Several races require pre-entry a week (Feature Race two weeks) ahead.
You can download the forms here.
Race Reports 2018
Races 5a and 5b: Devonport Mazda Frontmarkers and Simons Design Centre Backmarkers 5km at Devonport
The split division races at Devonport Bluff on Sunday were run in warm, still conditions and produced exciting events.
The Devonport Mazda Frontmarkers 5 kilometre handicap was a triumph for Susan Moodie who was one of the favourites. Although she had won a race early last year, training for the Cadbury Marathon, run in January, had her the fittest she has ever been. Moodie had even run a 14 kilometre trail run at Cradle Mountain the day before.
She won comfortably from Karina Mason and Ron Chequer, and was the fastest woman with Nick Young the fastest male.
The backmarkers saw a battle royal between co-markers Wayne Wiseman and Owen Thomas. Thomas led for most of the race as Wiseman sat about ten metres behind. He challenged for the lead with about four hundred metres to run and Thomas was unable to respond, Wiseman going on to win his second club race, from Thomas with Grant McCormack a close third.
Wiseman has set himself to run fifty kilometres a week after an injury plagued 2017 and the increased training regime is certainly paying off.
Kyle Groenewege ran his best race for the year while Bryan Tuit and Troy Atkins passed almost the entire field to finish in fifth and sixth.
Fastest male and female were Brad Taylor and Lyn Saint-John respectively.
Earlier, nominated time winners were Indra Taylor, having her first run with the club, Thomas Ward and Grace Greenhill.
Race05 FrontMarkers Devonport Mazda Handicap 5km
Race05 Fastest FrontMarkers Devonport Mazda Handicap 5km
Race05 Placings BackMarkers Devonport Simons Design Centre Handicap 5km
Race05 Fastest BackMarkers Devonport Simons Design Centre Handicap 5km
Race Previews 2018
Races 5a and 5b: Devonport, Devonport Mazda Frontmarkers and Simons Design Centre Backmarkers 5km
The only split division races of the season occur this Sunday, with the running of the Devonport Mazda 5km Frontmarkers and Simons Design Centre Backmarkers 5km handicaps at the Mersey Bluff.
Each race is conducted over four laps of the Meercroft Park block. This provides great viewing for spectators and fast times for runners.
The frontmarkers’ race will be conducted first and the favourite looks to be Ron Chequer who has been in scintillating form, the best he has shown for some years. He was close to a win last week and prefers this shorter distance.
His main danger could be Susan Moodie who finished just behind him last week. On this circuit, Moodie will have him in her sights and could sail past in the last half lap.
Other strong chances would be Debbie Riley, Ann Horton and Ricky Brown.
The backmarkers’ race promises to be a very exciting one with many chances. Wayne Wiseman looks to be a likely contender for line honours, but he will need to be able to hold off Ben Brockman and Bryan Tuit.
Paul Birch, Scott Murphy and Brad Taylor have undeniable chances, while Isaac Troughton or Gerard Lowry could cause an upset.
Runners are reminded to wear both their timing chips and chest numbers and to register by 9:30 with a 10:00 start for the frontmarkers’ race.
A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.
Race Reports 2018
Race 4: Glow Cosmetics 7km at Heybridge
Race 4 of the season was the Glow Cosmetics seven kilometre handicap at Heybridge. The course took runners to the Howth weighbridge and return.
This looked suitable for the Frontmarkers who have dominated the season so far, and so it proved to be with Somerset runner, Sally Atkinson, taking out a well-deserved victory.
Atkinson, a veteran of almost four hundred PCCCT runs, was most unlucky in the first race of the year when she as grabbed close to the line after an error led to a slightly longer distance being run than what was scheduled. This was her fourth win with the club, her last being seven years ago.
She also had a close call on Sunday just holding off first starter Terry Watson, with fellow frontmarker and race favourite, Karina Mason, in third.
Having trained for the Gone Nuts race, where she completed the full 101 kilometres, Atkinson was very fit.
Stuart Greenhill led the field early on until Mason took over. Back markers Ben Brockman and Wayne Wiseman were looking good and further up the field Susan Moodie and Anna Murton looked chances.
Anna Murton and Debbie Riley both performed well, while Ron Chequer turned in another promising run.
However, Atkinson was not going to be caught this time and was delighted to break the tape.
Fastest male and female were Brad Taylor and Lyn Saint-John respectively.
Nominated time winners were Robyn Luttrell, Kasey Aichberger, Heath Bramich and Lachie Riley.
Race Previews 2018
Race 4: Heybridge, Glow Cosmetics 7km
Members head to Heybridge on Sunday for the next run – the Glow Cosmetics seven kilometre handicap.
The race is on a flat and fast out-and-back course to the weighbridge at Howth. It will be a chance for runners to record some slick times and see where they are with their early season fitness.
Last week’s race was also seven kilometres and should give a good guide to this week’s top chances and chief among these would be Karina Mason who displayed a return to form with a close-up second. She will only need to run up to that to prove very difficult to run down from a front mark.
Ron “Chubby” Chequer has continued on from a good end to last season with several strong runs. Obviously he has trained hard over the summer.
Owen Thomas is another who keeps promising to break through and it could be on Sunday, while Devonport Surf Club stalwarts, Grant McCormack and Wayne Wiseman could easily win without surprising.
Others who will be well suited include Scott Murphy and Paul Birch.
Runners are reminded to wear both their timing chips and chest numbers and to register by 9:30 with a 10:00 start for the race.
Numbers for the nominated time event were down last week with the bad weather but should bounce back this week, especially with the Easter Bunny reported to be appearing. The nominated time event will be held at 9:05.
Race Reports 2018
Race 3: Cradle Coast Sports and Events 7km at Don
The thunderstorms cleared just in time for race 3 of the season on Sunday – the Cradle Coast Sports and Events 7km handicap at Don. The race was run in perfect running conditions – light drizzle with no wind – although the track was very wet underfoot.
This all suited Burnie runner Mary-Lou Troughton, who was delighted to break through for her first win in her three seasons with the club. It was just a matter of time for Troughton as she was carrying on a family tradition with her husband Ken and two nephews, Ewan and Isaac, already winners with the Club.
Her two children also compete in the nominated time events making cross-country running very much a family affair.
Front markers dominated the race with the winner looking likely to be either Karina Mason or Sally Atkinson until both were passed by Troughton with about 200 m to run.
In a great result for the women, fourth was Susan Moodie, while Ron Chequer was first man to finish with his fifth placing.
Other promising results were turned in by Ann Horton and Owen Thomas while co-markers, Scott Murphy and Aaron Robertson ran together the whole way to finish just inside the ten.
Fastest male and female were Brad Taylor and Natasha Mapley respectively.
Lucy van Rooyen was the nominated time winner with Chloe Bates, Will van Rooyen and Dominic Troughton first three over the line.
Race Previews 2018
Race 3: Don, Cradle Coast Sports and Events 7km
Race three of the season is the Cradle Coast Sports and Events 7 kilometre handicap at Don. The course, which starts at the Don Cricket Ground and uses paths in the area, is very popular with members.
After a very unlucky second two weeks ago, this looks like the perfect race for Sally Atkinson to break through for another win. The slightly longer distance is tailor-made for Atkinson, who is very fit having recently completed the full 101 kilometres of Gone Nuts.
She won’t have it all her own way, however, with a host of other runners looking to break the tape.
Veteran, Wayne Wiseman, runs very fast times for his age group and following a strong second last week will be keen to go one better. He knows the terrain well, as he trains in the area.
Among the other main chances are Thomas Wilson and Matthew Rolls, neither of whom ran last week, but performed well in race one.
Kelly Baxter was unable to break through last year, despite finishing close-up in many races, and could win without surprising. She was fifth last week and would not need to improve much.
If there was to be an upset, it could be provided by Russell Horton, who enjoys running off sealed surfaces.
Runners are reminded to wear both their timing chips and chest numbers and to register by 9:30
A nominated time event will be held at 9:05.
Race Reports 2018
Race 2: Dowling and McCarthy Tyres 5km at Cooee
Race 2 of the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania’s season was held on Saturday – the only Saturday race for the season.
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.
Hot, steamy conditions made for a tough run for the sixty-two starters. Cooee runner, Josh Febey, was not deterred however, digging deep to take the win by just five seconds from Wayne Wiseman. Aaron Robertson again showed good early season form finishing third.
Dale Lancaster lead the field away but Ron Chequer and Mary-Lou Troughton soon had her in their sights and took up the running. Sven Mason and Kelly Baxter looked chances for a time as did backmarkers Jason Fehlberg and Ben Saint-John who started to pick their way through the field.
With less than a kilometre to run Febey had hit the lead and was able to hang on for a well-deserved win. It was his second with the club, the first being in 2015. He credited the win to training with the Salty’s Striders running group, in Burnie. This had not only improved his fitness but given him increased motivation.
Saint-John took out fastest time for the men with Rebecca O’Garey fastest female.
Earlier the nominated time winners were Mia Fehlberg, Mackenzie Troughton and Brian Paine.
Race02 Placings Cooee Dowling and McCarthy Tyres 5km Handicap
Race02 Fastest Cooee Dowling and McCarthy Tyres 5km Handicap
Race Previews 2018
Race 2 – Cooee, Dowling and McCarthy Tyres 5km Saturday
The Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania holds its only Saturday race this week with the running of the Dowling and McCarthy Tyres five kilometre handicap. The Saturday event enables members to compete in the Run Devonport carnival on Sunday.
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.
No doubt runners who ran well in the first race of the season will show up again and we can look to those for a possible winner.Matthew Rolls is very fit and caught the eye with his strong finish into sixth place. He looks very well suited and will fancy his chances.
Doug Hamerlok recorded the fastest time last week and will probably repeat the feat on Saturday. The slightly tougher course will enable him to go close to a win.
Grant McCormack and Dallas van Rooyen from similar marks will look winners at some stage while Josh Febey or Brooke Fehlberg could win without surprising.
A nominated time event will be held at 9:05
Members are reminded to park in the Burnie Greens car park due to the Hall being used for another event.
Race Previews 2018
Race 1 – Burnie Sports Power 5km handicap at Wivenhoe.
The 2018 season of the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania gets underway this Sunday with the Burnie Sports Power 5km handicap commencing at Wivenhoe Showgrounds. The course takes competitors to Fernglade Reserve and return.
Many runners have been training hard over the summer while others use it to have a decent break and rest their bodies.
New handicapper, Nick Young, will be hoping for many runners to cross the line in quick succession after the winner.
One runner who is fit and raring to go is Bryan Tuit. Tuit was unlucky not to win last year and will be looking forward to starting 2018 on the right foot.
Others who would not surprise are Owen Thomas and Mary-Lou Troughton while back-marker, Brad Taylor, is always a chance.
The race will begin at 10:00 with entries closing at 9:30. As registrations for the new season will need to be done also before this time, runners are urged to arrive early.
New members are very welcome. The minimum age to run in the handicapped races is fifteen, but nominated time events over shorter distances and open to all ages, are also held. Those intending to compete in these need to register by 9:05.