Rod Viney

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.

West Ulverstone 5km

Mass start at Tobruk Park, Helen St.

NB: There is limited parking in Helen Street. Please park in the basketball stadium carpark and walk under the bridge to Tobruk Park

Stay on cement path all the way, under the bridge, beside the river, behind basketball stadium and past legion Park. Heading along Maud St turn right into Braddon St then follow path till you get to a PCCCT finger sign. Follow path behind the tennis courts until you come to the train crossing.

Continue to the end of the track then turn hard right along the road. There will be a finger and a witches hat and another hard right to enter the caravan park entrance.

Cross the train line, take care and turn left and run along Picnic Point Rd until the yellow gate.

There will be a turn point witches hat.  Then return the same way you went out.

This is a shared path so please be mindful of other users.

Care is needed crossing the boat ramp near the basketball stadium.

This Sunday the PCCCT heads to Ulverstone for the Virtual Runs Australia five-kilometre handicap and many members will relish the short event following two tough courses the last two weeks.

The event was originally scheduled for West Beach at Burnie but has been moved due to the UTAS construction work at West Park.

Tobruk Park at West Ulverstone is the meeting place and the event will take competitors on paths west towards the Apex Holiday Park and return.

The race incorporates the Club’s five-kilometre championships, so will be conducted as a mass start with the handicaps being sealed until after the finish.

The women’s competition looks quite open. Lyn Saint-John and Daile Bennett-Moyle look the strongest chances, but Felicity Lovatt, Rachel Young and Ellen Burgess can’t be ruled out of contention. Sam Mawer and Thomas Murton look the strongest chances among the men although Shaun Batten will also be a contender.

The handicapped race could throw up a surprise winner, but on recent form Sam Lovatt must start favourite. He has consistently figured in the top few placings and will be fresh after having to miss last week’s tough twelve-kilometre event.

Entries close at 6:00pm on Friday with the gun firing at 9:30.

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

Members are reminded that entries for the following week’s Ironman Classic close at11;59pm on Sunday.

Briefing

This week presents a challenging 12 km course using predominantly back roads behind Somerset, with plenty of hills to test the legs.  The meeting point for this race is the Somerset Soccer Club off Cardigan St, Somerset.

The course starts in Cardigan Street at the western end of the Soccer Club.  Runners proceed west on left hand side of road to Old Cam Road. The course then turns left down Bread and Butter hill.  Past the bridge a marshal will cross runners onto the right-hand side of the road before turning right onto the Murchison Highway.  The course continues south along the highway (runners keeping on right hand side of the road) before turning right onto Village Lane  (approx. 4.1 km into the course).  Runners continue on Village Lane until it meets Seabrook Rd.  The course turns right at this point, with runners staying on the right-hand side of the road.  The course continues straight onto Malakoff Street, before crossing a small park.  At this point runners join Cardigan Street on the left-hand side of the road and finally finishing outside Yarrandoo.

Safety notes:

• Apart from small sections at the start and end of the course, all runners are required to keep on the right-hand side of the road
• Runners must not cross from one side of the road to the other outside of the designated crossing points
• Runners are expected to take extra care while running along Murchison Hwy; keep on right hand side road at all times using the verge where possible
• For front markers, a car will lead the way along the Murchison Highway
• Toilets will be available at the Somerset Soccer Club

Race fifteen of the season takes members to Somerset this Sunday for the Raymond Spinks/Coastal Running Club twelve-kilometre handicap.

The event starts and finishes at the Somerset soccer ground and commences with a four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway to Village Lane, then continues on country roads until the final stretch along Cardigan Street.

The toughness and distance suits strong middle and backmarkers and they win this race more often than not. One who is in great form and very close to a win is Cooee runner Josh Febey.

Febey’s most recent start was last week when he was third over a similar hilly course. He finished very strongly in that race and the extra two kilometres will suit him down to the ground. This followed a string of top runs going back to 2019. He will be keen to break through for a win soon.

Shaun Batten is another bursting to win a race, while Anne Thomas, Troy Reader and Kelly Baxter are all top chances.

If a frontmarker was to provide a surprise, it could be Ken Williams who was narrowly edged out last week. He is sure to lead for a long way and prove very hard to catch.

Entries close Friday evening at 6pm (online) with the race starting at 9:30am.

New runners are always welcome and they can register at www.pccct.org.

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