The start of the season (March 24th) is rapidly approaching. Here is the membership form. Please save time at the first race, by downloading it and bringing it filled in.
Thanks, Rod
News
Notes from our handicapper for 2019
Pat McMahon is our handicapper for 2019. He has asked that these notes be provided to runners to give an indication of how he will undertake the difficult task of handicapping our races this year.
Handicapping PCCCT 2019 Season
I thank the Club for the opportunity to perform duty as Handicapper for the 2019 Season. All systems aren’t infallible. I am not a computer savvy person but I have certain guidelines to enable all persons to be able to compete on an equitable basis.
My Guidelines when handicapping competitors :
All persons are entitled to a win providing consistent performance to their ability.
Consistent running to ability can only be measured by performance over a number of races.
Consistent Performance cannot be measured by poor form, injury or sickness.
New competitors will be given a mark in accordance with information given or obtained and after performances that mark may be readjusted.
New competitors should be competing for a win at least halfway through a season.
A competitor will not be penalised for consistent running to their ability.
A Handicapper competing in Club Races will not have an improvement on his handicap unless it is sanctioned by the Committee.
Ability is commensurate to age and gender.
It is an aim to have the majority of a race to finish in a three minute time frame. (Excluding poor form, sickness or injury)
Winners will only be penalised to be able to be competitive at the top end of the field, if in form.
We are not competing for sheep stations so all persons should be able to compete on an even basis, enjoy the moment, the company and atmosphere.
It is good to be alive and be able to front up . We are a long time dead.
We are fortunate to have a Club that is able and willing to provide an array of running races and social events for an affordable amount .
All the best for the upcoming season.
Regards,
Pat McMahon
News
Results of AGM
The AGM was held December 4th. Here is the President’s report presented at the meeting:
The following committee was elected:
Patron: John McGuire
President: Barry Ling
Vice-Presidents: Mark Saint John and Malcolm Nutting
Treasurer: Gerard Leary
Secretary/Publicity Officer: Rod Viney
Handicapper: Pat McMahon
Committee: Darlene Jacques, Kelly Baxter, Ellen Elphinstone were elected for two years (with Russell Horton, Dale Atkinson and Dallas van Rooyen continuing for a second year)
Auditor: Rendell Ridge.
News
2018 Annual General Meeting
This year’s AGM will be held, as usual, at Ulverstone Surf Life Saving Club.
It will be on Tuesday 4th December at 7:00pm.
Race Reports 2018
Race 27: Sea Lyons Swim School 6km at Burnie
The Sea Lyons Swim School six kilometre handicap was the final race for the 2018 season and was run on an out-and-back course from West Park, Burnie, in fine but windy conditions.
Off a front mark, Ros Hendriks led clearly at the half-way turn from Darlene Jacques and Barry Ling and maintained her lead until overtaken by Allan Bakes, with a kilometre to run.
Bakes, in turn, was being pursued by the race favourite, Arnie Elphinstone, who was running very strongly and looked the likely winner.
However, Bakes was able to use the leg speed he trains for to sprint strongly over the last two hundred metres and hang on for the win. He only took up running ten years ago at the age of sixty-five, and this was his fourth win with the Club – an impressive effort.
Rod Viney was third with Hendriks hanging on for fourth in front of Nick Young.
Fastest male and female were Jono Price and Lyn Saint-John respectively.
The nominated time winners were Chloe Bates, Brain Paine, Lucy van Rooyen and Dominic Troughton.
Following the event, the Club Champion awards were presented to Brad Taylor and Lyn Saint John with the consistency title going to Karina Mason, who was the first female to win this in the Club’s fifty-two year history.
Life membership was given to Club treasurer, Gerard Leary with John Lucas, Rod Viney and Rick Ferguson receiving Club service awards.
Race Previews 2018
Burnie: The Sea Lyons Swim School 6km
The final race of the 2018 season is the Sea Lyons Swim School six kilometre handicap at Burnie.
A new out-and-back course will be used, starting at the rear of West Park and travelling east to the yacht club. This will take in the new path, recently completed along Marine Terrace.
Racing will be keen as members without a win this year will want to take advantage of a season of solid training.
The clear favourite must be Arnold Elphinstone who has been showing great form with several close up finishes culminating in a second last week to his wife, Ellen. This shorter course will suit him even better and he will definitely be the one to beat.
Frontmarkers should be to the fore over this distance and the top chances could be Roselyn Hendriks and Allan Bakes. Hendriks was a great fifth last week and Bakes was sixth the week before.
Strongest of the middlemarkers look to be Nick Young, Terry Watson, John Badcock and Kelly Baxter.
If backmarkers are favoured by conditions, then any of Simon Gates, Thomas Wilson or Mark Saint-John could break the tape.
Entries close at 9:30 with the race beginning at 10:00. There will be a nominated time event at 9:05.
Following the event, end-of-year festivities will occur at The Point, West Park. There will be a club provided barbecue and trophies will be presented to the season’s consistency winners and club champions.
Race Reports 2018
Race 26: Somerset Pharmacy 10km at Somerset
The Somerset Pharmacy ten kilometre handicap was run Sunday on a tough hilly course utilising Somerset’s Back Cam Road.
The event gave runners their second last chance to record a win for the season and so was keenly contested.
It proved a triumph for Burnie husband and wife, Arnold and Ellen Elphinstone, who ran the quinella with Ellen earning bragging rights by crossing the line first.
The pair have been enjoying close competition in recent weeks although neither has quite managed to break though.
Ellen won last year’s Burnie to Ridgley race so was well proven on this type of course. She mixes her running training with cycling which she was forced to take up a couple of years ago due to a persistent hip injury.
Roselyn Hendriks was the first away and led for all but the last kilometre when caught first by Ellen and then Arnold. She battled on very strongly to finish fifth with Troy Reader and Simon Gates running superbly from back marks in to third and fourth places respectively.
Other eye-catching performances were recorded by Josh Febey and Nick Young while Thomas Wilson finished eighth and also recorded fastest time. Terry Watson and John Badcock rounded out “the ten”.
The fastest female was Natasha Mapley.
The nominated time winners were Ashley and Mia Fehlberg, Brain Paine, Hannah Elphinstone and Lucy Campbell.
Race Previews 2018
Somerset: The Somerset Pharmacy 10km at Somerset
The penultimate race of the 2018 season is a tough one – the Somerset Pharmacy ten kilometre handicap at Somerset.
The out-and-back course starts by the Cam River and follows the Murchison Highway to Back Cam Road and then continues on that hilly route until the half way mark.
However, with a season of running behind them, competitors should find a long, hilly race no problem and many will be looking for the win with only two chances left this year.
Table Cape runner, David Murton, looks to have a second-to-none chance. After a strong start to the year, his form dropped off a bit but in recent weeks he has shown he is back to his best, culminating in a great seventh in the Feature Race two weeks ago.
Andrew Bates has not been able to compete in many races due to football commitments but his strong effort for fifth last week has him on track for a win here. He is another who looked close to a win earlier in the year.
Natasha Mapley looks the best of the women runners if she can produce an effort like she did in the Feature Race although Ellen Elphinstone will also be very hard to beat.
Other runners to keep an eye on are Arnold Elphinstone, Matthew Greenhill, Marcus Cook and Thomas Wilson.
Entries close at 9:30 with the race beginning at 10:00.
There will be a nominated time event at 9:05.
Race Reports 2018
Race 25: McLean, McKenzie and Topfer Big Six 6km at Burnie.
The McLean, McKenzie and Topfer Big Six six kilometre handicap at Burnie was run in perfect conditions and a good field gathered to hear the starter’s orders.
John Purton led the field away on the circuit course which incorporated the short but steep climb up Brickport Road.
Although front markers Barry Ling, Ken Williams Stuart Greenhill and Liz Murton featured for the first three kilometres, once the hill was reached middle-markers Alan Bakes, Andrew Bates and Michelle D’Monte soon took over at the front.
However, backmarkers, Thomas Wilson and Bryan Tuit, were storming through the field and started to look the main chances.
As the ascent was completed with a kilometre to run, Tuit had taken over the lead with Wilson in hot pursuit. Tuit was able to hold on for a well-deserved victory, with husband and wife, Arnold and Ellen Elphinstone running into third and fourth.
Tuit was pleased to finally break through for his first win since 2015. He was well suited by the course which was hilly but also had sections that allowed him to utilise the speed on which he has been working in preparation for the coastal Christmas carnivals.
Other eye-catching performances were recorded by Mark Saint-John and Michael Bates with Alex Johnstone impressing with his ninth.
Wilson was the fastest male with Lyn Saint-John fastest female.
The nominated time winners were Dominic Troughton, Cayla Ward, Lucy van Rooyen and Mackenzie Troughton.
Race Previews 2018
McLean, McKenzie and Topfer Big Six 6km at Burnie
As the excitement of the Gowans Toyota Wynyard to Burnie Feature race dies down, runners are preparing for Race 25 – the McLean, McKenzie and Topfer Big Six 6km handicap at Burnie.
The course is a circuit starting and finishing at the Howe Street Netball Centre and uses West Park Grove, the Bass Highway and Brickport Road. It requires runners to be proficient at steep gradients, both downhill and uphill and that together with the distance, suits middle-markers.
With only three races left in the season, runners without a win this year will be looking to make all the training payoff by taking out a victory in one of those races.
A runner who has had to work hard to get back to fitness after time off with illness is Patrick McMullen and after a good twelfth last week he could be the victor here. Each week recently he has been improving and a deserved win is close.
Ellen Elphinstone was runner-up last week and could be the best of the female runners, although Natasha Mapley is certainly coming good as the season closes and a win would not surprise. She was a strong sixth last week and the toughness of this event will suit her.
Other competitors whose recent form gives them chances include David Murton, Hayden Bishop, Ewen Troughton and Michelle D’Monte.
Entries close at 9:30 with the race beginning at 10:00.
There will be a nominated time event at 9:05.