Race Previews 2018

The PCCCT goes “off the beaten track” this Sunday with the first of a series of four trail runs.

The event is the Jacques Parcel Contracting five kilometre handicap which will start and finish at the Penguin Motocross complex at Dial Road and be run in the bush in the vicinity.

With the recent rain, the track is certain to contain many puddles and slippery muddy patches. Many members love this sort of terrain as a change from running on sealed surfaces.

Picking a winner here is not easy, however one winner who has been in great form, and is proven in such conditions, is Aaron Robertson.

Robertson won the first race of 2017 but has continued improving and now looks ready to break the tape again. He was a good eighth at Devonport two weeks ago and that result followed several other excellent runs.

His main danger could be Andrew Bates, a young runner on the up. Bates put in an eye-catching run at Wynyard last week to finish fourth.

Other runners in form who will be chances are Ann Horton, Ron Chequer, Simon Gates and Rebecca O’Garey.

Members are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the following week’s Burnie to Ridgley King of the Mountains.

Both timing chips and chest numbers must be worn every race. Entries close at 9:30 ready for a 10:00 start. New runners are always welcome.

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

This Sunday will see the longest race of the season so far with the running of the Crowe Horwath eight kilometre handicap at Wynyard.

With the tough 17.6 King of the Mountains just two weeks away, members will be looking for a solid hit-out.

The course starts and finishes at the Wynyard Showgrounds, takes in the paths beside the Inglis River and a loop around Freestone Crescent and is a very scenic one.

Frontmarkers have been dominating in the shorter races but this distance and the slightly tougher conditions, which include a short, sharp hill, will give the in-form middle and backmarkers a chance for victory.

Kyle Groenewege is not able to run every week but if he starts here he could be the favourite. He was an eye-catching fourth in last Sunday’s backmarkers’ race and in his only other club race this year he also finished close to the winner with a seventh placing at Wivenhoe. He won’t have to improve much to break the tape for his first victory.

Grant McCormack will look the winner at some stage. He has been in great form and will win soon. It could well be on Sunday and would be well deserved.

Other runners who have been consistently close up and would not surprise are Shane Hanson, Aaron Robertson and Rebecca O’Garey.

Members 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. New runners are always welcome.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.