Due to very wet conditions on Saturday 3rd September, plus a shortage of brave runners, we made the decision to not have an official run. However despite the very wet track on 10th September the events went ahead. Due to some excellent running our younger 1k runners managed to set new records for their ages. Congratulations to Cailin Burbage for breaking her sisters 8yrs Best time set in 2021. New member Henry Tait has improved his time over the past five weeks, from 6.00 minutes to just under 5.00 minutes. Henry continues to be the worthy holder of 8yrs Boys Best on record for 1k. Not to be out done by his sister, Jai Burbage didn’t allow the wet track to slow him down and finished in 5.34 to claim the third Best on Record for the afternoon. Well done to these three active youngesters. Despite very low participants in Week 17 and extremely cold conditions for running congratulations are in order for Razz Wilkins who managed an excellent 4k time to set a new record in her age category !

Results Week 18 – 10th September

Results Week 17 – 27th August

Willandra cross country course is finally starting to dry out, assisted during the week by sunshine and westerly winds. Annie Dziubinski simply flew around the 1k course barely touching the ground, to set a new 1k Record for 9yr girls.

Well done also to Jon Schol for a PB in the 4k and Crissy Suffolk also clocking a PB in the 4k for 2022 season. Pleased to welcome 6yr old Henry Tait for his first run over 1k finishing in exactly 6.00. Well done Henry.

Any one wishing to join us for a pleasant walk or a run over a distance of your choice, please feel free to join us at Willandra any Saturday around 2.30pm for a 3pm start.

Results

1k Distance

4k Distance

Walkers

The final winter activity for Victory Runners comprised of five very brave contestants. With gale force westerly winds and extremely cold conditions they were given the option of not running, however, proudly all agreed to take the plunge and not allow the weather conditions to have the victory!

As mentioned in last weeks article concerning the Unity 2k Walk for Parkinson’s next Sunday, August 26th. It would be great if Victory Runners could show support to those we know and love, touched by Parkinson’s, and  participate in this walk along the Shoalhaven River bank, starting at 10:am from Moorehouse Park.

Everyone is welcome, friends, family, work mates, kids, pets and the whole community can be involved. Love to see you there.

The Unity Walk is the annual fundraising initiative of Parkinson’s NSW to support vital research and services for those affected by Parkinson’s.

The above photo’s were  emailed to me from Cristine Suffolk. The one on the left is Crissy running at Willandra in April 1987  at the age of 17yrs, the second photo taken from a similar position by Cristine on Sunday 19th August 2018 …..  31 years later !!

Obviously the landscape has changed more than Crissy as she is still running, and running well. On September 1st. she will fly out with the Australian Masters Team headed for Spain to compete in her favourite event, the 8k Cross Country at the World Masters Athletic Championships to be held in Malaga.  We wish her all the best and know she will be giving 100% effort.

Watch this space for information and dates regarding  plans for the upcoming Summer Season.

Results

Cool windy conditions at Willandra could not be avoided for week 21 activity of running and walking, however this did not impede performances.

It was great to welcome back the Harrison family after their very enjoyable time overseas.

We were also very proud to play host to young Ivy Boothroyd, a state cross country champion who recently won the 11year girls 3k event at the State All Schools Cross Country Carnival at Eastern Creek, Sydney.  Ivy and her family were visiting grandparents in Nowra so used the opportunity to have a training run over the 3k before competing in the Australian All Schools Championships to be conducted on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland at the end of August.

While on the subject of champions Victory Runners would like to extend hearty congratulations to  Jaylah Hancock-Cameron who has just been named in the Australian Team to compete in the 3^rd World Junior Olympics held only every four years.

This world standard event is second only to the Olympics and is strictly aimed at the top under 18 male & female athletes worldwide. Early in October  2018,  Buenos Aires, Argentina  will be the host city for this prestigious gathering. In case your are not aware, Jayla is 16yrs old and attends Moruya High School and has raced and trained at Willandra on many occasions in regional schools carnivals and ANSW State events, slowly but surely making her way to the top.  Through her dedication and hard work over the past couple of years she is now one of Australia’s top U/18 middle distance athletes.  This selection is a great reward for Jaylah, her mother Leanne and her amazing and dedicated coach, Andae Kalemusic. The honour of competing for Australia in the 1500mts and experience gained at this international event will be priceless.

Our three lucky place card draws this week went to Finbar Virgona, Cristine Suffolk & Vanessa Braddick.  The mystery time was selected by adding the minute digits and the second digits. If both added digits equalled the same number it signified the winner. For the first time in 21 weeks we finished up with four winners !!   Darcie Johnson 12:30,   Megan Johnson 13:31,  Cameron Harrison 22: 04  and Stewart Sim  22:40.

At the conclusion of the various kilometre activities a trial fun relay involving luck, skill and addition of numbers was enjoyed by all participants. Members who were able, stayed for a brief meeting to discuss plans for the upcoming summer activities and enjoyed a BBQ lunch.

Sunday 19^th August will conclude the winter season at Willandra. Information regarding our plans for the summer will be published soon.

On Sunday 26^th August starting at 10:am at Moorehouse Park and walking along the banks of the Shoalhaven River, we would like to encourage Victory members to participate in the 2018  2k Unity Walk for Parkinson’s NSW. More information regarding this annual event will be available next Sunday.

Quote of the month;  Someone is sitting in the shade to-day because someone planted a tree a long time ago.   Warren Buffett.

Results

Weather for Week 20 was almost too good to believe, more like a spring day instead of the first week
in the last month of winter.

38 walkers and runners covered a variety of distances enjoying the calm and warmer conditions to
previous weeks.

Some good improvements and close finishers were noted. We were also pleased to welcome four
visitors, especially Marine Brassie` a student from France who is presently involved in work
experience with a local vet. Hopefully Marine enjoyed her taste of the Australian countryside

As we are drawing close to the conclusion of the winter season, plans are in motion now for the fast
approaching summer activities.

For this reason we have planned a short meeting after the walk or run on Sunday 12 th . August.
We encourage all members to attend and encourage you to bring some food for an early lunch after
the meeting if you are able to stay. The BBQ will be available !!.

In addition, if there are other families or individuals who may be interested in the summer season,
please feel free to join us.

The silver medals for our under 12 girls team finally arrived so president Kev. Davis proudly presented
these to each of the recipients, Alyssa, Mia, Amelia and Ruby. A photo of this history making occasion
for Victory Runners will be available shortly.

The popular lucky place draw recipients this week were Amelia Sim, Megan Johnson Sophie Braddick
& Marine Brassie`. Secret time was won by Parker Jobson for his time of 5:35 in the 1k.

The 5 minutes represented the days date & digits of seconds added to 8 representing the 8 th month.

Parker can choose his award next Sunday.

Results

Results

A clear blue sky and bright sunshine  presented ideal conditions for week eighteen.

Cristine Suffolk certainly must have appreciated this by setting a very hot pace in her 4k, crossing the finish line in an excellent time of 16:41. Well done.

Eastern Creek will be the venue on Friday 27th. July  for the annual All Schools Cross Country Carnival when hundreds of primary & secondary students state wide will be competing for their regions. We pass on to  our two Victory Runners who qualified for to represent South Coast area all the best for a great run. Maddison D’Ombrain will be competing in the 15yrs 4k and sister Hailey in the 12yrs 3k.

Above photo is Hailey competing recently in the Athletics NSW Short Course championships held at Dapto, where she ran a personal best time for the 3k event.

The two lucky place card draws this week were won by Amelia Sim and father Stewart.  Unfortunately no one qualified for the secret time. However as it was week 18 and Ruby French ran exactly 18:00 minutes the original secret time qualification made a quick change.  Ruby can collect her treat at Week 19, Sunday 29th July.

Results

Another typical cold July morning greeted Victory runners & walkers for week seventeen. However this didn’t effect the enthusiasm of those who covered the various distances.

Young Lulu Wilson was the  recipient  of the lucky place card draw  and Crissy Suffolk receives  the Secret time award,  (18:51 – added digits had to equal the days date -15.)

2018 appears to be a popular time for our members  heading overseas. Crissy has been selected in the Australian team to compete at the World Masters Athletics Championships to be held in Malaga in Spain during September. Cristine is entered in her favourite event, the 8k cross country and will be flying out with the other 171 Australian team members on August 28^th.

With the Moeller Duhme’s and Harrison families already out of the country the Onsel family of five will also shortly be leaving to spend the rest of the Australian winter with family relatives in Cyprus. We wish them an interesting time in this beautiful part of the world.

When all these members arrive back in Australia during September we will have to celebrate their homecoming with a special international banquet !

Sunday 22^nd.July will be week eighteen, join us again at 10am for your morning exercise.

Results

Week sixteen for Victory competitors presented quite a challenge with typical July winter weather, very cold and windy conditions were experienced by all present.

Possibly for this reason quite a few younger members chose to ‘walk & talk’ and enjoy the first Sunday of school holidays.

After nearly two weeks since the State Cross County Championships at Willandra, Athletics NSW have finally published the official Team results.

It was very exciting to see Victory Runners  in second place in the Under 12 Girls event.  Considering  this was the first time all four girls have competed  for ANSW, and being such a new club we are proud of their involvement in creating history for Victory Runners  by achieving this award.

The four girls, Amelia & Alyssa Sim, Mia Jobson & Ruby French can now look forward to receiving their silver medals.

While on the subject of medals, Crissy Suffolk won a Gold medal in her age category at the ANSW Short  Course XC  held at Dapto on Sunday 8^th. July. Well done Crissy.

Congratulations also to Victory member  Hailey D’Ombrain who competed  at the Short Course  in the Under 13 girls 3k. Championship event. Hailey placed 10^th in a field of 26 girls,  clocking an excellent time  of 10:56 in cold windy conditions. Great work Hailey and thank you for flying the flag for Victory Runners.  Fourteen year old  sister Maddison braved the weather also and ran in the 4k Fun Run.

Lucky place card draws this week went to Hati Onsel, Elaine Davis & young James Wilson.

Secret Time Award was one by sisters  Darcie & Gabi Johnson. Coincidently both the girls times included the number 16 (Representing Week 16 activity)

Erich & Eva Moeller Duhme  send greetings  from Germany.  Weather is perfect , sunny  28 – 30 degrees . They enjoyed  their first  8k training run through the lush green forest in their attractive Victory running singlets !

Look forward to Week 17 next Sunday at Willandra from 10:am. Visitors always welcome.

Results