A field of 55 assembled in perfect conditions for the time honoured Newgrove Benchtops Eliminator at the Canoe Club. All entrants had to complete both the 4 km and 3 km events with the best performed twenty athletes qualifying for the 2 km final.

Louis Rowan and Shaun Coffey took over the lead with 250 metres to go and try as he might Coffey could not overtake Rowan who triumphed by a metre with Sabine Hamilton 45 metres back in third place. For Rowan who represented Australia in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, it was his fifth club win and his first since 2005. A member for 28 years, Rowan has also sponsored the club for the past 13 seasons through the Steigen business.

Thanks to Mitch Geall who was the turnaround marshal. Club President, Kevin McNulty was commended on reaching his 400 club run milestone.

Top 10 Placings

L. Rowan 7.01, S. Coffey 7.41, S. Hamilton 8.31, S. Thompson 7.59, M. Minney 6.50, S. Pedersen 7.50, K. McNulty 7.43, J. Foran 7.56, S. Andrews 8.16, D. Marshall 8.21.

The field of 54 who turned out for the running of the Intersport De Grandi 21.1 km handicap at Barwon Valley Park on Sunday were wary of the warm forecast. But the moderate westerly and periodic cloud cover kept conditions reasonable for the longest race on the club calendar, a true test of stamina.

It was the limit marker, Sara Taylor-Wilson who defied the efforts of the rest of the field to run her down, winning by 100 metres from Alan Jenkins with Matt Maiden in his return to the club a further 200 metres back in third. It was Taylor-Wilson’s first win in her twenty-eighth start in her club career spanning back to 2010.

Ruth Kimpton was easily the fastest female with Liam Drady the fastest male by a minute. Twenty-three athletes competed in the alternative 5 km event with Jane White winning its sealed handicap. Thanks to Max Wright and Diane Marshall who operated the drink station and Jodie Bish who marshalled for the duration of the long event.

Top 10 Placings

S. Taylor-Wilson 136.08, A. Jenkins 106.22, M. Maiden 94.45, P. Posterino 85.59, J. Luca 87.38, R. Kimpton 101.41, J. Walker 126.12, K. McNulty 98.39, P. Dwyer 84.05, S. Thompson 103.03.

Fastest Times

• Under 40 Male: L. Drady 83.03, P. Dwyer 84.05.
• Under 40 Female: S. Kelly 109.56, S.Hamilton 113.40.
• Veteran Male: P. Posterino 85.59, L. Considine 86.50.
• Veteran Female: K. Wright 114.29, E.Gordon 117.28.
• Masters Male: M. Maiden 94.45, A. Ward 100.25.
• Masters Female: R. Kimpton 101.41, S. Andrews 105.39.
• Legends Male: K. McNulty 98.39, G. Tedoldi 103.18.
• Legends Female: J. Morton 133.18.
• Supervets Male: P. Fuller 98.45, J. Walker 126.12.
• Supervets Female: C. Stephens 122.22.
• Magic Money: R. Kimpton 101.41.
• Alternative 5 km: J.White 20.46.

Next Sunday’s race is the Canoe Club Eliminator starting at 9:00 a.m. New members and invitation runners most welcome. Registrations close at 8:10 a.m.

The run of pleasant mornings for running continued with another cool morning with a light breeze that saw a field of 65 line up for the running of the Pro Feet Podiatry 10 km handicap at Balyang Sanctuary on Sunday.

It was Wayne Hunt who scored his first club win since 2005 by overtaking Michele Henshaw close to the finish to win by 10 metres with Michael Morton 200 metres back in third. Encouraged by a placing the previous Sunday, Hunt opted for a rare midweek training run and it paid dividends with him snaring his third club handicap victory.

Rachael Thompson and Liam Drady were again fastest, validating them as 2023 club champions.

Top 10 Placings

W. Hunt 56.54, M. Henshaw 58.27, M. Morton 37.17, S. Andrews 45.06, D. Elward 42.44, P. Posterino 37.28, D. Churkovich 46.45, K. Evans 50.47, P. Fuller 43.17. C. Stephens 51.58.

Fastest Times

• Under 20 Female: C. Paul 56.34.
• Under 40 Male: L. Drady 36.15, P. Dwyer 36.43.
• Under 40 Female: R. Thompson 40.03, P. O’Donnell 48.39.
• Veteran Male: M. Morton 37.17, P. Posterino 37.28.
• Veteran Female: J. White 42.09, K. Wright 48.19.
• Masters Male: A. Ward 45.16, S. McMurrich 61.43.
• Masters Female: S. Andrews 45.06, R. Kimpton 45.48.
• Legends Male: K. McNulty 43.01, D. Churkovich 46.45.
• Legends Female: P. Galvin 55.02, M. Henshaw 58.27.
• Supervets Male: D. Elward 42.44, P. Fuller 43.17.
• Supervets Female: C. Stephens 51.58, M. Blood 87.46.

Magic Money: P. Galvin 55.02.

Next Sunday’s race is the Barwon Valley 21.1 km handicap starting at 8:00 a.m. There is also a 5km event at 7:55 a.m. New members and invitation runners most welcome.

Another gorgeous morning for distance running saw a field of 69 turn up for the running of the Feast Geelong 5km handicap at Fyansford on Sunday.  With only the ramp onto the bridge and an incline near the finish, the course is principally flat and frontmarkers often prevail.

It was the case again this season, when Gerry Fitzpatrick held on to win by 60 metres from Eloise Gordon, trying for her second handicap win this season, with Meagan Farley a few metres away third. Fitzpatrick put the writing on the wall with a close third at Waurn Ponds a fortnight ago and paid tribute to the speed work he does at Masters Athletics on Wednesday evenings for securing his third club sash.

Invitation runner, Liana Fitzpatrick was the fastest female and Hamilton Mack the fastest male, both by a margin of 12 seconds. Mitch Geall and Michael Morton were congratulated on reaching their 200 and 100 run milestones respectively.

Top 10 Placings

G. Fitzpatrick 26.10, E. Gordon 23.05, M. Farley 24.57, S. Hamilton 23.08, M. Morton 18.10, W. Hunt 27.54, S. Coffey 21.34, V. Gasper 23.47, J. Foran 20.58, S. Andrews 22.00. 

Fastest Times

• Under 20 Male: J. Peart 19.34.
• Under 20 Female: C. Paul 25.32.
• Under 40 Male: H. Mack 17.49, M. Minney 18.52.
• Under 40 Female: L. Fitzpatrick 19.11,R. Thompson 19.23.
• Veteran Male: L. Considine 18.01, M. Morton 18.10.
• Veteran Female: J. White 20.49,E. Gordon 23.05.
• Masters Male: J. Foran 20.58, S. Beaulac 21.43.
• Masters Female: S. Pedersen 21.07, S. Andrews 22.00.
• Legends Male: K. McNulty 21.17, D. Churkovich 23.00.
• Legends Female: P. Galvin 27.29, J. Morton 28.33.
• Supervets Male: D. Elward 21.09, P. Fuller, 21.24.
• Supervets Female: C. Stephens 26.01.
• Magic Money: T. McRae 22.22.

Next Sunday’s race is the Balyang Sanctuary10 km handicap starting at 9:00 a.m. New members and invitation runners most welcome. Registrations close at 8:30 a.m.