Unfortunately, the easing of COVID restrictions from midnight tonight only allows training. Therefore we have to cancel Sunday’s Intersport De Grandi half marathon.
With the new restrictions expected to last till the end of the month, it is extremely unlikely that the Four Bridges and the Eliminator will be held.
Perfect conditions prevailed on Sunday as the 83 contestants set off in the Running Company Geelong 15 km sealed handicap around the river loop. By the time the runners began their third and final lap, the wind had picked up. A group of four were still in contention with a kilometre to go when Pat Hagan applied enough pressure to split the bunch to go on to win by 50 metres from Hamish Wishart with invitation runner Bevan Nicholson a further 35 metres astern. There was no doubt in the female section with Jane White over a kilometre ahead of her nearest rivals.
When handicappers Dan, Jo and Michael applied the hidden handicaps, Barney Ellis won his third race for the season in the Middlemarkers. The other three divisions went to members who recorded their first club win, namely Louise Brennan, Kim McFadden and Luke Considine.
Another 25 runners contested a consolation 5 km one lap event with Hannah Peart the winner. Life member Tony McRae was recognised for reaching his 300 run milestone.
Results
Fastest Times
Consolation 5 km: H. Peart 27.09.
Next Sunday’s race is a 8 000 handicap at East Saints Baseball Fields, Pioneer Rd, Waurn Ponds Melway Ref 465 D6 at 9:00 a.m. Registrations need to be submitted to by 8:30 a.m. New members and invitation runners most welcome.
Due to COVID restrictions, we had to cancel the The Injury Clinic – Fyansford 8km run that was scheduled for Sunday August 8th.
Hopefully we will be back for The Running Company Geelong – Belmont Park 15km Sealed Handicap on August 15.
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
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.
