Race Previews 2019

Race seventeen of the season takes members to Somerset for the Raymond Spinks/CRC twelve kilometre handicap.

The event starts and finishes at the Somerset soccer ground and commences with a four kilometre climb up the Murchison Highway to Village Lane, then continues on country roads until the final stretch along Cardigan Street.

The toughness and distance suits backmarkers and they win this race more often than not. One who is in great form and very close to a win is Ewen Troughton.

Troughton’s most recent start was last week when he was fifth over five kilometres and this followed a top effort in the Ironman (25 kilometres). He has had other recent top ten finishes in recent weeks, including a sixth at Burnie over a similar course. He is sure to prove the hardest to beat.

Simon Gates, Vicky Knapman and Lyn Saint-John are all top chances with Gates especially being well overdue for a victory.

Anna Murton was second behind her father, David, last week and will be very keen to go one better and record a victory before her upcoming trip to Europe.

If a frontmarker was to provide a surprise, it could come from Dale Lancaster who will lead for a long way and prove very hard to catch.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race starting at 10:00.

A nominated time event will be held at 9:15

NB: This will be a sealed handicap mass start event. All runners will start together and for the handicapped race handicaps will be applied to elapsed times to determine the placegetters.

Also 12, 13 and 14 year old nominated time runners may run in this event starting off at the rear of the field.

This week the PCCCT heads to Burnie for the Fish Frenzy five kilometre handicap and many members will relish the short event following the twenty-five kilometres of last week.

The course starts at West Beach and is an out and back course to Cooee, utilising the board walks and footpaths.

To make this event  more interesting, the committee has decided that it will be a mass start. The handicaps will be applied after the race to determine the winner and placegetters. The race also incorporates the Club’s five kilometre championships, so with all runners starting together, the winners of those, male and female, will be those first over the line.

The women’s competition should see a close contest between Lyn Saint-John, Natasha Mapley and Amie Bramich. The latter two had a great battle last week and after starting together were only separated by nine seconds. Brian Lyons and Thomas Murton look the strongest chances among the men although Brad Taylor will also be a contender.

The handicapped race could throw up a surprise winner. Among those who have shown good form recently and will be strong contenders are Mary-Lou Troughton, Tim Dowling, Michael Bates and Andrew Hay.

Entries close at 9:30 with the gun firing at 10:00. Members are reminded to wear their numbers and timing chips. New runners are always welcome and this would be a good race to commence running with the PCCCT.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:15.

2019 Ironman Classic handicaps (Please note: Phil McConnon was omitted from the handicaps originally published).

The next event on the PCCCT calendar is the Burnie Trophy Centre/ Troy Atkins Accounting “Ironman Classic” at Forth.

One of the blue-ribbon events on the calendar, at twenty-five kilometres it is not as long as the marathon, but is considered by many as the toughest run of the year due to the extremely hilly terrain covered.

Starting at Forth it takes in a circuit in the Forth Valley comprising Wilmot and Paloona Roads to Melrose and return via Forthside Road.

The event best suits fit backmarkers who have proven records over these longer distances and there are three who could fight out the finish.

Hayden Bishop is in wonderful form and ran fourth in this event last year. Starting just behind him will be Ewen Troughton who has two top ten finishes in the last two weeks while Brad Taylor, will be very hard to hold off. He finished second in last year’s marathon and hasn’t managed a win since.

The second backmarker off 92 minutes is Brian Lyons who could also win without shocking.

Other top chances include Amie Bramich, who won two races last year but has improved further, while Chris Talbot will start towards the front of the field and be hard to catch.

Entries have closed with the first runner starting at 9:00.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:15.

A tough task lies in wait for members his week as the PCCCT heads to Burnie for the Paine Family ten kilometre handicap.

Starting at the Burnie Council depot at Three Mile Line, runners complete a circuit course taking in the many hills of Mooreville and West Mooreville Roads.

Although challenging it is very popular and this year in particular will be well attended as the Club celebrates with the Paine Family as they sponsor this event for the fiftieth time – a remarkable achievement.

With the season now half completed, those runners who have been thereabouts but not able to break through for a win will be keen for a victory soon. Certainly most will now be at peak fitness.

Following her great second last week, Judy Ray will be a top chance. She has gradually been sneaking up in the placings and the tough course will pose no threats.

Ewen Troughton finished very strongly at Fernglade into fourth and the extra distance will suit him better. He will need to beat his brother, Isaac, who missed last week but has been in great form.

David Murton, a frontmarker who loves longer distances, will prove hard to catch and will lead faster runners a “merry dance”.

Others with strong chances are Josh Febey, Mary-Lou Troughton and Michelle D’Monte.

Entries close at 9:30 with the race starting at 10:00.

The nominated time “Feature Race” will be held at 9:15 with extra prizes provided by the Paine Family.

The next race in the PCCCT season is another of the popular off-road trail runs when members will meet at Fernglade for The Wilkinson’s Pharmacy six kilometre handicap.

The course starts at the Pony Club grounds and consists of a circuit in Fernglade followed by another in the vicinity of the grounds.

With all the wet weather of recent days, there are sure to be many muddy, slippery patches to test the sure-footedness of competitors.

It will be interesting to see how those who completed the marathon last Sunday back up for this shorter event. A runner who didn’t run last week and who looks perfectly suited here is Isaac Troughton.

Very capable over all distances, Troughton particularly enjoys off-road conditions and the hills will also be to his liking. He has several placings this year, the latest  being at Penguin over similar terrain when he was a very close second. In addition, he was third in this race last year.

Young runners, Josh Febey and Andrew Bates, also look well suited and wins for both are overdue. Febey in particular has had several placings and a win would be well deserved.

Other chances look to be Hayden Bishop, Amie Bramich and Anna Murton. If there is to be surprise, it could come from Michelle d’Monte or Ellen Elphinstone.

Entries will close at the normal time of 9:30, with the race starting at 10:00.

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

The PCCCT marathon is the longest-running continuously conducted marathon in Australia and the 2019 version will be held this Sunday. It is also unique in that it is a handicapped race.

The Greg and Dianne Woodhouse marathon runs from River Park, Ulverstone to Turners Beach and back twice and is a wonderful test of fitness and character.

Entries have closed, and a small, but quality field will start the event with almost every runner in with a chance of victory. The go-marker, Hobart runner Wendy Meadowcroft, will set off at 7:00am with Kyle Groenewege last to leave 1 hour 45 minutes later.

Second backmarker, Matthew Atkins, looks one of the strongest chances. He specialises at this distance and in the last two runnings of this event he has been second and fifth. He would be a very deserving winner.

Chris Talbot and Shane Hansen are others who can run all day while Karina Mason has been in great form and will have set herself for this event. She will have exactly an hour start on Atkins.

Teresa Seaman and Michelle Chopping are also coming from Hobart for the race so must be respected.

The Rod and Judith Priestly five kilometre handicap will be run at 10:30 for those not attempting the marathon. Entries for this will close at 10:00. The winner of this race could come from an in-form group of woman runners – Liz Murton, Lorraine Shepheard, Judy Ray and Michelle d’Monte.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:45.

Marathon handicaps:

Wendy Meadowcroft               00:00
Karina Mason.                        37:00
Gerard Leary.                         37:00
Christopher Talbot.                 37.00
Kelly Baxter.                           43:00
Vicky Knapman.                     55.00
Shane Hanson.                   1:12:00
Paul Birch.                          1:12:00
Teresa Seaman.                 1:12:00
Michelle Chopping.            1:12:00
Ethan Butler.                      1: 20:00
Daniel Summers.               1: 20:00
Matthew Atkins.                 1:37:00                                                                                      Kyle Groenewege.             1:45:00

The PCCCT heads to Stanley this week for the WT House Betta Home Living “Steve Hanson Memorial” eight kilometre handicap, another of the club’s “blue ribbon events”.

The course has a short testing hill early on but then competitors are rewarded with a great run along the Green Hills before descending with views of The Nut followed by travelling along the main street before returning to the start at the Stanley Oval.

As for every race recently, there are many runners who could easily break the tape, but one of the stronger chances looks to be Dallas van Rooyen who should start this race with fresh legs.

Van Rooyen’s last PCCCT start saw him just outside “the ten” at Wynyard, but the best pointer to his chances is his strong finish into third over a tough course at Penguin early in May. He also had some promising runs earlier in the year and this distance and course look perfect for him

Several runners have been consistently in “the ten” and will be top chances. Andrew Rolls has had a string of placings while Josh Febey has looked a coming winner all season. Karina Mason and Amie Bramich, both very improved runners, weren’t far away at Devonport in the last race and would not surprise.

The event starts at the later time of 10:30 with entries closing at 10:00. New runners are welcome.

 A nominated time event will be held at 9:45.

Runners are reminded that entries close this Sunday for the following week’s Marathon.

The next “blue-ribbon” event in the PCCCT season is to be held this Sunday.

It is the Physiotas/Meercroft Crew City of Devonport 10 kilometre handicap which starts at Devonport’s Bluff Beach and uses the foreshore path and tracks in the Don Reserve.

Wins in this event are much sought after due to its history and prestige and it will be hotly contested, especially given the increased prizemoney this year.

The Meercroft Crew, a joint sponsor, is a group of runners meet for training at Meercroft Park and run with the Club. No doubt one of them would love to win and Bryan Tuit, Evan Brett and Haydon Bishop will be three of the strong chances. Bishop, in particular, has been in sparkling form.

However, the favourite for the race should be the very fit, Andrew Rolls, who has had several placings this year without breaking through. He was an excellent third in the Mountain Classic two weeks ago before a narrow defeat into second last week at Wynyard. Everything looks suitable for him on Sunday.

Other hopes look to be Dallas van Rooyen, Anna Murton and Lyn Saint-John while a strong effort from Michael Bates would not surprise.

If there was to be a surprise winner, it could be Richard Lawson who is improving with each run.

The event starts at 10:00 with nominations closing at 9:30. New runners are always welcome.

 Nominated time events will be held at 9:05.

This Sunday members have the chance to run on a mostly new, scenic course at Wynyard with the staging of the Findex (formerly Crowe Horwath) eight km handicap.

The race will still start and finish at the Wynyard Showgrounds and will use tracks beside the Inglis River, so no road running will be needed.

Those who ran the tough Mountain Classic last Sunday will enjoy the flatter, shorter race.

One runner who will love the distance, and always does well on trail courses, is Aaron Robertson.

Robertson ran a solid “Classic” to finish in the top twenty, but in previous weeks had finished much closer to the front and provided he has pulled up well from that event will be a big chance. Two weeks ago he was fifth at Penguin and also impressed with his seventh the week before at Ridgley.

Terry Watson looked a likely winner for much of last week’s race before finishing fifth and is another who is close to a win. It could be here.

Josh Febey will appreciate this distance and has been in great form all season, while other possibilities are Kelly Baxter, Ewen Troughton and Tim Dowling. If it turns out to be a frontmarkers’ race then Ken Williams and Ros Hendriks could take the win.

Members are reminded to wear both their timing chips and chest numbers and to register by 9:30 with a 10:00 start. New runners are always welcome.

Nominated time events will be held at 9:05.

Mountain Classic handicaps -24

The first of the season’s “blue ribbon” events occurs this Sunday with the running of the time-honoured High on Penguin Mountain Classic.

The course is a tough16.5km from Burnie Park. It travels via West Park Grove, Mooreville and West Mooreville Roads to the finish at Ridgley. It is mostly uphill and members look forward to this event to test their fitness and resolve.

The winner is usually a runner who doesn’t necessarily have a fast pace but rather stamina and the determination to keep pushing hard.

One who fits the bill is David Murton. He is proven over longer distances and is in good form. His best recent placing was a sixth at Don but this will suit him much better than the 7km of that event.

Amie Bramich won two races last year but will be a top chance as she has further improved. She has been recording fantastic times and a win would not surprise.

Brian Lyons will be the last away but he will love the distance and hills and would be a deserving winner. The other backmarkers, Evan Brett and Thomas Murton also look to be top chances, while Aaron Robertson, Andrew Rolls, Terry Watson and Josh Febey cannot ruled out as each is nearing a win and it could be here.

Entries have closed and the first runner will be away at 9:30.

Runners are reminded to wear timing chips and chest numbers.

There will be no nominated time events this week..