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Devonport runner Keegan Powell’s increase in training intensity has paid big dividends allowing him to record his second win for 2016 in the MA and LJ Bates Plumbing 10 kilometre handicap at Stowport on Sunday.

It follows on from his win a couple of weeks ago in the 10 kilometre City of Devonport handicap. On a harder course and in much tougher conditions, Powell ran 2:25 faster on Sunday to overcome the stiff re-handicapping he had been given.

The excellent field of 79 runners had to contend with a cool, strong breeze and squally showers as well as the hills on Stowport and Glance Creek Roads but some very good performances were recorded.

The first 4 kilometres up Stowport Road are undulating with much more “up” than “down” however, as the turn into Glance Creek Road was reached, the frontmarkers Louise Morse, John Purton and Dale Lancaster were still leading. However they were soon to be overtaken by Aileen Powell, running a very strong race, Anna Murton and David Murton with Ron Chequer also making good headway.

As the field hit the last couple of kilometres, Aileen Powell was still leading with Andrew Lucas and co-markers Matthew Greenhill and Sally Haynes looking threatening. But it was Keegan Powell who eventually caught his mother, Aileen, at the bottom of the last hill and held on for a narrow win.

Sally Haynes was second with Matthew Greenhill third. The fastest man and woman were Thomas Murton and Sally Haynes.

Earlier in the day, Jan Purton, Carla Ward and Will van Rooyen took out the placings in the nominated time events.

Race 10 2016 Actual

Race 10 2016 Fastest to Slowest

Following a series of excellent runs recently, Kate Hawley started favourite for the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania’s Renaessance 5km handicap at Penguin and didn’t disappoint.

Hawley (17) began competing with the Coastal Running Club over summer and when that season wrapped up joined the PCCCT to continue her running. Training four or five times a week, including one long run, had got her very fit and she needed to be for the course with which she was confronted on Sunday.

A new course for the Club, it commenced at the Penguin Motocross track with a large loop in the surrounding bush followed by a 1.2km run down Dial Road before returning to the track. With the recent rain, the bush loop was very wet and slippery, which was both challenging and fun.

This was the first in a series of trail runs spread over the season and many runners were happy to be able to get off sealed surfaces.

Running strongly from her mark, Hawley set off after the frontmarkers. Aileen Powell, John Purton and Ron Chequer proved hard to catch but Hawley took the lead with just over a kilometre to run and then had to hold off Keegan Powell, who backed up well from his win last week, and fast finishers Joshua Williams and Russell Horton.

Are large group of backmarkers, including Thomas Murton, Thomas Wilson and Dallas van Rooyen were close up, the tough course suiting the stronger runners.

Another youngster in Andrew Aichberger (16) sneaked into 9^th placing in a very promising run.

Thomas Murton was the fastest of the men with Sally Haynes the quickest woman.

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Race 9 2016 Actual

Race 9 2016 Fastest to Slowest

Keegan Powell, winner of the Total Performance Sports City of Devonport 10km handicap, receiving his trophy from TPS manager, Samantha Lawrence.

Wild weather conditions were presented for the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania’s Total Performance Sports City of Devonport 10 kilometre handicap on Sunday.

However this didn’t deter the eighty-three runners who turned up at Devonport Bluff for the first of the club’s “blue ribbon” races for the year.

The course used the walking track towards Victoria Parade before returning to The Bluff and then continuing west to do a loop in the Don Reserve.

Being the longest race of the season to date, the frontmarkers started conservatively but led until the halfway mark. At this stage Ron Chequer, Louise Morse and Garry Heazlewood were looking good but shortly after the middle-markers started to make an impression with the eventual winner Keegan Powell and Paul Birch pulling away from the field with a couple of kilometres left to run.

Devonport’s Powell was delighted to hold Birch at bay and take his first win. He had looked good for the win last week at Wynyard until he hurt his ankle couple of days before the race. However, fully recovered, he ran a good time to win comfortably. Third place went to veteran Wayne Wiseman who continues to impress and is close to a win. Consistent Evan Brett was fourth with the first of the women runners, Kate Hawley, in fifth.

Mathew Greenhill, Patrick McMahon and Greg Smith ran well to make “the ten”.

Fastest male and winner of the club’s 10 kilometre championship for men was Thomas Murton with the women’s championship taken out by Sally Haynes.

Race 8 2016 Actual

Race 8 2016 Fastest to Slowest

Ewen Troughton was cheered over the line by happy family members, including his pop, Richard, when he took out the Professional Cross Country Club of Tasmania’s Wrights Mechanical 8 kilometre handicap at Wynyard on Sunday.

Ewen (18), together with his 21 year old brother Isaac, were told about ten years ago that neither would be able to play sport following the death of their sister due to heart problems. The boys were told they faced a similar risk due to the likelihood of having the same issue. However, as the boys reached their teens, they decided they could not stay inactive. Since then they have played sport and following some challenging long distance runs, including up Mt Ossa, the joined the PCCCT this year.

Ewen had displayed promise, finishing close up in several races and was delighted to break through.

The race started at the Wynyard Showground and followed walking tracks on both sides of the Inglis River.

Frontmarker Louise Morse led for much of the race before being overtaken with 2 kilometres to run, eventually finishing 9th. Co-markers Wayne Wiseman and Russell Horton were running strongly and looked likely to be in the finish. Further back in the field, Bryan Tuit, Ben Hoare and Tom Wilson looked chances, but in the end it was Troughton who triumphed.

Rebecca O’Garey was a very close second with Evan Brett third.

Fastest male was Thomas Murton with Rebecca O’Garey fastest female.

Race 7 2016 Actual

Race 7 2016 Fastest to Slowest

“Unbackable” favourite, Devonport’s Paul Birch, has finally broken through for a win at the Fish Frenzy 5 kilometre handicap at Burnie on Sunday. It was 276 starts and nearly 16 years since his last win (in the Marathon in 2000) so it was with great relief that Birch finally broke the tape first again.

Birch has been dogged with injuries over recent years – each time he was getting fit and close to another win something would go wrong. However, there has been nothing worrying him this year and after some promising results has been rewarded for the effort he always gives.

Chasing him home were some young gun runners. Kate Hawley (17), Keegan Powell (20), Ewan Troughton (18) and Maddi Baxter (17) were the next four runners home after Birch used his experience to hold them off.

It was great to see another veteran in Wayne Wiseman showing great form running into eighth spot, while Anna Murton and Rebecca O’Garey also showed they are not far off winning.

O’Garey took out the female 5 kilometre championship which was based on fastest times within the handicap race. She ran an excellent 20:12 to narrowly beat Sally Haynes and Michelle D’Monte.

In the men’s championship it was Thomas Murton who proved quickest taking it out in 15:51, an excellent rate of 3:10 per kilometre. Second was Bryan Tuit with Ben Hoare in third.

Race 6 2016 Actual

Race 6 2016 Fastest to Slowest

Judy Ray has held off a determined challenge from Keegan Powell to win the Professional Cross Country Club’s Cradle Coast Sports and Events 7 kilometre handicap at Don on Sunday.

Ray, of Penguin, won by just 2 seconds with a further 7 seconds to Ewan Troughton in the closest and most exciting race of the season so far. The first 13 runners finished within a minute of each other.

Ray gave Powell almost 2 minutes start but caught him with about 2 kilometres to race when she took the lead. Powell, not to be outdone, refused to concede and it was only in the last 200 metres that Ray knew she had the race won. Troughton was storming home and probably would have won had the race been a little further.

Backmarkers Thomas Murton and the evergreen Greg Smith were the next finishers.

A large field of 97 runners competed in the race which started at the Don Recreation Ground and utilised walking tracks in the Don Reserve.

Ray had two previous wins to her name, the last being in 2012. She was thrilled to win again and attributed the victory to the running shoes her brother had bought her as a gift in the USA. But consistent hard work and getting over a bout of asthma and hay fever no doubt played a bigger role.

Race favourite Louise Morse ran a creditable 13^th while Andrew Lucas and Evan Brett indicated a win for them is close.

Thomas Murton was the fastest male, while Sally Haynes was fastest female.

Race 5 2016 Actual

Race 5 2016 Fastest to Slowest