Weston Creek Athletics Club ACT

Sunday, 13 March 2005

On behalf of the Weston Creek Athletics Club and our major sponsor the Canberra Irish Club, I present the results for the 20th Half Marathon, held on Sunday 13th March.

Last year I was able to comment on the ideal conditions we had on half marathon day unlike this year when it was already 17-18C when the run started at 7.30am. This being the warmest I can remember during my association with the half marathon since it’s inception. Also the preceding days when it was extremely warm meant that the very exposed area of the course from Cotter Road to Scrivener Dam did not get a chance to cool down, like it normally does in Canberra during March.

This year the half attracted a record number of individual entries and a record number of relay teams. The course was almost at stretching point and we were caught undermanned. It’s the typical catch 22 situation – we put on the half mainly as a hit out for intending Canberra Marathoners. The race fees are kept very low and the late entry fee is not much more as the Weston Creek Redbacks endeavour to put on a good run by runners for runners. We gamble on the fact that we will get enough runners to cover our costs. We have never lost money on the half but a few times we have come close. We always know that a grant we get from the Irish Club, to cover the half marathon and our October Fun Run will some how get us by, even if the number of entries received do not cover our costs. A week before the day we had about 50 entries and then we get almost 300 runners on the course when you count all the relay team members. Great to have them but it stretches the resources.

All barrel draw prizes are purchased locally; the vouchers from the Runners Shop are provided at a discount price. The Canberra Marathon provides us with four vouchers and we buy five at full price. Bakers Delight at Woden provide the fruit bread at a discount price.

I was very pleased to see Gemuchu Woyecha once again running well and winning our half in 69 minutes 36 seconds. I will never forget the disappointment on his face at last year’s Canberra Marathon when he was forced to pull out. He had just been granted Australian citizenship and his family had recently joined him in Australia and he so wanted to win the Marathon for them and it just did not happen. Jeremy Horne who came second in 70 minutes 52 seconds did enough to suggest that he will run another PB in the Canberra Marathon next month. Third place went to Julien Wicks in 73 minutes 35 seconds, which would indicate that Julian is in pretty good shape for the upcoming ACT Cross Country season.

First female across the line was Liz Miller, who was 7th outright. Liz ran 78 minutes 30 seconds, an excellent time in view of the conditions and not far off her course record in so far as effort goes, on my reckoning. Second was Angela Bateup in a time of 79 minutes 55 seconds, Angela should convert this into a marathon PB next month. Our third lady across the line was Jo Pai in a time of 84 mins 18 seconds another excellent run. In fact the female numbers and times were excellent this year remembering that a sub 90 minute run gets you into the Australian Half Marathon rankings.

5 women entered our all-time rankings for this event this year despite the warm conditions.

I hope to see you at our half marathon on Sunday 12th March 2006, when all being well I should be participating.

Cheers,

Ken Eynon Race Director

Ed Note. Ken has organised all 20 Weston Creek Half Marathons and the two preceeding Ginninderra Half Marathons. An unbelievable effort. Next year we will have new organisers and Ken can celebrate the 21st running of the event by competing.