Rod Viney

Feature Race 2018 Handicaps

2018 Calcutta

This Sunday sees the running of the Gowans Toyota Wynyard to Burnie Feature race.

This event which is the richest and most prestigious of the season is run over 17.6 kilometres, starting outside the Wynyard post office and culminating with a lap of West Park oval.

All members would like to add their name to the honour board listing previous winners, but only one will have that privilege. To win, a number of factors have to come together, but principal is a quality injury-free preparation to enable a competitor to utilise the handicap provided.

There are many who fit the bill. Chief among these are Rick Ferguson, who looks the best of the middle-markers, and Michael Purton who will start from a mark towards the rear of the field. Both have been in sparkling form in recent weeks.

Sven Mason would be a worthy winner as he was beaten by the smallest possible margin in this event a few years ago.

Kyle Groenewegen and Hayden Bishop will be very competitive while Arnold Elphinstone, Debbie Riley and Mollie Powell look hard to beat from their marks.

Other potential winners include Joshua Febey, Anna Murton, Simon Gates and Evan Brett, however there are many other runners for whom it might all come together on the day to enable them to breast the tape.

The race commences at 9:30 with Aaron Harvey the last away just over an hour later.

The winner is expected to finish around 11:30.

This Sunday’s race is the Molly Malone’s six kilometre handicap commencing at Roundhouse Park, Devonport. The course usually takes runners to the Bluff lighthouse and return but this year, due to council path works on Victoria Parade, competitors will enjoy a flat out-and-back course to Horsehead Creek using the paths along Formby and Devonport Roads.

As it will provide members with their last chance for a solid hit-out before the following week’s Feature Race, it promises to be fast and furious. The winner will not have a handicap readjustment until after that event, so a victory here will not affect his/her chances in the big one.

Following a wonderful effort when she finished third last week, Roselyn Hendriks will fancy her chances. She has been showing continual improvement and will be tough to run down from a front mark.

Another one of the female runners, in Mollie Powell, could be her biggest threat. Powell has recently returned to live on the coast after completing university and with some consistent races under belt is now ready to win

Best of the middle markers may be Michael Purton and Rick Ferguson, both of whom will be fresh after missing last week’s long race. They each have both displayed the form necessary to show up here.

Others who wouldn’t surprise include Ken Williams, Ewen Troughton (a previous winner of this race) Brooke Fehlberg and Arnie Elphinstone.

The race will start at the slightly later time of 10:30 with entries closing at 10:00.

Gunns Plains is the scenic venue of Race 22. The Kevin Burns Memorial, Brown Family and Tyreright 13.5km handicap was to be raced over a circuit course but due to roadworks in the area, will now be an out-and-back race starting at Wings’ Wildlife Park.

With the Feature Race just two weeks away, members will be looking for a good strong hit out over this distance for preparation, as next week’s race is only six kilometres.

In looking for likely winners, the longer races run this year could provide the best clues.

One runner who has mostly flown “under the radar” recently but who is fit and has shown form in tough events is Graeme Barr.

Barr’s best finish was his sixth in the King/Queen of the Mountains over 16.5km. He was only three minutes form the winner so wouldn’t have to improve much to take this out.

Backmarkers, Ben Brockman and Evan Brett will be very hard to beat, judging on their great runs in the recent half marathon to finish third and fifth respectively. Brockman has been doing huge kilometres in training and will relish the distance.

Hayden Bishop was second in that event and will be another top chance, while Ellen Elphinstone, Michael Purton and Amie Bramich cannot be discounted

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

Entries for the Feature Race also close this Sunday.

A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:05.

The fourth, and final, run in the popular four-run trail series takes place this Sunday when the Club heads to Fernglade for the Motors five kilometre handicap.

The course starts at the Pony Club grounds and consists of a circuit in Fernglade followed by another in the vicinity of the grounds.

With all the wet weather of recent days, there are sure to be many muddy, slippery patches to test the sure-footedness of competitors.

The return to a shorter distance after a series of longer races will be welcomed by many and one runner who is sure to perform well is Andrew Plapp who showed in the last trail run at Spreyton he likes this type of race.

In that event Plapp turned in his best performance for the year to finish fifth. He won’t have to improve much to take this out.

Another frontmarker with a big chance is club president and veteran of over 1 150 club races, Barry Ling. It is some time since he has been competitive, mainly due to persistent injuries, and a victory for him would be a popular one. He was sixth at Spreyton, just behind Plapp.

Among the middlemarkers, Russell Horton and Michelle D’Monte will be hard to beat, while brothers Isaac and Ewen Troughton may be the best of the “backies”.

Entries will close at the normal time of 9:30, with the race starting at 10:00.

A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:05.