Race Reports 2022

Sunday saw the running of the Everyday Lions Female 5km Handicap, and the Ben and Anne Ketelaar Male 5km Handicap at Devonport. Cool but fine conditions greeted runners for the flat four lap circuit around Meercroft Park.

The men’s race was conducted first, with Devonport’s Brett Riley leading the field away and holding out all challengers. With a lap to run, it looked like Pat McMahon would catch Riley but he kicked very strongly to take his first victory.

Although he started with the Club several years ago, Riley has not been able to run consistently due to other family sporting commitments. However, this year he has been able to compete regularly and this, along with following an Everyday Lions training programme, has led to great improvement.

McMahon finished second with Jordan Mathews in third. Fastest time was Brian Lyons (17:05)

The Everyday Lions women’s race followed the men’s, with Emily Aichberger breaking through for her first win with the club. She was second in this event last year and was very pleased to “go one better”. Just seventeen, she has been running with the Club for many years starting with the nominated time events and for the last three years, the handicapped events.

Aichberger finds running makes her happy and helps her with other aspects of her life. She has competed for Tasmania in cross-country and also track and field. She won form Amy Courto and Felicity Lovatt while Sabrina Shields was quickest (20:21). Amazingly, all three placegetters train through Everyday Lions.

In the earlier nominated time event, the winner was Alicia Bramich.

Well done to the 22 starters in the Ketelaars Male 5km Handicap and the 14 starters in the Everyday Lions Female 5km Handicap at Devonport today!

Congratulations to Brett Riley, who took out the Male race, from Patrick McMahon and Jordan Matthews.

Fastest Male was Brian Lyons in 17:05.

Congratulations to Emily Aichberger, who won the Female race, from Amy Courto and Felicity Lovatt.

Fastest Female was Sabrina Shields in 20:21.

The nominated time winner was Alicia Bramich.

Despite inclement weather for race ten of the PCCCT – Running Club’s season on Sunday, thirty-nine runners faced the starter for the Glow Cosmetics “Big Six” six-kilometre handicap at Burnie

Although short, the circuit course includes the tough climb up Brickport Road and also some steepish downhill sections to challenge competitors.

It was Wynyard runner Ross Smith who eventually led the field home to take out his first victory in his second year with the Club.

Smith had shown a win was close in previous races this year, but unfortunately for him they are spaced because of the demands of both shift work and a new baby.

Consequently, he was pleased to be able to take full advantage of the opportunity to race. He has recently begun training with a group of other runners and has found that this, along with his Club participation, has given him extra motivation to improve his fitness and running performances.

Smith had a comfortable victory from perennial “bridesmaid”, Jason Scott who surely must break through soon, and Steve Tammens who is also due for a win following multiple placings.

Felicity Lovatt ran a very good fourth while co-sponsor, Jason Fehlberg, was pleased to win back some of his own money in finishing fifth.

Lyn Saint-John was fastest female (25:29), with Smith also taking out fastest male (22:34).

The nominated time winners were Mitchell Tate, Brian Paine and Tora Carpenter. Entries are now being taken for the Club marathon and team marathon to be run on May 29.

Well done to the 40 starters in today’s event, the Glow Cosmetics “Big Six” 6km Handicap at Burnie

Congratulations to Ross Smith, who won from Jason Scott, Steven Tammens, Felicity Lovatt and Jason Fehlberg.

Fastest man was Ross Smith (22:34) with Lyn Saint-John (25:29) fastest woman.

Nominated time winners were Mitchell Tate, Brian Paine and Tora Carpenter.

Lovely sunny weather conditions greeted fifty starters on Sunday for Race 9 of the PCCCT – Running Club season.

The Physiotas “City of Devonport” 10km Handicap was run in conjunction with the Molly Malones 10km Women’s Championship and the UTAS Athletic Club Men’s Championship, as a sealed handicap, mass start event. The race started at Bluff Beach Devonport and took competitors on tracks in the Don Reserve.

Following the application of the handicaps to the recorded times, Burnie runner Tony Abel was revealed as the victor. This was Abel’s second victory with the Club in his second year back after a long hiatus but he had recorded six victories in the seventies and eighties including a victory in the Club marathon.

While his marathon running days may be over, he ran strongly to take out the event from Pat McMahon, Jason Scott, Steve Tammens and Rhian Miles. He had run second in this event last year so the course clearly suits him

The Men’s Championship was an exciting race with Devonport runners Hayden Bishop and Andrew Winkler having a great tussle for almost the full ten kilometres. Bishop edged ahead in the final stages to take the victory recording 34:43 with Liam Williams, having his first run with the Club, in third.

The Women’s Championship was taken out by the ever-green Lyn Saint-John, in a time of 40:29, ahead of Rhian Miles and Isabelle Sharman.

In the earlier nominated time event the winners were Brian Paine, Sienna Bramich and Malcolm Nutting.

Well done to the 50 starters in todays 3 events, the Molly Malones Women’s 10km Championships, UTAS Athletics Men’s 10km Championships, and Physiotas City of Devonport 10km Sealed Handicap.

Congratulations to Tony Abel, who won the handicap race from Patrick McMahon, Jason Scott, Steven Tammens, and Rhian Miles.

Hayden Bishop took out the Mens 10km Championships in a time of 34:43, from Andrew Winkel, and Liam Williams.

Lyn Saint-John finished first in the Womens 10km Championships in a time of 40:29, from Rhian Miles, and Isabelle Sharman.

Nominated time winners were Brian Paine, Sienna Bramich and Malcolm Nutting.

Fine, sunny conditions but with a cooling breeze greeted the thirty-eight starters in the longest and hardest race of the season to date – the High on Penguin, Burnie to Ridgley “Mountain Classic” 16.5-kilometre handicap.

This event is one of the longest running in the Club’s annual programme and is highly sought after due to its prestige and the challenge the uphill course presents.

The race proved to be an exciting one, and also a well handicapped one, as the placings were shared by runners starting from front, middle and back marks.

Pre-race favourite, Latrobe runner, Ben Brockman, broke the finishing tape for his first Club victory after eleven years as a member. However, his number of starts has been limited for a variety of reasons so that he has only been able to average about five runs a season.

He credits the win to training regularly with a group of talented Latrobe runners. He has set his sights on doing well in the Club marathon at the end of May and saw this race as a chance for a good hard hit-out for that.

Rhian Miles continued her excellent form to take second while last year’s winner, Hayden Bishop after starting from the back mark, finished third, in front of David Murton and Jason Scott.

Josh Febey, Dan Yaxley, Ben Young and Kelly Baxter also produced great runs to finish close-up.

Bishop recorded the fastest time (63:46) while Miles was fastest female (76:17).

Well done to the 38 starters in the High on Penguin Burnie to Ridgley “Mountain Classic” 16.5km Handicap this morning.

Congratulations to Ben Brockman, who won from Rhian Miles, Hayden Bishop, Dave Murton and Jason Scott.

Fastest male was Hayden Bishop (1:03:46) while fastest female was Rhian Miles (1:16:17).

The Spreyton Cider Co 5km handicap at Spreyton is one of the more popular PCCCT – Running Club races and so a good field attended on Sunday in great weather conditions. Many had already run in the Race the Train event at Don earlier in the morning and the PCCCT race started at a slightly later time to allow members to compete in both events.

The course takes runners through apple and cherry orchards, around paddocks and along quiet country roads. With the recent good weather, conditions underfoot were dry and firm and these were appreciated by competitors.

Devonport runner, Cameron Bissett took the victory and in doing so won his second race for the year, a feat rarely done due to being rehandicapped after the first success. Bissett had won race two at Don but continued his rapid improvement to overcome his new mark.

His victory was very narrow, however, winning by just one second from Jason Scott with Steven Tammens just five seconds further astern.

Dominic Troughton was a great fourth just in front of pre-race favourite, Rhian Miles and Felicity Lovatt

Others to record promising performances were Andrew Lucas, Mary-Lou Troughton and Tony Abel.

Thomas Murton took fastest time honours for the men (17:17) with Miles the quickest of the women (21:16).

The nominated time winners were Malcolm Nutting and Chance Carpenter.

Well done to the 39 starters in the Spreyton Cider Co 5km Handicap at Spreyton this morning.

Congratulations to Cameron Bissett, who won from Jason Scott and Steven Tammens.

Fastest male was Tom Murton (17:17) while fastest female was Rhian Miles (21:16).

Nominated time winners were Malcolm Nutting and Chance Carpenter.