XCR ROUND 7

Doncaster Newsletter

Round – 4/08/2024

Ballarat turned on a (–3) degree overnight low and the ground was covered in frost.  However, the sun was welcomed early, and by race start athletes enjoyed warmer, near-perfect conditions.  Juniors and short-course athletes tested themselves with one complete lap of Lake Wendouree (6km), and others on the long course ran 15km.  A pleasing turn-out, 23 DAC athletes, were put through their paces against some of the best distance athletes in Victoria.  The calibre of athlete included Lisa Weightman, who won the Women’s Open 15km race, but was unlucky not to be in Paris and running the marathon.   

Samual Rattray was a very welcome addition to the Men’s Division 2 team and was the quickest DAC runner over the 15km course – 49:14, and 46th among a class field of 358 men.  John Portwood was just a metre behind with 49:15 (48th). What followed was a succession of 7 other DAC men finishing the 15km event, 4 of whom clocked under the hour.  Running as an invite, Dave Ridley was a class act in 14th position, taking just 46:49 to cover the 15km – we’d love you back as part of the team, Dave!   President Nathan Down, was among the mix with an excellent run – 55:40.  Rapidly improving Brock Goodings was 7 minutes quicker than his 2023 efforts (1:04.29), and Masters athletes Shawn Ko, John Curry and Jim Finch were their ever-consistent selves.   

Jim Finch was joined by 3 other family members – Anita, Leah and Nick.  Anita was fastest DAC female over the 15km course – 1:03.53, Leah had an excellent run, and Nick was up there – a sizzling 3:25 pace average sustained for 15km (51:14).  The Women’s team have elected to go ‘long course’ this season – in the 15km Anita Finch teamed with Masters athletes; Lydia Rinaudo, Kath Gawthorn and Sue Kilmartin to place the Division 3 team in 4th for Round 7.  All 3 Masters Ladies ‘toughed it out’, a couple also battling injury, and their efforts this season have allowed the Division 3 team to vie for promotion into Division 2 for 2025!   

As mentioned in previous newsletters, 50+ Masters men have strategically opted to compete in the short course competition.  They have again very successfully combined in Round 7 – Campbell McLennan, Jason Merrett and Darryl Kilmartin very strong over 6km and 1st, 2nd and 5th of the 50+ men, giving them the full 11 points for this round.  Campbell and Darryl were joined by sons; Lewis and Hamish McLennan and Joshua Kilmartin.  Hamish and Lewis have been big improvers over the last couple of seasons, and at Ballarat worked in tandem with Zander Botha (U16) to stretch each other over 6km, and finish with very strong times.  With youth on their side, Hamish and Lewis narrowly outpaced Dad, Campbell!  Lewis was 7th among the U14 field, and Zander 10th in the U16 field.  Great teamwork Lads!  Bella Davey (U18) also competed over 6km and had a great run.  Five Juniors made the trip to Ballarat, and we really appreciate the efforts of parents making that possible.    

Congratulations to All who competed at Ballarat on Sunday!  Full results are presented below, with more information available at Results Hub.  Results Hub 

XCR Ladders, after round 7 

Div 2 Open Men – 11th, and need a big effort in back end of the season to avoid relegation (13th and 14th positions) 

Div 3 Open Women – 2nd, achieved 3rd place in Round 7.  If they can hold off APS United and Mornington in future rounds, they may achieve promotion to Div 2 for XCR 2025. 

FU18 and F16 – in 13th and 14th position, and we’d love to see more of the young ladies joining us in rounds 8-10. 

MU16 – Won round 7, and currently 2nd on the ladder!  Keep it up Lads! 

MU14 and FU14 – currently in 8th and 7th positions, and we hope to see more of the youngsters joining us in rounds 8-10 

M40 and M50 Short course – currently the Gents have a strong lead and won Round 7.  Amazing result! Keep it up!   

F40 and F50 – currently in 10th and 9th positions on ladder, but great participation and contribution by the Ladies to the Open team