History of the Fun Run
25 Not Out – Weston Creek Family Fun Run 2002
The 25th annual Weston Creek Family Fun Run took place on Sunday 20th October 2002.
A large field of enthusiastic runners, walkers and/or passengers (including in strollers) took part in an annual event that now dates back to 1978.
The tight and frequently turning course around the cycle paths and footpaths of Weston Creek has always presented a challenge to the faster front-runners. This year organisers introduced a new, shorter 6km course by omitting the 1.25km loop around the old Holder High School. The amended, simplified course did not eradicate the navigational problems for some participants. Consistent with what has now become part of the annual ritual for the event, there were again meanderings by some of the guns up front.
True to tradition the event again attracted a field of high quality runners including some nationally ranked and/or runners of international experience.
And this has been the hallmark of the event over a quarter of a century. The inaugural event took place on a wet and windy Saturday in 1978 with ACT Marathon Champion and Hall of Fame Member Colin Neave the winner in a November deluge. The most recent event on a hot Sunday morning went to ACT local Scott McTaggart (a national age Cross Champion and ranked steeplechaser) and international Sarah Salmon (first woman).
There have been a series of national and international runners to grace the tricky Weston Creek Fun Run course over the 25 years. The list is a “who’s who” of Oceania’s finest distance athletes and includes Olympians Susan Hobson, Derek Froude, Dave Chettle and Pat Scammell and Australian representatives such as Jillian Pratten, Jim Murphy, Lyn Williams, Adair Ferguson, Steve Isbel, Krishna Stanton and Rosemary Longstaff.
A special guest and star attraction in the early years was Australia’s great marathoner Rob DeCastella who in his capacity as a local resident acted as starter of the event when it was an integral part of the Annual Weston Creek Festival.
Local community participation and generous sponsorship combine to make the event special for those who enjoy sharing the booty. Barrel draws after the event tend to be a never-ending story. One famous race in the early 1980s offered a prize to all finishers: a drink or fries voucher courtesy of the local McDonalds. The Canberra Irish Club now offers major sponsorship and is the site of the start and finish of the event – an added attraction for the thirsty finishers.
Many local characters whose contributions are worth noting have assisted the continuity of the event. These include Weston Creek stalwart Osmi Talka who provides “drinks” from his home at the 5km mark on Streeton Drive. Second Weston Creek president and former Customs jogger Frank Murphy has religiously called the start and finish of the event before heading for the glory of the Queanbeyan horse races. The Weston Creek Community Centre has provided equipment for the run. Weston Creek trojan and life member Ken Eynon has tried valiantly to keep runners on course. A multitude of club members has assisted as marshals, timekeepers, recorders etc. Current Creek vice-president, inaugural life member and legend Garry Hand organised the first run back in 1978. Other project leaders include Ian Johnson and Mal Bernhardt as well as former presidents and life members Paul Rake and Ken Sweeney.
The only triple outright winner of the event is champion local Weston Creek product Paul Imhoff. There are four dual winners Derek Froude, John Tuckey and now Scott McTaggart.
NZ Olympian and great Weston Creek clubman Derek Froude holds the course record for the original course which he set in 1982 – 21:39 for the winding 7.25km course. Derek, a hungry uni student at the time, appreciated the $250 cash gift from Bob Chapman’s Southside Travel (Cooleman Court) for his efforts. Later Derek was to run 2:11 in the New York Marathon and folklore has it that the Weston Creek Fun Run win was the impetus to an international performance of enduring substance.
Sue Gilbert won the prize as first local female resident in the first three events. Not to be out done, Linda Lenton has been successful in the same category on no less than five occasions. In recent years, Fiona Jorgenson has made the women’s event hers – winning out-right in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999
The Club’s intention a quarter of a century ago was Community participation and a fun day out. This enduring goal has been realised in many ways and is perfectly exemplified in two participants this year. Glenda Regan finished second woman in 2002 and was the third placegetter in that category in the inaugural event 25 years ago. The enduring spirit of the Weston Creek Club is typified in this year’s co-ordinator, Gary Rake, a leading ACT and Weston Creek runner who has picked up the baton from his father Paul, a Weston Creek Life Member and past President.
Ken Sweeney
* First Local Resident
Male
1. Colin Neave 25.04
2. Ken Sweeney 25.09*
5. Brian Lenton
Female
1. Sue Gilbert *
(200 STARTERS)
Male
1. Peter Longstaff 24.02
2. Paul Rudkin 24.05
3. Bill Kirkland 24.23
Robert Langridge 24.46*
Female
1. Sally Hall 28.35
2. Jillian Schnieder 29.29
3. Glenda Regan 29.58
Sue Gilbert 30.20*
(371 FINISHERS)
Male
1. John Bell 24.32
2. Mick Whybrow 24.39
3. John Gilbert 24.48*
Female
1. Jillian Pratten 29.15
2. Sue Gilbert 29.45*
3. Kerry O’Brien 31.08
(311 FINISHERS)
Male
1. Michael Trushell 22.53*
2. Peter Kanowski 22.54
3. Michael Hlamy 23.06
Female
1. Kerry O’Brien 27.53
2. Michelle Lomas 28.52
3. Lisa Mahoney 30.33
5. Linda Lenton 30.47*
(485 FINISHERS)
Male
1. Derek Froude 21.39
2. James Murphy 22.07
3. Chris Cook 22.17
Richard Bourne 22.51*
Female
1. Rosemary Lonstaff 26.24
2. Lyn Williams 26.37
3. Annette Perkins 28.29
6. Carol Elvin 30.05*
(481 FINISHERS)
Male
1. Graham Clews
2. Paul Fabris
3. Michael Iverach
Matthew Evans*
Female
1. Josie Mfsud
2. Jo Cullen
3. Elizabeth Kingdon
Gaylene Clews*
(800 STARTERS)
Male
1. Pat Scammell
Female
1. Fiona Court
Male
1. Dave Chettle
Female
1. Mary Ann Busteed
Male
1. Chris Cook 22.52
2. Dick Telford
Female
1. Karen Banks 28.18
(700 ENTRANTS)
Male
1. Jim Murphy 22.27
2. Tony Murray 23.02
3. Giz Zwolen 23.23
Female
1.Susan Hobson 25.34
2. Annette McNeill 26.22
3. Carol Ey 26.53
Male 1. Tony Murray 22.27
2. Maurice Ongania 23.02
3. Peter Trench 23.38
Female
1. Mary Ann Busteed 28.02
2. Erin Towers 28.51
3. Linda Lenton 29.02*
Male
1. Steve Isbel 23.24*
2. Andrew Whitehead 23.30
3. Peter Trench 23.38
Female
1. Mary Ann Busteed 27.36
2. Sally Powell 28.24
3. Amanda Carey 29.57
(382 FINISHERS)
Male
1. Peter James 24.10
2. Peter Bourgaize 24.30
3. Scott Wevers 24.40
Female
1. Krishna Stanton 25.24
2. Glenda Regan 24.70
3. Denise Bourne 28.50
Male
1. John Tuckey 23.32
2. Ian Hamilton 23.56
3. Peter James 24.25
Female
1. Miriam Harding 27.52
2. Fiona Jorgenson 28.39
3. Linda Lenton 28.53*
Male
1. John Tuckey 23.43
2. Peter Bourgaize 24.05
3. Neil Whittington 24.27
Female
1. Fiona Jorgensen 27.30
2. Miriam Harding 28.21
3. Adair Ferguson 28.22
(187 FINISHERS)
Male
1. Derek Froude 22.18
2. Glen Paterson 23.34
3. Peter James 24.30
Female
1. Annette McNeill 29.00
2. Linda Lenton 30.02*
3. Josie Louden 30.12
(185 FINISHERS)
Male
1. John Hambleton 22.46
2. Tom Quayle 23.14*
3. Glen Paterson 23.22
Female
1. Fiona Jorgensen 27.46
2. Debi Hoare 28.16
3. Bronwyn Hanns 28.40
(166 FINISHERS)
Male
1. Louis Young 23.01
2. Laurie Cullen 23.37
3. Justin ODea 23.45
Female
1. Fiona Jorgensen 27.50
2. Theresa Thorogood 31.22
3. Rachel Story 31.35
Male 1. Adam Leane 22.15
2. Tom Quayle 22.35*
3. Louis Young 23.12
Female
1. Fiona Jorgensen 27.34
2. Anna Chighine 31.48
3. Miriam McCarthy 32.11
Male
1. Paul Imhoff 22.23
2. Colin Neave 24.46
3.Wayne Corlis 25.28
Female
1. Leanne Laajoki 27.25
2. Miriam McCarthy 30.21
3. Allison Jones 32.16
1. Scott McTaggart 22.42 1. Fiona Jorgensen 28.01
2. Vince Craig 24.44 2. Carinna Tong 31.55
3. Michael Leahey 26.34 3. Nicole Daley 32.24
Male
1. Stuart Doyle 24.44
2. Wayne Corlis 25.16
3. Michael Leahey 25.27
Female
1. Kari Reynolds 27.14
2. Fiona Jorgensen 28.34
3. Sue Archer 32.21
Male
1. Paul Imhoff 22.46
2. Glenn Paterson 23.01
3. Stuart Doyle 23.36
Scott Rossister 29.23*
Female
1. Noni Clarke 29.26
2. Sarah Fien 29.28
3. Miriam McCarthy 29.41
Carol Baird 30.15*
Male
1. Scott McTaggart 18.33
2. Simon Hurt 18.54
3. Brian Livingston *19.07
Female
1 . Sarah Salmon 20.27
2. Glenda Regan 25.40
3. Chris Pauling 25.23
Lisa Wilson 25.40*