. She will have exactly an hour start on Atkins.

Teresa Seaman and Michelle Chopping are also coming from Hobart for the race so must be respected.

The Rod and Judith Priestly five kilometre handicap will be run at 10:30 for those not attempting the marathon. Entries for this will close at 10:00. The winner of this race could come from an in-form group of woman runners – Liz Murton, Lorraine Shepheard, Judy Ray and Michelle d’Monte.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:45.

Marathon handicaps:

Wendy Meadowcroft               00:00
Karina Mason.                        37:00
Gerard Leary.                         37:00
Christopher Talbot.                 37.00
Kelly Baxter.                           43:00
Vicky Knapman.                     55.00
Shane Hanson.                   1:12:00
Paul Birch.                          1:12:00
Teresa Seaman.                 1:12:00
Michelle Chopping.            1:12:00
Ethan Butler.                      1: 20:00
Daniel Summers.               1: 20:00
Matthew Atkins.                 1:37:00                                                                                      Kyle Groenewege.             1:45:00

The PCCCT heads to Stanley this week for the WT House Betta Home Living “Steve Hanson Memorial” eight kilometre handicap, another of the club’s “blue ribbon events”.

The course has a short testing hill early on but then competitors are rewarded with a great run along the Green Hills before descending with views of The Nut followed by travelling along the main street before returning to the start at the Stanley Oval.

As for every race recently, there are many runners who could easily break the tape, but one of the stronger chances looks to be Dallas van Rooyen who should start this race with fresh legs.

Van Rooyen’s last PCCCT start saw him just outside “the ten” at Wynyard, but the best pointer to his chances is his strong finish into third over a tough course at Penguin early in May. He also had some promising runs earlier in the year and this distance and course look perfect for him

Several runners have been consistently in “the ten” and will be top chances. Andrew Rolls has had a string of placings while Josh Febey has looked a coming winner all season. Karina Mason and Amie Bramich, both very improved runners, weren’t far away at Devonport in the last race and would not surprise.

The event starts at the later time of 10:30 with entries closing at 10:00. New runners are welcome.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:45.

Runners are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the following week’s Marathon.

The next “blue-ribbon” event in the PCCCT season is to be held this Sunday.

It is the Physiotas/Meercroft Crew City of Devonport 10 kilometre handicap which starts at Devonport’s Bluff Beach and uses the foreshore path and tracks in the Don Reserve.

Wins in this event are much sought after due to its history and prestige and it will be hotly contested, especially given the increased prizemoney this year.

The Meercroft Crew, a joint sponsor, is a group of runners meet for training at Meercroft Park and run with the Club. No doubt one of them would love to win and Bryan Tuit, Evan Brett and Haydon Bishop will be three of the strong chances. Bishop, in particular, has been in sparkling form.

However, the favourite for the race should be the very fit, Andrew Rolls, who has had several placings this year without breaking through. He was an excellent third in the Mountain Classic two weeks ago before a narrow defeat into second last week at Wynyard. Everything looks suitable for him on Sunday.

Other hopes look to be Dallas van Rooyen, Anna Murton and Lyn Saint-John while a strong effort from Michael Bates would not surprise.

If there was to be a surprise winner, it could be Richard Lawson who is improving with each run.

The event starts at 10:00 with nominations closing at 9:30. New runners are always welcome.

 Nominated time events will be held at 9:05.

This Sunday members have the chance to run on a mostly new, scenic course at Wynyard with the staging of the Findex (formerly Crowe Horwath) eight km handicap.

The race will still start and finish at the Wynyard Showgrounds and will use tracks beside the Inglis River, so no road running will be needed.

Those who ran the tough Mountain Classic last Sunday will enjoy the flatter, shorter race.

One runner who will love the distance, and always does well on trail courses, is Aaron Robertson.

Robertson ran a solid “Classic” to finish in the top twenty, but in previous weeks had finished much closer to the front and provided he has pulled up well from that event will be a big chance. Two weeks ago he was fifth at Penguin and also impressed with his seventh the week before at Ridgley.

Terry Watson looked a likely winner for much of last week’s race before finishing fifth and is another who is close to a win. It could be here.

Josh Febey will appreciate this distance and has been in great form all season, while other possibilities are Kelly Baxter, Ewen Troughton and Tim Dowling. If it turns out to be a frontmarkers’ race then Ken Williams and Ros Hendriks could take the win.

Members are reminded to wear both their timing chips and chest numbers and to register by 9:30 with a 10:00 start. New runners are always welcome.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:05.