Rod Viney

The PCCCT will use a new course this Sunday for Race 21 – the Jacques Parcel Contracting 5.3km handicap.

The race will start and finish at the Dial Park sporting complex at Penguin. While the first and final parts of the race will be on sealed roads, there will be a tricky section of trail in the middle part, using mountain bike trails on the Dial Range. This section will provide muddy, difficult footing as well as being quite undulating making it both interesting and challenging.

With the season rapidly coming to a climax, many runners who have been close without winning in recent weeks will be keen to take out the victory.

One who will be perfectly suited by the course is Paul Pilkington.

Pilkington is a relative newcomer to the Club, has been impressive all year and in recent weeks has been looking a likely winner at various stages of races. He may break through on Sunday.

Josh Febey has been finishing strongly from a backmark each week and finished second just two weeks ago. The tough sections of this course will aid backmarkers in catching slower runners and he might finally be able to take the win.

Rhian Miles in her first year with the Club is performing very well and will be a chance while, others to consider are Nigel Baptist, Shaun Batten and the youngster, Emily Aichberger.

Entries close at 6pm Friday with the race starting at 9:30am.

There will be a nominated time event at 9pm. Runners are reminded that entries for the half-marathon and teams half-marathon close at 11:59pm on Sunday.

We invite you to wear a black armband at the race in honour of our friend, member and sponsor, Terry Watson, who died this morning.

The race commences at Wings Wildlife Park, Winduss Road, Gunns Plains.

The Park would prefer we park up near the private cabins. Reach these by driving up between the café and the toilets. Please do not park in the café carpark nor over any gates.

Most of the race is run on public roads. You are responsible for keeping yourself safe. Watch for traffic on the road and also entering onto the road.

The Course: Exit the park using the the left-hand side of the road and run to the junction of Winduss Road with South Riana Road. Turn left, cross carefully to the right side of the road and continue over the bridge to Gunns Plains Road.

Turn right and continue approximately 3.5km until turning right into Marshalls Bridge Road.

Continue over the bridge, and turn right again on reaching Lowana Road.

Continue on this road which becomes South Riana Road until reaching Winduss Road again, cross carefully then continue along to re-enter the Park and on to the start/finish.

Public Health have advised that any person currently in Tasmania who has been in SE Queensland since July 17, are required to self isolate. You should not attend the race tomorrow if you have been in SE Queensland. For more information, please visit https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/ or call the Public Health Hotline.

Gunns Plains is the venue of the “Kevin Burn Memorial” Pathway Therapies/Brown Family 13.5km handicap to be raced over a circuit course taking in both sides of the Leven River and starting at Wings’ Wildlife Park.

The longer distance over a mostly flat course will be a change from recent races but also be a preview for the upcoming half-marathon and Feature Race, both similar events.

The race could see some different winning contenders, as a high cruising speed will be needed, rather than an ability to run hills as in several recent races.

One runner who will relish the distance is Aaron Robertson. He has been “thereabouts” in recent weeks without really being to the fore but Sunday’s course will suit him admirably.

Others who are sure to be in contention are Troy Reader, who has been very consistent, and the improving Paul Pilkington. They were fourth and fifth respectively last week and are sure to go close to victory again.

Josh Febey must be a very strong chance. He has been finishing very strongly from a back mark and ran into second last week. A similar performance will see him break the tape here.

Entries close at 6:00pm Friday at www.pccct.org with the race starting at 09:30.

A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:00.

Entries for the half-marathon and half-marathon teams’ race are also being taken now and will close on August 8.

The next race of the 2021 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 almost a full season of running behind them most members are very fit and the race will hold no terrors.

This looks like a good opportunity for the “Railton Rocket”, Gerard Lowry, to make a return to the winners’ list. Lowry had a couple of years off running with illness and injury but this season has been exhibiting some of his old form.

He trains over very similar terrain and will relish the hills.

If Anne Thomas can repeat her great run of last week, she will prove very hard for Lowry to rein in. In just her second year with the Club, Thomas has improved greatly and is very close to a victory

Steve Tammens is another runner gradually moving up the placings each week, and will fancy his chances here, while others who would not surprise include Troy Reader, Aaron Robertson, Kelly Baxter and Josh Febey.

Entries must be made online at www.pccct.org  and close 6:00pm Friday with the race beginning at 9:30. New runners are always welcome.

There will be a nominated time event at 9:00.

The PCCCT returns this Sunday to a course which hasn’t been used for a few years but which was always a popular one – an out-and-back from Heybridge using the footpath beside the Bass Highway, starting at the football ground on River Road.

The event is the Bates Plumbing seven-kilometre handicap, and following the long, hilly Ironman of last week, it will be especially appreciated. No doubt, many of those who competed in that twenty-five kilometre race will still be feeling the effects, so the main chances this week could be those who gave it a miss.

Club handicapper, Pat McMahon, (whose handicap is set by the committee) looks to be the runner to beat. He has been showing great form of late competing in the shorter events, culminating in a close second at West Ulverstone two weeks ago. The extra two kilometres will hold no fears for him.

There are many others, however, who must be strongly considered. Sam Lovatt has been in great form while Jackie Reid and Steve Tammens also finished close up at Ulverstone.

If there was to be a surprise result it could be provided by frontmarker, Dale Lancaster, who is showing continued improvement after missing the first part of the season due to injury.

Entries must be done on-line and close at 6pm on Friday with the race commencing at 9:30.

New members are always welcome and can join at www.pccct.org.

A nominated time event will be held at 9:00.