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Port Sorell: Glow Cosmetics 7km

2019-03-27 (2)

Race 2 of the 2019 PCCCT season will utilise a new course when the Glow Cosmetics seven kilometre handicap takes runners to Port Sorell. It is believed to be the first time the Club has conducted an event in this area.

The race will start adjacent to the Panatana Paddling Pool Family Park in South Esplanade before crossing the Rivulet and using tracks in the Squeaking Point area.

With last week’s run under the belt to shake off the cobwebs, a very competitive race should ensue.

After his excellent second last week, Sven Mason looks hardest to beat. Following a disappointing 2018 when he was plagued by injuries, Mason has worked hard over summer to get back to full fitness and the extra two kilometres this week will suit him

Behind last week’s winner, new handicapper, Pat McMahon had ten runners finish within thirty seconds and any of these could win. Perhaps the biggest danger to Mason will be Ewen Troughton as he will be well suited to the bush tracks.

Others with strong winning chances are Simon Gates, Brooke Fehlberg and “the flying farmer”, John Badcock. Gates was unlucky not to get a victory last year and looked very sharp at Wivenhoe last Sunday, while Fehlberg is a sponsor of this event and will be keen to collect some of her own money.

Members are reminded that numbers and timing chips must be worn.

There will be nominated time events at 9:15.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 1: Burnie Sportspower 5km at Wivenhoe

Vicki small

The PCCCT’s  year got underway on Sunday with the running of the Burnie Sports Power five kilometre handicap at Wivenhoe.

Seventy-eight runners, an excellent number, gathered to hear the starter’s orders, endorsing the slightly later start to the season.

They enjoyed the out and back course to Fernglade and also the great running weather.

The race provided an early birthday present for Ridgley runner, Vicki Knapman, who will be eighteen next week. In her third year with the club, Knapman has trained very hard over the summer months under master trainer, John McGuire.

She has been running up to eighty kilometres a week and the work has paid off. The huge improvement she has made from the last two years gave her victory by almost three minutes from second placegetter, Sven Mason, after she took the lead at the halfway turnaround point. Another young runner in Andrew Bates was third.

Mason’s run was an excellent one and indicated an early season win while Bates continued his great form from last year.

Other runners to catch the eye for future races included Simon Gates, Ewen Troughton, Brooke Fehlberg and Caroline Brett.

Fastest time for the men was recorded by Hobart runner, Phil McConnon with Lyn Saint-John fastest woman.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Quinn Aitken, Will van Rooyen, Kyla Cassidy, Cayla Ward and Milla Price.

Race01 Wivenhoe 5km Burnie Sportspower Fastest

Race01 Wivenhoe 5km Burnie Sportspower Line Positions

By Rod Viney, ago

Wivenhoe: Burnie Sports Power 5km

The 2019 season of the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania gets underway this Sunday with the Burnie Sports Power 5km handicap commencing at Wivenhoe Showground. The course takes competitors to Fernglade Reserve and return.

The shorter distance tends to suit frontmarkers and there are several who missed a win last year despite being close and who will be keen to get  a victory under the belt.

Chief among these may be Roselyn Hendriks while Lorraine Shepherd and Darlene Jacques can’t be discounted.

Among the middle markers Sven Mason will be looking to put an injury-plagued 2018 behind him with John Badcock and Nick Young also looking big chances.

The race will begin at 10:00 with entries closing at 9:30. As registrations for the new season will also need to be done before this time, runners are urged to arrive early.

The minimum age to run in the handicapped races is fifteen, but nominated time events over shorter distances and open to all ages, are also held. Those intending to compete in these need to register by 9:05.

Those who were members in 2018 need to remember their numbers and timing chips while new runners are welcome and will be allocated these on Sunday. There will be a morning tea after the event and members are asked to bring a plate to contribute.

By Rod Viney, ago

Notes from our handicapper for 2019

Pat McMahon is our handicapper for 2019. He has asked that these notes be provided to runners to give an indication of how he will undertake the difficult task of handicapping our races this year.

Handicapping PCCCT 2019 Season

I thank the Club for the opportunity to perform duty as Handicapper for the 2019 Season. All systems aren’t infallible. I am not a computer savvy person but I have certain guidelines to enable all persons to be able to compete on an equitable basis.

My Guidelines when handicapping competitors :

All persons are entitled to a win providing consistent performance to their ability.

Consistent running to ability can only be measured by performance over a number of races.

Consistent Performance cannot be measured by poor form, injury or sickness.

New competitors will be given a mark in accordance with information given or obtained and after performances that mark may be readjusted.

New competitors should be competing for a win at least halfway through a season.

A competitor will not be penalised for consistent running to their ability.

A Handicapper competing in Club Races will not have an improvement on his handicap unless it is sanctioned by the Committee.

Ability is commensurate to age and gender.

It is an aim to have the majority of a race to finish in a three minute time frame. (Excluding poor form, sickness or injury)

Winners will only be penalised to be able to be competitive at the top end of the field, if in form.

We are not competing for sheep stations so all persons should be able to compete on an even basis, enjoy the moment, the company and atmosphere.

It is good to be alive and be able to front up . We are a long time dead.

We are fortunate to have a Club that is able and willing to provide an array of running races and social events for an affordable amount .

All the best for the upcoming season.

Regards,

Pat McMahon

By Rod Viney, ago

Results of AGM

The AGM was held December 4th. Here is the President’s report presented at the meeting:

2018 President Report

The following committee was elected:

Patron: John McGuire

President: Barry Ling

Vice-Presidents: Mark Saint John and Malcolm Nutting

Treasurer: Gerard Leary

Secretary/Publicity Officer: Rod Viney

Handicapper: Pat McMahon

Committee: Darlene Jacques, Kelly Baxter, Ellen Elphinstone were elected for two years (with Russell Horton, Dale Atkinson and Dallas van Rooyen continuing for a second year)

Auditor: Rendell Ridge.

 

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 27: Sea Lyons Swim School 6km at Burnie

Allan BakesresizedSpook Life MembershipresizedKarina consistency resized

The Sea Lyons Swim School six kilometre handicap was the final race for the 2018 season and was run on an out-and-back course from West Park, Burnie, in fine but windy conditions.

Off a front mark, Ros Hendriks led clearly at the half-way turn from Darlene Jacques and Barry Ling and maintained her lead until overtaken by Allan Bakes, with a kilometre to run.

Bakes, in turn, was being pursued by the race favourite, Arnie Elphinstone, who was running very strongly and looked the likely winner.

However, Bakes was able to use the leg speed he trains for to sprint strongly over the last two hundred metres and hang on for the win. He only took up running ten years ago at the age of sixty-five, and this was his fourth win with the Club – an impressive effort.

Rod Viney was third with Hendriks hanging on for fourth in front of Nick Young.

Fastest male and female were Jono Price and Lyn Saint-John respectively.

The nominated time winners were Chloe Bates, Brain Paine, Lucy van Rooyen and Dominic Troughton.

Following the event, the Club Champion awards were presented to Brad Taylor and Lyn Saint John with the consistency title going to Karina Mason, who was the first female to win this in the Club’s fifty-two year history.

Life membership was given to Club treasurer, Gerard Leary with John Lucas, Rod Viney and Rick Ferguson receiving Club service awards.

Race27LinePositionBurnie6km

Race27FastestBurnie6km

By Rod Viney, ago

Burnie: The Sea Lyons Swim School 6km

The final race of the 2018 season is the Sea Lyons Swim School six kilometre handicap at Burnie.

A new out-and-back course will be used, starting at the rear of West Park and travelling east to the yacht club. This will take in the new path, recently completed along Marine Terrace.

Racing will be keen as members without a win this year will want to take advantage of a season of solid training.

The clear favourite must be Arnold Elphinstone who has been showing great form with several close up finishes culminating in a second last week to his wife, Ellen. This shorter course will suit him even better and he will definitely be the one to beat.

Frontmarkers should be to the fore over this distance and the top chances could be Roselyn Hendriks and Allan Bakes. Hendriks was  a great fifth last week and Bakes was sixth the week before.

Strongest of the middlemarkers look to be Nick Young, Terry Watson, John Badcock and Kelly Baxter.

If backmarkers are favoured by conditions, then any of Simon Gates, Thomas Wilson or Mark Saint-John could break the tape.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race beginning at 10:00. There will be a nominated time event at 9:05.

Following the event, end-of-year festivities will occur at The Point, West Park. There will be a club provided barbecue and trophies will be presented to the season’s consistency winners and club champions.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 26: Somerset Pharmacy 10km at Somerset

Ellenresized

The Somerset Pharmacy ten kilometre handicap was run Sunday on a tough hilly course utilising Somerset’s Back Cam Road.

The event gave runners their second last chance to record a win for the season and so was keenly contested.

It proved a triumph for Burnie husband and wife, Arnold and Ellen Elphinstone, who ran the quinella with Ellen earning bragging rights by crossing the line first.

The pair have been enjoying close competition in recent weeks although neither has quite managed to break though.

Ellen won last year’s Burnie to Ridgley race so was well proven on this type of course. She mixes her running training with cycling which she was forced to take up a couple of years ago due to a persistent hip injury.

Roselyn Hendriks was the first away and led for all but the last kilometre when caught first by Ellen and then Arnold. She battled on very strongly to finish fifth with Troy Reader and Simon Gates running superbly from back marks in to third and fourth places respectively.

Other eye-catching performances were recorded by Josh Febey and Nick Young while Thomas Wilson finished eighth and also recorded fastest time. Terry Watson and John Badcock rounded out “the ten”.

The fastest female was Natasha Mapley.

The nominated time winners were Ashley and Mia Fehlberg, Brain Paine, Hannah Elphinstone and Lucy Campbell.

Race26LinePositionSomerset10km

Race26FastestSomerset10km

By Rod Viney, ago