What a contrast in weather conditions Victory Runners experienced for the second week of pointscore.
After the humidity of last week, thirty two very brave runners battled the near zero temperatures and gale force westerly winds.
Amazingly enough many managed to improve their times. Veteran Kev Davis was first to start the days events on his minus handicap of 6:00 for the 6k distance. Despite finishing his 6k and the final competitor to cross the finish for the afternoon, he managed to better his time by over five minutes. Natasha Spicer was another competitor to reduce her 4k time by over five minutes, not surprisingly with this excellent improvement she was also the winner of the 4k distance. Well done Kevyn & Natasha, a great effort indeed.
As most of the 1k course are quite young it was decided the handicap system would be a little confusing and instead they all start together. However, to add interest for the pointscore, a sealed handicap is used to determine an overall placing. Layla Burbage clocked the fastest time while 4yr old Zali Wilson took two minutes off her best time and gained 10 points for placing first. Layla was third, with sister Cailin improving her time from last week placed second. These youngsters are a delight to watch.
In the 2k Course David Hill won this event by just managing to hold off his speedy young daughters with 8 year old Victoria third and sister Evelyn, who was also the back marker came through the field not far behind and gaining the honours again of fastest time in the 2k. Another improver who separated David & his daughter for second was Lexie Burinaga. Aiden Spicer ran well to be the fastest 2k boy.
The 3k distance was very well contested despite low numbers. Cameron Harrison reduced his time by one minute and deserved his win and the 10 points. Visiting triathlete Liam Hinchcliffe and Victory member, Brooklyn Henry were using the 3k as a training run and certainly didn’t allow the cold windy conditions to effect their enthusiasm and speed. These two back markers barely touched the ground as they took off at top speed. Liam clocked 9:52 just behind Cameron for second place with Brooklyn 10:01 in fourth. In the close finish, 13 year old Hailey D’Ombrain separated Liam & Brooklyn for third place running a very impressive time of 12: 24 and was also the fastest female.
Depleted numbers due to the wild weather probably effected the 4k distance the most, however certainly didn’t detract from the performances of the contestants who are to be congratulated for persevering as conditions worsened as the afternoon wore on. Two quite notable improvers apart from Natasha as mentioned earlier were Paul Jennings who finished second and Freyer Robinson – Mills placed third and was the fastest female. However the star of this event went to young Blake D’Ombrain who started on a very big handicap in a small field of competitors but still finished the event a little under his best time, which also was the fastest 4k time . Well done Blake, your determination not to be beaten certainly makes you a winner.
Final week of publishing our March monthly quote before introducing one for April. Have you committed it to memory ?
‘Never begin to give up, and never give up beginning’. Frauke Bolten – Boshammer Author: A Diamond in the Dust (2018)
Plenty of space available and a warm welcome for anyone, any age, interested in cross country running or walking. For fun and fitness, please feel free to join us at Willandra any Saturday afternoon around 2.30pm.
1k Course
| Name | Time | Points |
| Zali Wilson | 8.37 | 10 |
| Cailin Burbage | 6.16 | 8 |
| Layla Burbage (Fastest Time) | 5.54 | 6 |
| Thelma Kelley | 6.17 | 5 |
| James Wilson | 8.55 | 5 |
2k Course
| Name | Time | Points |
| David Hill | 10.14 | 10 |
| Lexie Burinaga | 12.35 | 8 |
| Victoria Hill | 10.53 | 6 |
| Helen Mills | 12.45 | 5 |
| Evelyn Hill ** (Fastest Girl) | 9.51 | 5 |
| Bella Rose | 13.32 | 5 |
| Ayden Spicer * ( Fastest Boy) | 10.15 | 5 |
| Lulu Wilson | 16.42 | 5 |
| Ashley Spicer | 15.42 | 5 |
| Felix Chernyshov (Visitor) | 15.45 | — |
3k Course
| Name | Time | Points | |
| Cameron Harrison | 15.04 | 10 | |
| Liam Hinchcliffe (Visitor) | 9.52 | — | |
| Hailey D’Ombrain ** (Fastest Female) | 12.24 | 8 | |
| Brooklyn Henry * (Fastest Male) | 10.01 | 6 | |
| Joel Harlor | 11.58 | 5 | |
|
17.51 | 5 | |
| Dylan Hinchcliffe (Visitor) | 13.57 | 5 | |
| Emily Burinaga | 18.34 | 5 | |
| Courtney Harrison | 17.41 | 5 |
4k Course
| Name | Time | Points |
| Natasha Spicer | 22.15 | 10 |
| Paul Jennings | 23.23 | 8 |
| Freya Robinson – Mills ** (Fastest Female) | 18.30 | 6 |
| Cristine Suffolk | 18.58 | 5 |
| Razz Morgan | 25.16 | 5 |
| Maddison D’Ombrain | 19.13 | 5 |
| Blake D’Ombrain * (Blake D’Ombrain) | 16.37 | 5 |
6k Course
| Name | Time | Points |
| Kevyn Davis | 37.21 | 10 |