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Race Reports 2018
Race 21: Motors Burnie 5km at Fernglade
Members were confronted by plenty of mud and puddles as they competed in race 21 – the fourth in the trail run series.
The Motors Burnie five kilometre handicap was conducted at Fernglade with the start and finish at the Burnie Pony Club grounds.
Nat Luttrell led the field away and had a good lead early from Barry Ling and Andrew Plapp. Stuart Greenhill and Roselyn Hendriks were running good races while further back Bradley Ward and Amie Bramich were putting themselves in contention. Best chances of a backmarker victory looked to be with Michael Purton, Ewen Troughton or Kyle Groenewege.
As the pony grounds were re-entered, Ward took over the lead from Luttrell and was able to withstand all pursuers over the last two kilometres to take out his first win.
The fifteen year old from Sisters Creek is in his first season of senior racing after being a regular nominated time runner with the club. He has vastly improved in recent weeks due to taking part in every Burnie parkrun since it commenced on June second. He has been inspired to train more, resulting in a loss of weight and an improvement by several minutes in his times.
His goal now is to run a big personal best in the Burnie Ten in October.
Groenewege and Troughton filled the placings with Troughton also taking out fastest time. The quickest woman was Lyn Saint-John.
The nominated time winners were Maverick Baxter, Milla Price, Catherine Greenhill and Brian Paine.
Race Previews 2018
Fernglade: Motors 5km
The fourth, and final, run in the popular four-run trail series takes place this Sunday when the Club heads to Fernglade for the Motors five 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.
The return to a shorter distance after a series of longer races will be welcomed by many and one runner who is sure to perform well is Andrew Plapp who showed in the last trail run at Spreyton he likes this type of race.
In that event Plapp turned in his best performance for the year to finish fifth. He won’t have to improve much to take this out.
Another frontmarker with a big chance is club president and veteran of over 1 150 club races, Barry Ling. It is some time since he has been competitive, mainly due to persistent injuries, and a victory for him would be a popular one. He was sixth at Spreyton, just behind Plapp.
Among the middlemarkers, Russell Horton and Michelle D’Monte will be hard to beat, while brothers Isaac and Ewen Troughton may be the best of the “backies”.
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.
Race Reports 2018
Race 20: Anvers Confectionery 10km at Railton
The Anvers Confectionery ten kilometre handicap at Railton was run in pouring rain. However a hardy band of thirty-five competitors – the smallest field for a long-time – gathered in Pioneer Park to hear the starter’s orders.
The course started with some unsealed roads, which were complete with large puddles, before heading up a tough hill and continuing to complete a circuit.
Burnie runner, Ken Troughton, showed his love for this circuit by winning the event for a second time. His previous victory, and only other one with the club, came in 2016. He had been in great form and started as one of the favourites for the event.
Dale Lancaster led the field away but was overtaken by Stephen Dutton and Ken Williams as the hill was approached at the four kilometre mark. On the tough climb, Troughton made his move with David Murton and Alan Bakes in pursuit.
Strong backmarkers, Gerard Lowry and Aaron Robertson were making good progress and further back Troy Atkins was moving strongly.
However, Troughton managed to hold them all at bay and won from Troy Atkins, who also took out fastest time, and Mollie Powell, having her first run with the club for some time.
The Club is a family affair for Troughton, with his wife also competing and his children often doing the nominated time events.
Fastest female was Lyn Saint-John.
The nominated time winners were Will and Lucy van Rooyen, and Brian Paine.
Race20 Line Position Railton Anvers 10km
Race20 Fastest Railton Anvers 10km
Race Previews 2018
Railton: Anvers Confectionery 10km
Railton is the venue for race 20 of the season as members compete in the Anvers Confectionery ten kilometre handicap.
The course is a circuit, starting at Goliath Park and is affectionately described as flat with one hill. However, that one hill, is a long and high one and presents a good challenge.
One runner who won’t be at all daunted by the task, because he trains here, is the “Railton Rocket”, Gerard Lowry.
As implied by his nickname, Lowry lives in Railton and knows the course well. He has been in sparkling form lately and will be keen to win his hometown race. His best recent effort was a third four weeks ago, and he has also been close up twice since.
Evan Brett has been consistently running on strongly from the second back handicap. He was a great fifth in the half-marathon last week and will fancy his chances here.
However, there are many other runners who have been showing promise all season but unable to break through and with the end of the season looming will be keen for a win.
Among these are Kelly Baxter, Hayden Bishop, Nick Young and Ken Troughton, who is a previous winner of this event
Entries will close at 9:30, with the race starting at 10:00.
A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:05.
Race Reports 2018
Race 19: AJL Yamaha and Lifestyle Half-Marathon at Ulverstone
Competitors had perfect conditions for race 19 of the season – the AJL Yamaha and Lifestyle half-marathon.
Light drizzle fell for most of the event and there was no wind, meaning runners could record good times and many personal bests were clocked up.
The course takes competitors from West Ulverstone to Turners Beach and return and is mostly flat, which is also conducive to fast running.
After looking the winner in so many races this year but not breaking through, finally Karina Mason was able to breast the tape for her third victory and first for five years. Coincidentally, her previous win was also in the half-marathon, albeit on a slightly different course.
On paper the race had looked like it would go to one of the backmarkers. Mason didn’t let this concern her, however, and after taking the lead from the very front marker, Dale Lancaster, with about seven kilometres covered, led for the remainder of the event.
Backmarkers did well though, with Hayden Bishop, Ben Brockman, Bryan Tuit, Evan Brett and Brad Taylor filling five of the next eight placings.
Middle markers to perform strongly included race favourite Ellen Elphinstone and Nick Young who were sixth and seventh respectively.
Unfortunately for Rick Ferguson, he went slightly off course in a momentary lapse of concentration and disqualified himself by deciding not to run through the finish. This incident probably cost him third placing.
The nominated time winners were Emma Aichberger, Will van Rooyen, Sarah Lakeland and Hannah Elphinstone.
Race Previews 2018
Ulverstone: AJL Lifestyle/AJL Yamaha Half-Marathon
Half-marathon handicaps part 1
Half marathon handicaps part 2
This Sunday competitors will meet at River Park at Ulverstone for the AJL Lifestyle/AJLYamaha half marathon.
The 21.1 kilometre course takes runners to the end of the Esplanade at Turners Beach and return.
The terrain is mostly all flat but the classic distance is a good test of stamina as that flatness usually means faster running rates so care is needed not to go too hard, too early. Many runners in the past have fallen for that trap and struggled over the last few kilometres.
The top chance in the event looks to be Ellen Elphinstone who has been in wonderful form. In recent weeks she followed a seventh in the 25 kilometre event at Forth with fifth and then fourth in 10 and 12 kilometre races respectively.
Longer distances suit her perfectly as she proved in winning the tough16.5 kilometre race from Burnie to Ridgley in 2017.
Backmarkers Bryan Tuit and Brad Taylor will be storming through the field and be hard to hold out. Taylor was a close second in this year’s Club marathon and will be looking to go one better.
Other top chances include Ben Brockman, and Simon Gates, while, Debbie Riley and Rick Ferguson, who was recently second over 25 kilometres at Forth, will take catching.
Entries have closed for the event, which starts at the earlier time of 9:30.
The nominated time event will be the normal time of 9:05.
Race Reports 2018
Race 18: Spreyton Cider Company 5km at Spreyton
A good field gathered to hear the starter’s orders for the Spreyton Cider Company five kilometre handicap at Spreyton. This was the third race in the popular trail run series and there was plenty of mud and puddles for competitors to enjoy as they made their way through apple and cherry orchards.
It promised to be an event for front and middle markers and so it proved to be with Devonport runner, Amie Bramich, taking out an overdue win.
This was Bramich’s first win with the Club in her third season of competitive running and she was delighted to finally break through after being close in several recent events.
She began quickly and was concerned that it might be too fast and she would fade late in the race, but she continued strongly and had a comfortable win after taking the lead from Natalie Luttrell with about a kilometre to run. Ken Troughton continued his recent good form to finish second with pre-race favourite, Alan Bakes, finishing third.
Barry Ling and Roslyn Hendriks ran promising races while Dallas van Rooyen and Russell Horton indicated they will be hard to beat in the much longer events coming up.
Brad Taylor took fastest time honours for the men with Michelle d’Monte the quickest of the women.
The nominated time winners were Kasia and Indra Taylor, Lucy van Rooyen and Ashley Fehlberg.
Race Previews 2018
Spreyton: Spreyton Cider Company 5km
One of the most popular events of the season takes place this week with the running of the Spreyton Cider Company five kilometre handicap. The race starts at the cidery and takes competitors on an out and back course through apple and cherry orchards.
This event is also the next in the trail race series and runners will be looking to secure points towards winning the titles for men and women.
Following on from his impressive fourth in the last five kilometre race, Alan Bakes will be the hardest to beat. Specialising in the shorter events, this will be right up Bakes’ alley and he should start favourite.
Karina Mason will once again look the winner for a long way and she could break through for a well-deserved win. She has been close on many occasions this year and must surely win soon.
Club handicapper, Nick Young, has started to show some good form and will be a chance. He is running from the handicap given to him by the previous handicapper and solid training has given him a chance to break the tape.
Others to keep an eye on include Russell and Ann Horton, Josh Febey and Michael Bates.
Members are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the half marathon conducted on July 22nd,
New runners are always welcome.
Entries close at 9:30 with the race starting at 10:00.
A nominated time event will be held at 9:05
Race Reports 2018
Race 17: Raymond A Spinks/CRC 12km at Somerset
Horrendous conditions faced runners competing in race 17 of the season – the Raymond Spinks/CRC twelve kilometres at Somerset. While there was no rain, very cold, gale force winds made running extremely difficult.
However, this did not stop a good field of forty-eight hardy competitors from setting off on the hilly circuit course which commences with a four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway.
After showing promise in several races this year, it was Somerset runner, Neville Sweetman who hung on for a well-deserved win, his fifth with the club in over five hundred starts. Sweetman started from one of the front marks, being the eighth runner away, and defied the odds to take out the win as the course and conditions better suited backmarkers. This added credit to his victory.
Sweetman’s win was well overdue as he had run in nearly two hundred and fifty PCCCT races since his last victory in 2006.
Backmarker Troy Reader finished very strongly to finish second, beaten by just five seconds. Josh Febey, with a win under his belt already this year, was third with Ellen Elphinstone first woman home in fourth.
Michael Bates turned in his best run for the year to finish next with great efforts from the very backmarkers, Evan Brett and Bryan Tuit, placing them sixth and seventh respectively.
Brett was the fastest man with and Rachel young the quickest of the women.
The nominated time winners were Lucy van Rooyen, Thomas Ward and Milla Price.