Race 8: The High on Penguin Mountain Classic Burnie to Ridgley 16.5km

Kim small

Warm sunny conditions greeted the forty-two 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 that it needs a fit determined runner to take it out due to the almost constant uphill course.

The race proved to be a triumph for Ulverstone runner, Kim Steven, who once again showed his liking for the most challenging events.

Steven is also a dual winner of the equally as tough, 25 kilometre Ironman Classic in the Forth Valley and is a regular competitor at the coastal trial run, Gone Nuts.

He had run third in this event two years ago and was thrilled to breakthrough, albeit for a narrow win over the extreme backmarker, Thomas Murton, who ran a wonderful race to pass every competitor but Steven and also take out the fastest time of 60:38.

The fastest woman was Amie Bramich, who also took out fifth place, continuing her great season

Andrew Rolls, was a strong third from a back mark, just in front of middle-marker Terry Watson who looked a likely winner at the half-way mark and should salute soon.

Other excellent performances were recorded by Hayden Bishop and Evan Brett, while Karina Mason showed her liking for longer events with a great run into ninth. The winner from two years ago, Ellen Elphinstone rounded out “the ten”.

Race08 MountainClassic16.5kmLinePosition

Race08 MountainClassic16.5kmFastest

Drinks during the Mountain Classic

Like other running organisations we are keen to reduce our impact on the environment. Consequently we are going to try to limit the use of disposable plastic cups in our events.

Could runners in the Mountain Classic on Sunday please provide their own drinks in drink bottles, labelled with your name and race number (see example). There will be a box at the start in which to place them. Please have them in the box by 10:00am.

They will be taken to the drink station for you and then to Ridgley for you to collect.

Also there will be a soup lunch provided after the event. A big thank you to our soup makers.

drink bottle

Burnie-Ridgley: The High on Penguin “Mountain Classic” 16.5km

Mountain Classic handicaps -24

The first of the season’s “blue ribbon” events occurs this Sunday with the running of the time-honoured High on Penguin Mountain Classic.

The course is a tough16.5km from Burnie Park. It travels via West Park Grove, Mooreville and West Mooreville Roads to the finish at Ridgley. It is mostly uphill and members look forward to this event to test their fitness and resolve.

The winner is usually a runner who doesn’t necessarily have a fast pace but rather stamina and the determination to keep pushing hard.

One who fits the bill is David Murton. He is proven over longer distances and is in good form. His best recent placing was a sixth at Don but this will suit him much better than the 7km of that event.

Amie Bramich won two races last year but will be a top chance as she has further improved. She has been recording fantastic times and a win would not surprise.

Brian Lyons will be the last away but he will love the distance and hills and would be a deserving winner. The other backmarkers, Evan Brett and Thomas Murton also look to be top chances, while Aaron Robertson, Andrew Rolls, Terry Watson and Josh Febey cannot ruled out as each is nearing a win and it could be here.

Entries have closed and the first runner will be away at 9:30.

Runners are reminded to wear timing chips and chest numbers.

There will be no nominated time events this week..

Race7: The Greg and Darlene Jacques Parcel Contracting 5km at Penguin

John Badcock

The Jacques Parcel Contracting five kilometre handicap was conducted at the Penguin Motocross track and was run in beautiful weather. The course took competitors into the surrounding bush and the off-road conditions were appreciated as a change from recent road running.

A good sized field entered and racing was very competitive.

The race was a triumph for middle-marker, John Badcock. who took the lead from fronties John Purton and Tim Dowling with about a kilometre to run and managed to hold off the charging backmarkers. It was a popular win as for Badcock, from Yolla, it was his first success after commencing with the Club in 2015.

He has also struggled to gain full fitness and confidence, after an horrific fall during a bicycle race two years ago when he broke his femur.

Badcock hung on to triumph by the narrow margin of just one second from Ewen Troughton, who was also just beaten into second in this race last year. Dallas van Rooyen was third, just six seconds further back, with Ben Brockman, having his first start for the year, a close fourth.

Dowling, a previous winner of this race, held on for a good seventh with race favourite, Hayden Bishop finishing ninth.

Troughton had fastest time among the men with Amie Bramich fastest of the women.

Nominated time winners were Hannah Elphinstone, Maya Bramich, Mackenzie Troughton and Tom Winkel.

Race07Penguin Trail 5km Line Position

Race07Penguin Trail 5km Fastest

Penguin: The Greg and Darlene Jacques Parcel Contracting 5km at Penguin

The PCCCT goes “off the beaten track” this Sunday with the running of the Greg and Darlene Jacques Parcel Contracting five kilometres at Penguin..

The event will start and finish at the Penguin Motocross complex at Dial Road and be run in the bush in the vicinity. With the expected rain this week, there are bound to be plenty of puddles and slippery paths to be negotiated.

Some runners love these conditions and throw caution to the wind while others go steady and take great care with their footing.

Picking a winner here is not easy, however one runner who is getting back to his best is Hayden Bishop.

After taking up running, Bishop made rapid improvement until an injury last year set him back. But with solid training he has returned to great form, as his recent starts show.

His main danger could be Aaron Robertson, who is another who is proven in the conditions which are likely to prevail. He certainly has the class and fitness to give it a shake.

Other runners in form who will be chances are Simon Gates, John Badcock, Amie Bramich and Mollie Powell.

Members are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the following week’s Burnie to Ridgley Mountain Classic.

Entries close at 9:30 ready for a 10:00 start and new runners are always welcome.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:05.

Race 6: MA and LJ Bates 9km at Stowport

Anthea resized

Race six of the season was the longest and toughest of the season to date. The MA and LJ Bates nine kilometre handicap handed runners an out and back course with an uphill run to the turn. Blustery conditions on the outward leg contributed to the challenge.

Numbers were down due to other events occurring at the same time, but a quality field still gathered at the Stowport Hall for the start.

John Purton had the honour of leading the field away and led for some time before being overtaken by Ken Williams before the turn. Tim Dowling running his best race for some time, had raced into contention with White, Caroline Brett and Andrew Hay also looking chances. Williams led until the last kilometre when overtaken by White who finished strongly to repel all challenges.

Josh Febey recorded another promising effort for second with Dowling hanging on for third followed by Williams in fourth.

It was White’s first win with the Club. Although she commenced in 2015, this is the first year she has been able to run consistently. She has, however, been competing the last few years with the Coastal Senior Cycling Club with success. She finds mixing running and cycling training excellent for managing her fitness and avoiding injury.

Fastest male and female were Jason Fehlberg and Amie Bramich respectively.

Earlier, nominated time winners Milla Price, Emily Aichberger, Ashley Fehlberg and Grace Greenhill.

Race06 Stowport 9km Line Position

Race06 Stowport 9km Fastest

Stowport: MA and LJ Bates Plumbing 9km

The longest race of the season to date awaits runners this week when they head to Stowport for the MA and LJ Bates Plumbing 9km handicap.

A new course will be used this year due to the previous circuit having traffic risks at the start/finish.

The race will be conducted over an out and back course, starting at the Stowport Cricket Ground.

The outward leg will contain hills but the payoff will come with the mainly downhill run back from the turn.

Middle and back markers should be best suited and the extra toughness and distance from recent races could provide a surprise result.

One runner who has been in great form and will be well suited, and so wouldn’t surprise, is Thomas Murton who is likely to start from the very back mark and will have to pass every other starter. Murton certainly has the ability to do this and is in form with recent results including a second at Port Sorell and fourths at Devonport and Cooee.

The biggest dangers could well be his sister Anna and father, David, who have both been in great form. A Murton trifecta is not out of the question and would surely be a first for the club.

Others with strong chances include Dallas van Rooyen, Michael Purton and Caroline Brett

Entries will close at 9:30 with the race commencing at 10:00.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:05.

Race 5: Dowling McCarthy Tyres 5km at Cooee

Alex Johnstone resized

Race five of the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania’s season was held on Sunday and the Easter Bunny delivered a beautiful day for running with members keen to work off some chocolate-related calories.

Starting and finishing at the Cooee Hall, the course circumnavigated Burnie High School before heading towards the Durham Road hill, climbing five hundred metres to the turn.

Considering the long weekend, a good field gathered to hear the starter’s orders, including twelve having either their first run with the club or first for the year.

Natalie Luttrell and John Purton led the field away with Ken Williams, at 79, the Club’s oldest runner, belying his years to be in hot pursuit..

But it became clear that the winner would come from one of the middlemarkers who were quickly winding in the fronties.

In the last kilometre Alex Johnstone, took over the lead and was just able to hold off Andrew Rolls for a narrow win with Terry Watson running a game third.

Thomas Murton, who started from the very back mark, was fourth, in front of race favourite Josh Febey who was next to finish. Williams hung on well for eighth with promising runs also being recorded by Ewen Troughton and Michael Bates.

Murton recorded fastest time for the men with Brooke Fehlberg was fastest woman.

Earlier the nominated time winners were Armani Walker, McKenzie Troughton and Hanna Francombe.

Race05 Cooee Line Position 5km

Race05 Cooee Fastest 5km

Cooee: Dowling McCarthy Tyres 7km

The Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania travels to Cooee this week for the running of the Dowling and McCarthy Tyres five kilometre handicap.

The interesting out-and-back course which starts at the Cooee Hall, has a short, sharp climb to the turn and traverses roads, paths and grass areas.

With four events now completed this year, several runners have been consistently close-up and will likely break through soon.

One of those is Joshua Febey, who won this event last year, proving his liking for the course and distance. He has continued to improve, as young runners can, and is now very capable of winning again off his revised mark.

Andrew Rolls was a great second last week at Don, finishing slightly in front of Febey and will be his biggest threat.  He also recorded a high placing at his only other start this season.

Roselyn Hendriks was close to a win last year and showed this year she is on track for a win soon and it could well be on Sunday. She finished fourth in the front markers event at Devonport and is well suited by the five kilometre distance. Off a front mark she will prove hard to catch.

Others who would not surprise with a victory are John Badcock, Terry Watson, David Murton and Kelly Baxter.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:05

Ballot regarding a sealed handicap

It has been suggested to the Committee that we consider running Race 16, Fish Frenzy 5km as a sealed handicap.

This event doubles as the Club 5km championship.
So, it would be a mass start and the first three men and women across the line would be the championship placegetters.

Following the race, the handicaps would be applied to the elapsed times to determine the handicap placegetters.

Your Committee determined at Monday night’s meeting that we would put the proposal to members. Consequently, at the next 4 races you will be asked to vote (on paper), yes or no, to indicate if you support the proposal. It will need strong support to be considered further.

Please feel free to discuss and share your views. Thank you, Rod.