One of the largest fields of the season turned out for the running of the Happy Runner 10 km Surfcoast Classic at Torquay on Sunday morning in some of the best running conditions ever encountered by the club at that venue.

It was Stuart Pretty who backed up his recent win in a sealed series event by hanging on to win by 50 metres from Vin Gasper who had won the previous  running of this race in 2019. Paul Posterino who has recovered from serious injury was 150 metres away in third place.

In the battle for fastest, reigning club champion Rachael Thompson was the first female. In the male section, Pat Hagan, in his second club race, took out his first fastest time with first time runner, Hamish Wishart next. Max Wright who joined the club in 1982 was recognised for reaching his 200 club run milestone.

Top 10 Placings

S. Pretty 48.20, V. Gasper 45.55, P. Posterino 39.59, L. Considine 40.32, L. Haines 38.58, N. Muscroft 41.20, E. Kelly 38.18, R. Ryan 56.32, K. Walker 44.06, D. Elward 44.40.

Fastest Times

• Under 40 Male: P. Hagan 36.30, H. Wishart 37.20.
• Under 40  Female: R. Thompson 45.53, A. Key 47.02.
• Veteran Male: E. Kelly 38.18, L. Haines 38.58.
• Veteran Female: S. Andrews 48.58, L. Brennan 51.29.
• Masters Male: A. Ward 43.27, G. Wrest 48.02.
• Masters Female: R. Kimpton 46.34,N. Angus 54.14.
• Legends Male: K. Walker 44.06, D. Churkovich 50.12.
• Legends Female: P. Galvin 53.22, P. Tindall 53.54.
• Supervets Male: D. Elward 44.40, V. Gasper 45.55.
• Magic Money: L.Haines 38.58

Next Sunday’s race is an 8km handicap race starting at the Peter McCann Memorial Gardens, Fyansford Melway Ref 451 A2 at 9:00 a.m. New members and invitation runners most welcome. Registrations close at 8:30 am.

The fog was still evident as the 108 starters in the Active Feet 10 km sealed handicap set off on Sunday morning. After a loop of Barwon Valley Park, the field headed along the Barwon River path. With only a light breeze and a flat course the pace was well and truly on.

It was invitation runner, Ryan Baker, who held off Pat Hagan, in his second run with the club, to win by ten metres. In the females, former club champion Kate Bramley was first by a huge margin from Jane White, also having her second club start.

When handicappers Dan, Jo and Michael applied the hidden handicaps, Estelle Davis won the Newcomers division. Her husband Tim won his second sealed handicap in the Backmamarkers. Jocelyn Hepburn also won her first sash in the Frontmarkers and Stuart Pretty, benefiting from speed work at Geelong Masters on Wednesday nights, notched up his sixth club win by taking out the Middlemarkers division.

Results

Frontmarkers: J. Hepburn 56.55, Middlemarkers: S. Pretty 45.46,  Backmarkers: T. Davis 41.09, New and Returning Runners: E. Davis 50.11.

Fastest Times

• Under 20 Female: G. Synott 49.24.
• Under 40 Male:  R. Baker 33.26, P. Hagan 33.28.
• Under 40 Female: K. Bramley 37.03,R.Thompson 42.31.
• Veteran Male: D. Turner 33.48, D. Burns 35.51.
• Veteran Female: J. White39.57, S. Pedersen 43.28.
• Masters Male: M. Clayton 40.48, M. Maiden 41.00.
• Masters Female: R. Kimpton 43.34, T. De Koning-Ward 50.43.
• Legends Male : A. Finlay 39.50, K. Walker 41.05.
• Legends Female: P. Tindall 50.14, J. Elkin 71.32.
• Supervets Male: D. Elward 41.25, V. Gasper 43.54.
• Supervets Female: F. Barnett 68.38.

The next race is hopefully the Beyond – Ocean Grove Riverside 8km on July 25 at 9:00 a.m. Registrations need to be submitted to by 8:30 a.m.  New members and invitation runners most welcome.

71 hardy souls travelled to Wurdiboluc for the running of the Injury Clinic 12.6 km handicap on a bleak Sunday morning. Fortunately, the rain held off for the duration of the race. The run to the reservoir dam wall was slushy and once on the wall the runners were buffeted by cyclonic winds.

It was Luke Ryan who overtook Vin Gasper two kilometres from home to go on to win by 70 metres with Susan Andrews close behind in third. The win was Ryan’s third club win. Reigning club champions, Rachael Thompson and Daryl Burns, were their gender’s fastest.

Due to a technological glitch, hardworking handicapper Dan Wright worked industriously to come up with a complete set of results.  

Top 10 Placings

L. Ryan 56.28, V. Gasper 57.20, S. Andrews 58.28, S.Pretty 60.42, T. Davis 54.18,  K. McNulty 55.32, D. Wright 49.40, L.Pye 64.51, A. Jenkins 64.06, D. Burns 46.43.

Fastest Times

• Under 40 Male: H. Fleet 48.24, P. Hagan 48.30.
• Under 40  Female: R. Thompson 56.44, C. Holman 66.00.
• Veteran Male: D. Burns 46.43, D. Wright 49.40
• Veteran Female: S.  Andrews 58.28, S. Pedersen 63.12.
• Masters Male: A. Ward 58.53, A. Barber 60.33.
• Masters Female: R. Kimpton 58.54, T. De Koning-Ward 66.58.
• Legends Male: K. McNulty 55.32, J. Morton 63.30.
• Legends Female: P.Tindall 66.26, P. Galvin 67.57.
• Supervets Male: V. Gasper 57.20, F. Engelsman 75.49.
• Supervets Female: C. Bridgland 85.00
• Magic Money: G. Anset 64.26.
• Consolation 5 km: K. Walker 21.24

Next Sunday’s race is a 10 km sealed handicap race at Barwon Valley Park, Melway Ref 451 K8 at 9:00 a.m. New members and invitation runners most welcome. Registrations close at 8:30 am.