The 96 competitors in the Triathlon Adventures Geelong 8km Sealed Handicap at Balyang Sanctuary on Sunday were presented with ideal running conditions. Invitation runner, Theo Langlois, won by 90 metres from Mac Fox with Liam Drady third. Alana Plymin was tenth over the line to decisively be the first female from Rachael Thompson and Sharon Pedersen. 

When the handicappers Dan and Jo applied the hidden handicaps, the winner of the New and Returning Runners division was Despina Giannios, back after missing the 2022 season.

The other three sections were won by members who had already won a race this season. Winners’ penalties are not carried into the sealed series so they showed they are still in top form.

Jeanette Austin won the Frontmarkers, Hamilton Mack the Backmarkers and Ray Meesen the Middlemarkers.

Results

Frontmarkers: J. Austin 43.12, Middlemarkers: R. Meesen 37.23, Backmarkers:  H. Mack 29.36, New and Returning Runners: D. Giannios 36.17.

Fastest Times

• Under 20 Male: A.Borschmann 30.52.
• Under 20 Female: T. Costin 40.55, C. Paul 42.59.
• Under 40 Male: T. Langlois 27.22, M. Fox 27.46.
• Under 40 Female: A. Plymin 29.42, R. Thompson 32.05. 
• Veteran Male:  L. Considine 29.06  , P. Posterino 29.14.
• Veteran Female: D. Giannios 36.17, L. Solly 38.27.
• Masters Male: A. Ward 33.40,J. Foran 33.55.
• Masters Female: S. Petersen 34.31, R. Kimpton 35.22.
• Legends Male: K. Walker 32.38, K. Henderson 32.52.
• Legends Female: S. Howell 34.47,P. Galvin 43.59.
• Supervets Male: D. Elward 33.28, M. Wright 36.19.
• Supervets Female: C. Stephens 42.06, J. Austin 43.12.

Next Sunday’s race is a 7 km race at Drysdale Recreation Reserve at 9:00 a.m. New members most welcome. Registrations close at 8:30 a.m.

The handicappers, with the help of the computer, assembled the entrants into twenty-two teams of similar standing for the Geelong Performance Coaching Squad Teams Race. A moderate westerly made the run up the mad mile to the finish quite testing. Each team member was required to run the 4 km course.As has been the case in the past, new members often excel in the team situation and this year was no different.

Anchored by teams’ race specialist, Ken Walker, newcomers Claudia Paul and Clinton Meehan tasted their first club success. For Walker it was his fourth teams race victory. Closely behind was a team made up entirely of new members, Tyler Costin, Kristen Evans and Joe Peart. The team of Despina Giannios, Frank Engelsman and Michael Minney held off the chasing pack to claim third.

Australian Masters champion Sue Howell was the fastest female with invitation runner James Cruse the fastest male.

 Results

1st  K.Walker, C.Paul, C. Meehan. 2nd  K. Evans, T. Costin, J. Peart. 3rd M. Minney, D. Giannios, F. Engelsman

Fastest Times

Male: J. Cruse 13.16. Female: S.Howell 17.31

Next Sunday’s event is a 10 000 metre handicap at Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club Melway 497 E1 at 9:00 a.m. Registrations need to be submitted by 8:40 a.m.

The 88 competitors in the Kieser 5km Sealed Handicap at the Canoe Club were blessed with a perfect morning for fast racing. Liam Drady was first over the line with Luke Considine twenty metres behind with a similar margin to youngster Isaac Hedley, having his first club race. In the female section, invitation runner Hayley Newman won by a huge margin from Sharon Pedersen and Sue Howell.

When handicappers Dan, Jo and Michael applied the hidden handicaps, Carol Crawford, who has been running well, won the Frontmarkers division and Ralph Wright back from injury won the Middlemarkers. Steve Curtain repeated last year’s Backmarkers triumph, whilst Tyler Costin collected the sash in the New and Returning Runners’ division.

Results

Frontmarkers: C. Crawford 25.10, Middlemarkers: R. Wright 24.14, Backmarkers: S. Curtain 18.14, New and Returning Runners: T.Costin 22.35.

Fastest Times

• Under 20 Male: I. Hedley 17.48.
• Under 20 Female: T. Costin 22.35, C. Paul 24.00.
• Under 40 Male: L. Drady 17.41, S. Curtain 18.14.
• Under 40 Female: H. Newton 18.39, M. Crawford 22.16.
• Veteran Male: L. Considine 17.45, P. Posterino 18.04.
• Veteran Female: K. Wright 23.40, L. Solly 24.02.
• Masters Male: J. Foran 20.46, N. Rashid 21.46.
• Masters Female: S. Petersen 20.40, S. Andrews 22.21.
• Legends Male : K. Walker 20.08, K. Henderson 20.29.
• Legends Female: S. Howell 21.19, C. Crawford 25.10.
• Supervets Male: D. Elward 20.32, M. Wright 22.15.
• Supervets Female: C. Stephens 26.23, J. Austin 27.41

Next Sunday’s race is a teams race at Barwon Valley Park at 9:00 a.m. Entries need to be made at www.gccc.au by 12th May. New members most welcome. Please arrive by 8:30 a.m.