Rod Viney

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

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

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

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