Rod Viney

The PCCCT trialled a new course for race 13, The Life Vantage (Susan Moodie) five-kilometre handicap – the Tasmanian Arboretum at Eugenana.

The spectacular scenery made up for the toughness of the two-lap course, which incorporated a grassy hill to traverse and several switchbacks, and it was very well received by members.

The race was held on the holiday Monday, which was appreciated as it allowed runners to also compete at the Launceston Running Carnival on Sunday.

Young gun, Ulverstone teenager Will van Rooyen, broke the tape to record his second win with the Club. His first was an event last year during the season shortened by COVID-19 restrictions. He has shown natural improvement since then.

Van Rooyen does no running training during the week but keeps very fit by riding his mountain Bike almost every day, often on the trails on the Dial Range near his home.

He was able to run down race favourite, Howard Crispin, shortly before the line and then withstood the charging finish of Shaun Batten. Crispin eventually finished third.

Good runs were returned by Daile Bennett-Moyle, who was also fastest woman (22:16) and Troy Reader. Both finished just behind the placegetters, while Sam Mawer took fastest time for the men (19:50) in finishing tenth.

Nominated time winners were Mitchell Elphinstone, Eva Murrell, Zoe Lakeland and Kobie Reid.

A good field lined up for the start of race twelve of the PCCCT’s season at the Romaine Park Reserve in Burnie on Sunday in cool and overcast conditions – perfect for fast times.

Held completely within the Reserve, the 6km race consisted of four laps providing spectators with great viewing.

It was run on gravel and dirt paths, with a few small hills to keep things interesting.

Gold Coast runner, Logan Foote, having his first race with the Club surprised even himself, taking out a narrow victory by 13 seconds.

Running around 30km per week, Foote trains by himself and has not competed in a similar race before so was unsure of how he would go. However, the competitiveness of the event brought out his best and he was delighted to win.

He generally competes in team multi-sport events involving paddling and mountain biking, while the running leg is over much longer and hillier courses.

However, while on a short visit to Tasmania he decided to enter Sunday’s event as he has family connections with the Club.

Sam Lovatt had his best run this year for a close second and must get a win soon, while Howard Crispin, Pat McMahon and Shaun Batten rounded out the top five placings.

Fastest times were taken out by Tom Murton for the men (20:21) and Lyn Saint-John for the women (24:52).

Earlier the nominated time winners were Brian Paine and Lucy van Rooyen.

Warm and sunny conditions 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 also the challenge – it needs a fit determined runner to take it out due to the almost constant uphill course.

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.

Devonport runner, Hayden Bishop, was the backmarker and ran a very strong race to break through for his second victory following a win in a 10 kilometre event at Burnie in 2017.

After joining the Club in 2016, having done little running, Bishop has taken to the sport with relish and is now recording great times over a range of distances, including the marathon.

The go-marker, David Wright, was second with Ellen Burgess, a previous winner of this event, in third.

Club champion, Tom Murton, started from the backmark (with Tom Winkel) and did a great job to catch all bar the placegetters. He recorded the fastest time – a stunning 57:53 – while Lyn Saint-John was fastest female (77:33).

Other excellent performances, indicating a win soon, were turned in by Gerard Lowry and Christine Wright.

Congratulations to all members who finished the tough High on Penguin Burnie to Ridgley Mountain Classic 16.5km .

Special congratulations to Hayden Bishop who won from David Wright and Ellen Burgess.

Fastest man was Tom Murton (57:56) with Lyn Saint-John fastest woman (77:33).

There was no nominated time event this week.

Race 6 of the 2021 PCCCT season was run in perfect conditions on Sunday. Starting at the pony club at Fern Glade, Burnie, the 6km course, while short in distance, provided plenty of hills for members to enjoy.

Because it was ANZAC Day, the race commenced at 1:00pm and was followed by a Club provided barbecue. Both the afternoon start time and the promise of food were popular, and a good field attended.

This course usually has some muddy, slippery sections but with the recent weather, the off-road sections were very dry.

The race was a triumph for first year runner, Ulverstone’s Sam Mawer. Although he has enjoyed running since his teen years growing up at Rosebery, he has only joined the Club this year.

Mawer started competing with the Club while recovering from a football injury to his hand. In fact, had he not had the injury, he would have been playing football for Penguin at the time he was running. He hopes to continue with both running and football when his hand has recovered.

In second place was last year’s winner of this event – young gun Will van Rooyen while the very consistent Adrian Mann was third.

Fastest male was Tom Murton who burnt up the course in 19:30 while Lyn Saint-John (24:53) was the fastest female.

Earlier, nominated time winners were Natalie and Robyn Luttrell and Hannah Elphinstone.

Congratulations to Sam Mawer who has won today’s Wilkinson’s Pharmacy 6km at Fernglade from Will van Rooyen and Adrian Mann.

Fastest male was Tom Murton (19:30) with Lyn Saint-John fastest female (24:53).

Nominated time winners were Natalie and Robyn Luttrell and Hannah Elphinstone.

A good field gathered to hear the starter’s orders for the Spreyton Cider Co 5km handicap at Spreyton at Sunday which was run in cool but sunny conditions. With the recent dry weather, it wasn’t even necessary for members to get their feet wet as they made their way through apple and cherry orchards.

The course had a couple of changes this year to incorporate more trail and it was very well received by runners.

Matthew Lardner was a narrow winner from one of the youngest Club members, Dominic Troughton with Markus Larch, having his first run with the PCCCT in third.

Lardner, from South Forest, is one of two members who travel from Circular Head to compete and was very happy to have made the long trip worthwhile. He took up running about three years ago just for general fitness and enjoyment and decided to take a further step and run with the Club last year.

Pre-race favourite, Tony Abel was a close fourth, further indicating that a win is close.

Others to record promising performances were Will van Rooyen, Adrian Mann and backmarker, Shaun Batten, who finished strongly into eighth.

Larch took fastest time honours for the men (19:21) with Lyn Saint-John the quickest of the women (21:17).

The nominated time winner was  Monty Robertson.