Hayden Bishop

The 2021 PCCCT season heads west this Sunday for the Findex Wynyard 8.5km Handicap, returning to a favourite of the new courses introduced last season.

The out-and-back course starts at Gutteridge Gardens, utilising the trails and board walks following the Inglis River. The course will suit agile runners, with quick thinking and movement required to take the best line.

Two of the club’s youngest runners, fifteen-year-old Dominic Troughton, and sixteen-year-old Will van Rooyen, will be well suited to this type of running. Both runners impressed last week on the trails in Spreyton, both finishing in the top five. Dominic and Will have recently stepped up to the Handicap events, after being regular features in the nominated time events throughout the years.

Another young charger, Joshua Febey, would not surprise with a win after recording a convincing victory in this race last year. Febey has been placing well this season and seems to enjoy the longer distances.

Last week’s favourite Tony Abel was only thirty-four seconds behind the winner in that race and could easily break the tape.

Others in contention are Shaun Batten, Gerard Lowry, and Adrian Mann, all of whom ran well on the trails last week.

Runners are reminded that entries are online only and close at 6pm Friday. New members are always welcome and encouraged to check our website. www.pccct.org

The nominated time event will start at 9am.

The PCCCT season resumes after a week off for Easter, heading to the apple orchards for the Spreyton Cider 5km Handicap.

The race will start in a paddock nearby to Spreyton Cider, before heading out into the orchards. This race, consisting of mostly trail running, will be sure to provide plenty of entertainment for runners and spectators. Mud and puddles await if it rains before Sunday.

The shorter distance usually favours the front-markers, and favourite amongst them looks to be Tony Abel. Recording good finishing positions in the three prior races this season, Tony looks to be improving every week.

Young Dominic Troughton impressed at Port Sorell, recording a top three finish. With the potential for improvement from Dominic week to week, a win is certainly within his grasp.

Matthew Lardner produced a strong result at Port Sorell, as well as Brendan Burr. Neither would surprise with a victory this week. 

Sam Lovatt is also a chance, having a strong run at the Easter Marathon on Sunday. If he recovers well, he could be right amongst the action.

To be noted is the later start time of 11am, to allow for members to compete in the Great Train Race earlier Sunday morning.

Runners are reminded that entries are online only and close at 6pm Friday. New members are always welcome and encouraged to check our website. www.pccct.org

The shorter nominated time event will be held at 10:30am.

This course consists of a mix of road and off road track starting at the park at the southern end of Port St, Port Sorell.  Runners will head west along the esplanade before crossing the Panatana Rivulet via the footbridge.  After crossing the rivulet, the course takes an anticlockwise loop following the trails, crossing Panatana Dr and continuing until the trail meets Milldan Rd.  Here runners will head north along Milldan Rd briefly before turning right into Jefkins Dr, following this road for approx. 800 m before a turnaround and returning to Milldan Rd.  The course then follows Milldan Rd north until the end of this road which leads directly onto trail.  Runners will follow this trail until the footbridge to complete the loop before re-crossing the bridge and returning the start area to the finish chute.

Notes:

1. There are two road crossings at Panatana Dr and Milldan Rd.  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. The off-road sections of the race are relatively easy, but there are sections of exposed tree roots and variable lighting.  It is suggested that runners avoid using sunglasses out on course.
3. When warming up and moving towards the start area, people are reminded that runners may be starting their race.  Please take care to avoid interfering with runners already on course.

The PCCCT’s 2021 season moves on to race 3 this Sunday, heading out to Port Sorell for the Glow Cosmetics 7km Handicap. This is only the second time a race has been conducted on this course, with the inaugural event in 2019 receiving glowing reviews.

The race will start at the Panatana Padling Pool and Family Park in South Esplanade, before crossing the bridge over to the Squeaking Point area. The course consists of sealed roads and sandy trails.

After running second in both races this year, Greg Malley looks hard to beat. Re-joining the club last year after a four-year hiatus, Malley has improved his kilometre rating dramatically over the summer break. With the other big improvers now having recorded a victory, he looks set to join winners list.

Other favourites are also members returning to the club after time away. Tony Abel ran a strong run into third last week and re-joins this year after twelve-years away from the club. Fastest female last week, Daile Bennett-Moyle, also returns this year after four-years away and has improved dramatically over the last few months. Neither of these runners would surprise with a victory.

Joshua Febey and Sam Lovatt both ran strongly at Run Devonport on Sunday and could easily collect themselves a victory.

Runners are reminded that entries are online only and will close at 6pm Friday. New members are always welcomed and are encouraged to check out our website. www.pccct.org

The nominated time event will be held at 9am.

If you are not feeling well, especially if you have cold/flu systems, on Friday evening please don’t come to the run.

The meeting place is at Don Cricket Ground, Don.

We will have a coffee van as well as Pizzirani’s Bambino Food Van in attendance

Please ensure you are at the start line for your posted handicap time. Race start is at 6:00pm.

Welcome to all new members.

Please be aware we are sharing paths with the public and need to give other users due consideration.

The course: The race starts on the cycle/walk track and starts with 855m out and 855m back over the Don River Bridge and along the Waverley Road track.

Continue past the start/finish and follow the track up to the pool carpark. Take the path across the top of the carpark, continue until you enter the bush and take the first path on the left. Stay on this sawdust path until it meets up again with the cycle/walk path at Don College. Follow this around to the right and continue back up to the pool carpark and then back to the start.

Care needed: the sawdust path does have some uneven patches.

Stay after the run for some coffee and great Italian food.
 

Please keep COVIDSafe distance between you and other runners, especially if you are following someone else. Please read our COVIDSafe plan if you haven’t done so. 

Following the successful start of the 2021 season, the PCCCT moves onto Don for the Cradle Coast Sports and Events 7km Handicap.

This year the race is being held on Friday evening which will allow members time to recover for Run Devonport on Sunday.

Starting at the Don Cricket Ground at 6pm, the 7km race is run mostly on sealed tracks. Runners will also have to navigate sections of sawdust in a loop through the bush near the pool.

Favourite to break the tape would be Darlene Jacques, after continuing her fine form of last year through to race one, finishing 3^rd. Darlene has worked hard training with the Everyday Lions group, and has posted many personal bests over the last year. She also recorded a win last year, but her improvement has been so impressive that she could collect herself another victory.

Greg Malley ran a strong race last week and wouldn’t surprise with a victory. Other runners who are a strong chance over this distance are Dale Lancaster, Josh Febey, and Adrian Mann.

Geoff Cassidy also ran an excellent time last week, finishing within a minute of the winner. With a slightly longer race, he also could be right up there with a chance of winning. 

Runners are reminded that entries are online only and will close at 6pm Wednesday.

The nominated time event will be held at 5:30pm.