Hayden Bishop

Race eight of the PCCCT season heads to Devonport, for the running of the Physiotas City of Devonport 10km Handicap. The course utilises walking tracks in the Devonport area, with a mix of sealed paths and sawdust to contend with.

This event will also incorporate the Molly Malone’s 10km Club Championships. As such, the race will be a mass start, seeing all members start at the same time. The first three males and females across the line will be the placegetters in the Championships. Handicaps will be applied after the race to determine the winner of the Handicap race.

Thomas Murton will be the clear favourite to take out the championships for the men, with co-marker Thomas Winkel in hot pursuit. Hayden Bishop and Sam Mawer will also be in contention for a placing. Lyn Saint-John, Felicity Lovatt, and Brooke Fehlberg look set to battle it out for the women, though Natasha Mapley could change all that if she returns for her first run with the club this year.

With the mass start format, the handicap winner could be a surprise. It’s hard to go past David Wright though, with two second places already this season. Dominic Troughton and Nigel Baptist are also strong chances, recording strong results all season.

Runners are reminded that entries are online only and close at 6pm Friday. The race will start at 9:30am Sunday. New members are always welcome and encouraged to check our website. www.pccct.org

Please ensure you are at the start line for your posted handicap time. Race start is at 9:30am.

Please note: there will be no nominated time event today.

There will be drink stations but you need to place your own drink bottles in the collection crates at the start. Please make sure they have your name and number on them.

If you have a supporter providing you with drinks/nourishment, they must do this at the drink stations. We don’t want runners or supporters crossing over the road during the race at random spots.

Please be very careful on this course because you will be running across intersections and driveways which won’t have marshals. 

The meeting place is at the cenotaph in West Park.

Run east towards the gate and then up the path inside the park adjacent to West Park Grove. Exit the park and continue on the right -hand side of the road to Fortuna Avenue. Turn right and continue to the roundabout at Brickport Road.

Here you will be crossed over to the footpath on the right-hand side. Continue until you reach Three Mile Line Road and turn right.

Continue until you reach West Moorville Road and turn left. Stay on this road until you reach its junction with Ridgley Highway, then go straight ahead before finally turning right to finish in the car park at the Ridgley Football Club.

The first of the season’s major races will be run this Sunday, with the running of the High on Penguin Mountain Classic 16.5km Handicap.

Starting at Burnie Park, the course heads up via West Park Grove, Mooreville and West Moorville, to finish at Ridgley. It has a reputation for being a very tough course, with over 400m of elevation gained over the distance. It typically has suited the stronger runners, who can maintain a solid pace over the incline.

One such runner will be the backmarker, Thomas Murton. Whilst being fast, he also thrives on tough courses. Examples include multiple first placings at Gone Nuts, as well as a strong time of two hours and thirty-one minutes at the Easter Marathon this year. He always performs well in these big races and will be one to watch, storming through the field from the back mark.

A previous winner, Ellen Burgess, is also a strong chance. She has proven herself on this course before and wouldn’t surprise if she scored herself another victory in this race.

Brendan Burr and Nigel Baptist have recorded good results all season and could bring out a winning performance with the excitement of a bigger race.

Others to watch are the “Railton-Rocket” Gerard Lowry, and Ben Brockman.

Entries have now closed, with the first runner away at 9:30am. Handicaps, as well as the Race Brief, will be posted on Friday at 6pm.

Whilst entries have closed for this race, entries are open for the Devonport 10km the following week. New members are always welcomed and encouraged to check out the website. www.pccct.org

There will be no nominated time event this week.

NOTE: There is a typo in the title of the race on the handicaps. The distance is listed as 9km, but the race is 6km. The handicaps are correct for 6km, it is just a typo in the title.

COURSE

Course begins on Fernglade Road outside top entrance to Pony Club. Proceed down the road on the left hand side to the bottom entrance to Fernglade and turn left before the bridge into Fernglade itself. Continue on the road, past the picnic area and onto the track. Follow track right through to the pumphouse. Turn around large witches hat and proceed back up the road towards top entrance. Turn left about half-way up onto the track which will take you back down to bottom gate.

From here you will be directed up the road on the western side (now right hand side) past starting point and up to the second turning witches hat. Turn around and come back down the same side of the road to be directed into Fernpark Pony Club at the top gate. Witches hats and painted arrows will guide you on a 2km loop of the pony club to finish in front of the clubrooms.

NOTES

As per usual when running on the road please remember safety is your responsibility also. Please follow the directions of all marshals. Last year some runners crossed the road prematurely, meaning we were running on both sides of the road and creating a potential traffic hazard. Please stay on western side of road until final crossing at the marshal.

As this course is in the bush with dappled light and variable terrain, including roots and leaf litter, please avoid running with sunglasses and run with your eyes as well as your legs.

The PCCCT heads to Fernglade this Sunday for the running of the Wilkinson’s Pharmacy 6km Handicap. The race will be starting later, at 1pm, to allow runners a chance to pay respects to the ANZAC’s in the morning.

A familiar and popular course, it consists of sealed road, trail, and grass, with some hills thrown in for good measure. If we get some rain through the week, it will make for a challenging but enjoyable run for members.

Ellen Burgess looks to be a good chance of taking line honours, having recorded a strong run into fifth at Wynyard last week. A member of the committee, Ellen puts equally as much hard work and dedication into her running as her position in the club. This course will suit her well. 

Dominic Troughton wouldn’t surprise if he broke the tape first. He again featured on the podium last week and must be very close to securing a win.

New member Sam Mawer impressed on debut with the club, recording the fastest time of the day and finishing in fourth. If he can reproduce his form on that day, a good result certainly awaits.

Others to watch are Jason Scott and David Wright.

Runners are reminded that entries are online only and close at 6pm Friday. Entries for the Burnie to Ridgley Mountain Classic are also open and will close midnight Sunday. New members are always welcome and encouraged to check our website. www.pccct.org

The nominated time event will start at 12:30pm.

This course starts at Gutteridge Gardens, Wynyard.  The race starts near the soundshell and heads north-west on the path until this ends at Jenner St.  The race then briefly follows Jenner St before following the track along the river.  At ~1.5 km into the run the track end and runners will cross the road entry into the Cape Bridge Picnic Ground and follow Table Cape Rd on the right hand side footpath, over the bridge.  Immediately after the bridge, runners will cross the road and join the northern side of the river track.  The river track continues for~2.5 km until it reaches the Bass Highway.  The course then takes the footbridge across the Inglis river and then drops down onto the southern side of the river track for the ~2.5 km return to Table Cape Rd.  Runners then cross Table Cape Rd and return to the Start/Finish along the same route as initially taken.

Notes:

1. There are two crossings Table Cape Rd and there are short sections where the course follows Jenner St and the Esplanade.  Runners are strongly reminded that they do not have right of way and that they are expected to take due care at all crossings.
2. There are sections of exposed tree roots, stairs and variable lighting.  It is suggested that runners avoid using sunglasses out on course.
3. Please be aware we are sharing paths with the public and need to give other users due consideration.
4. There is limited parking in the Gardens carpark, so please leave this for other patrons and people with mobility problems or small children. There is parking at the wharf and in nearby streets.
5. If you are not feeling well, especially if you have cold/flu systems, on Sunday morning please don’t come to the run.