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Rod Viney

Race 25 Railton, Anvers Chocolate 10km Handicap Preview

Railton is the venue this Sunday for the penultimate race of the season as members of the PCCCT – Running Club compete in the Anvers Chocolate 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.

This is the final race before the major race of the season – the Wynyard to Burnie Feature Race – and, as is traditional, the victor will not receive a penalty for winning until the end of the season. Therefore, competitors can go all-out knowing a win will not affect their handicap for the “big one” the following week.

Jean-Christophe Bonneville is a first year Club runner and has impressed win the few runs he has had. He was a close second a couple of weeks ago and will be very hard to beat this time as the extra distance will suit him better.

Backmarker Andrew Winkel was a great sixth last week at Turners Beach and will be a top chance to break the tape as the course will suit him perfectly.

Other good chances look to be Lyn Saint-John, Gerard Lowry, who trains on this course, Ben Young and David Murton.

Entries will close at 6:00pm on Friday, with the race starting at 9:30. New runners are always welcome with information available at www.pccct.org. A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:00.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 24 Turners Beach, Rod and Judith Priestley/Berry Patch 7km Handicap Report

Race 24 of the PCCCT – Running Club’s season – the Rod and Judy Priestley/The Berry Patch seven-kilometre handicap – used a scenic two lap course at Turners Beach. Weather conditions were conducive to running and some fast times were recorded.

The event produced a close finish with Penguin athlete, Alison Ridderhof, overtaking Johanna Robertson in the last two hundred metres to record a narrow victory.

In her first season with the Club, Ridderhof was delighted to turn the tables on Robertson who had narrowly beaten her a few weeks ago at Romaine Park. Robertson had been rehandicapped for that victory but has continued to improve so that she almost had her second win for the year.

Nevertheless, it was Ridderhof who prevailed. She has been running for some time with a training group called The Running Buddies, and it was a couple of members of that group who convinced her, her husband and some friends to join the PCCCT – Running Club and they have loved their involvement.

Steve Tammens took out third place just ahead of Jason Scott and Andrew Lucas. All three have been consistent top finishers and will be eyeing off the Feature Race in two weeks.

Fast finishing backmarker, Andrew Winkel, was next to finish and recorded fastest time of 24:58 while Lyn Saint-John was fastest female (29:24).

Earlier, nominated time winners were Tom Ridderhof, Freya Crispin, Mitch Elphinstone and Libby Crispin.

Next week sees the last race to be run before the Feature Race. The winner of that race will not be rehandicapped until after the Feature Race.

By Rod Viney, ago

Calcutta Rules


The PCCCT Inc. conducts a Calcutta on the Wynyard-Burnie Feature Race to be run on Sunday 11 September 2022.
How does it work?
The Calcutta is divided into two stages:


1.The Ticket Draw
Tickets are sold for $2.00 in the weeks leading up to the race. On Tuesday 7 September. The Calcutta commences with one ticket being drawn for each runner in the Feature Race. If your ticket is drawn you are then the “drawer” of that particular runner. The result of the draw will be published on the website All proceeds of the ticket draw go into the prize pool.


2.The Auction
Following the ticket draw we get down to the business of the auction. This will take place at the The Point, West Park commencing at 7.30 pm on Friday 9 September
Each runner will be auctioned to the attendees at the Calcutta, who have the opportunity to bid for that runner.


After the hammer fall on each runner:

  • the person with the highest bid becomes the owner of that runner
  • 50% of the sale price goes to the person who drew that runner in the ticket draw
  • the remaining 50% goes into the ever growing prize pool
    After the race on Sunday 11 September, the prize pool is divided as follows:
  • 65% to the owner of the winning runner
  • 15% to the owner of the second placegetter
  • 10% to the owner of the third placegetter
  • 10% to the PCCCT to cover printing costs of tickets
    and the Calcutta permit fee.
By Rod Viney, ago

Race 24 Turners Beach, Rod and Judith Priestley/Berry Patch 7km Handicap Preview

This Sunday runners head to the Berry Patch at Turners Beach for the Rod and Judith Priestley/Berry Patch seven-kilometre handicap. This year there is a slight change to the course with runners completing two 3.5-kilometre laps rather than an out-and-back course. This means competitors will come through the start/finish at the half-way mark, giving good viewing opportunities to spectators.

The day will be tinged with sadness as co-sponsor, Rod Priestley, lost his battle with cancer just two months ago.

As the season nears its end, there can only be three more winners this year, and there are many runners who have been performing consistently well and who will be keen to be one of the three.

One of the best chances looks to be Club veteran, Greg Smith who has been showing gradual improvement as he regains full fitness after a knee operation.

Jason Scott has shown up week after week without breaking through and he could do so here.

Others who have been close to a win and could break the tape include David Murton, John Badcock, Alison Ridderhoff and Ben Young.

New runners are welcome and must register for membership and enter by 6pm Friday on the Club website www.pccct.org.

The race will start at 9:30am while nominated time events will be held at 9:00.

Runners are reminded that entries for the Club’s premier event, the Simons Carpets Wynyard to Burnie Feature Race to be held on September 11 close this Sunday at 11:59pm.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 23 Eugenana, LifeVantage Independent Distributor (Susan Moodie) 5km Handicap Report

The PCCCT – Running Club headed to the Tasmanian Arboretum at Eugenana for race twenty-three of the season on Sunday – the LifeVantage (Susan Moodie) five-kilometre handicap.

The spectacular scenery made up for the toughness of the two-lap course, which incorporated a grassy hill and several switchbacks as well as a run around the lake.

A little drizzle cleared away and the sun came out as the starter sent away the gomarker, Ken Williams, who was giving 15:30 to backmarker, Jason Fehlberg.

Young gun, Yolla teenager Oscar Young, broke the tape in his first run with the Club despite having a tough mark, as all first starters do. In doing so, he relegated his father, Ben, into fourth place even though he conceded him a thirty-second start. Splitting the pair were Jean-Christophe Bonneville and pre-race favourite, Alison Ridderhoff.

Young does little running training during the week but keeps very fit by riding his mountain bike with his family. However, his running is good enough for him to have won his age-group in the recent North-West Inter-High Cross Country, while he has also had great results in recent trail races.

Good runs were returned again by Jason Scott and Aaron Robertson with both looking to take a victory before season’s end.

Fastest male was Andrew Winkel (20:32) with Rhian Miles (23:43) fastest female.

Nominated time winners were Tracey Turner, Libby Crispin and Emma Turner.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 23 Eugenana, LifeVantage Independent Distributor (Susan Moodie) 5km Handicap Preview

The PCCCT – Running Club heads to the beautiful Tasmanian Arboretum at Eugenana this Sunday for race 23 of the season – the LifeVantage Independent Distributor (Susan Moodie) five-kilometre handicap.

The course may be short, but is challenging as runners complete two laps of 2.5km each incorporating unsealed tracks around the lake and a short, sharp hill climb.

Last year the course was used for the first time and the race was well attended. A similar response is expected Sunday, especially as it is scheduled later in the year with only three more races before the season’s climax – the Wynyard to Burnie Feature Race.

As usual, there are many chances but one runner who will love this course is first season runner, Alison Ridderhof.

Ridderhof has good recent form with her best results being a second at Romaine Park five weeks ago and a great third over a very similar course at Penguin two weeks ago.

On that day Jordan Matthews finished second with Jean-Christophe Bonneville fourth and they look the two hardest for Ridderhof to beat.

Other strong chances include Jason Scott, Steven Tammens, Joshua Febey and Emma Turner.

The race starts at 9:30am with entries (on-line only) closing at the normal time of 6pm Friday.

There will be a nominated time event at 9am.

Runners are reminded that entries for the Simons Carpets Wynyard-to-Burnie Feature Race are now open and will close on Sunday August 28. New runners are always welcome.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 22 Turners Beach, AJL Lifestyle/AJL Yamaha Half-Marathon Handicap and Salty and Stevo Teams 2 x 10.55km Half Marathon Handicap Report

The AJL Yamaha and Lifestyle Half-Marathon Handicap and the Salty and Stevo Teams’ Half-Marathon Handicap were conducted on Sunday morning. The conditions were conducive to fast times, with misty drizzle but very light winds.

The course took runners from the Turners Beach Football Ground to West Ulverstone and return utilising the cycle/walk tracks in the area for most of the race.

The main event – the Half-Marathon Handicap – had a quality field with the competitors looking to test themselves over the classic distance.

It was won by Devonport athlete Troy Donald, who started one of the favourites for the event. Starting from one of the back marks, Donald ran right up to his recent promising form to record a narrow victory.

This is Donald’s second year with the Club and he was thrilled to obtain his first victory. Although he has enjoyed taking part in the Triple Top event at Sheffield each year, he has taken running more seriously since retiring from football three years ago. He was encouraged to join the PCCCT by his workmate, Andrew Lucas, who ironically finished second to him on Sunday.

Completing the placings were Daniel Yaxley, Jordan Matthews and David Murton.

Hayden Bishop was fastest man in a slick 1:16:16 with Narelle Jacobs fastest woman (1:55:34).

In the teams’ event, Lancaster Bombers (Dale Lancaster and David Wright) started from the front mark and couldn’t be caught. They took the victory from Deirfiúracha (Dale Bennett-Moyle and Rhian Miles) with Meercroft A (Cameron Bissett and Bryan Tuit) in third.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 22 Turners Beach, AJL Lifestyle/AJL Yamaha Half-Marathon Handicap and Salty and Stevo Teams 2 x 10.55km Half Marathon Handicap Preview

This Sunday sees the running of the AJL Lifestyle/AJLYamaha Half Marathon Handicap, one of the “blue ribbon” events of the PCCCT – Running Club season.

The 21.1-kilometre event will commence at the Turners Beach football ground and take competitors to West Ulverstone and back using the cycle/walk tracks in the area.

The terrain is mostly 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 leading to late struggles.

Entries for this event closed on Sunday and a very competitive field of runners will vie for the victory.

Choosing the likely winner is not easy, but based on his run in the recent 25-kilometre Ironman when he finished fifth, Daniel Yaxley will have a second-to-none chance.

Yaxley doesn’t have a lot of starts with the Club, choosing to specialise in the longer events, and he will be very well suited here.

His biggest danger could be Troy Donald who also ran well in the Forth Ironman but has since also displayed great form in the 13.5-kilometre race at Gunns Plains, indicating that he is also well suited to the longer races.

Other strong chances include Emma Howard, Andrew Lucas, Christine Wright and David Murton.

The Salty and Stevo Teams 2 x 10.55-kilometre Half Marathon Handicap will be run in conjunction with the main event with both events starting at 9:30.

There will be a nominated time event at 9:00.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 21 Penguin, Zenith Wealth 5.3km Handicap Report

Race 21 of the PCCCT – Running Club’s season, the Zenith Wealth 5.3-kilometre handicap, was conducted at Penguin on Sunday in cool, fine weather. Starting at the Dial Regional Sports Complex, the race had a variety of underfoot conditions – paths, sealed roads, grass, gravel and bush tracks.

The bush track part was about one and a half kilometres of the Dial Range mountain-bike park and this section, though challenging and mainly uphill, was enjoyed by the competitors.

Being a shorter race, the field was compacted and so at various stages several runners appeared to be the likely winner.

Ultimately, it was Ulverstone athlete, Howard Crispin, who came out on top.

This was Crispin’s second win with the Club, having won a 5-kilometre race at Ulverstone last year. Since that victory, he has had to deal with a leg injury and then, in February, shoulder damage caused by a fall while mountain-biking. These meant he had to take quite a chunk of time away from running but since May he has been both running and cycling consistently. The results of this were evident as he raced away to defeat Jordan Mathews and Alison Ridderhof.

Jean-Christophe Bonneville turned in a promising effort for fourth just in front of Ben Young with Aaron Robertson and Josh Febey also running very well.

The fastest times were recorded by David Ridderhof (21:38) and Lyn Saint-John (24:18) for the men and women respectively.

Nominated time winners were Brian Paine, Tracey Butler and Chad Burr.

By Rod Viney, ago

Race 21 Penguin, Zenith Wealth 5.3km Handicap Preview

The PCCCT – Running Club is heading to Penguin this week for the Zenith Wealth 5.3km handicap.

This will be the second time this course has been used after proving very popular last year. The race will start and finish at the Dial Park sporting complex at Penguin. While the first and final parts of the race will be on sealed roads, there will be a tricky section of trail in the middle part, using mountain bike trails on the Dial Range. This section will provide muddy, difficult footing as well as being quite undulating making it both interesting and challenging.

With the season rapidly coming to a climax, many runners who have been close without winning in recent weeks will be keen to take out the victory.

One who will be perfectly suited by the course is Christine Wright.

Wright has displayed consistent form of late, getting closer to winning as the season has progressed. She had “top ten” finishes in the tough Ironman and again last week at Gunns Plains proving she is very fit.

There is a large group of runners with great chances who are also in contention including Andrew Lucas, Steve Tammens, Darlene Jacques, Gerard Lowry and David Murton.

Entries close at 6pm Friday with the race starting at 9:30am.

There will be a nominated time event at 9am.

Runners are reminded that entries for the half-marathon and teams half-marathon close at 11:59pm on Sunday.

By Rod Viney, ago