VETRUNNER Email: [email protected] ISSN 1449-8006 Vol. 26 Issue 10 — March, 2006 IN DEFENCE OF CAMPBELL PARK Your handicap reporter, Jenny Walton, describes the first handicap of the new season that was run over the Campbell Park course. Any left over Christmas cheer was worked off at the first monthly handicap held on the somewhat rain gouged track at Campbell Park. A total of 189 people participated across the three Series. All Series were on an out and back course, with the Thomas a 6km and the Frylink and Waddell 3km. The next handicap is being held at the North Curtain course on February 19. It is being held a week early to allow for the weekend of Track and Field Championships which is being held over 25 and 26 February. Just on quick personal note, this will be my last write-up. As I have decided to do some further study I wont have the time. I would like to thank everyone I spoke to in the process of writing the stories and have enjoyed talking to you all. A big thanks goes to Jim O’Donnell for his The Thomas Series. The honours in the longer race at Campbell Park went to, help and guidance since I started doing from the left, Ewan Brown the silver medal, the winner Peter Sinfield got his first these write-ups. If anyone has some taste of success in the handicaps and Peter McDonald took the bronze medal. spare time to help Jim out with the monthly write-ups or any other aspect of the Vetrunner production, I’m sure he would be most grateful. The bronze medal was won by Peter McDonald (M50) in a net time of 29.06 minutes with a per km rate of 4.51 Thomas Series from a group 21 start. Peter’s fitness goals for this year The gold medal was won by Peter Sinfield (M45) in a are to stay injury free and keep running to stay fit. He net time of 30.38 minutes with a per km rate of 5.06 from kept up his regular weekly runs and did some social a group 15 start. This effort was made even better by the jogging as well as weights at the gym. Peter has trained fact this run was Peter’s qualifying run with the Vets. with Geoff Moore’s group and runs with his partner Maria Having only joined the club last October Peter’s goal is to O’Reilly. Peter attributes Geoff’s group sessions with loose 10 kilos so that he can run better generally and winning him the medal – of which had vowed never to win especially in his other role as a Rugby referee. Looking for one. a lifestyle change Peter has been following a program of Greg Dutton-Regester (M40) was the only participant weights and cardio from January 1. As worker at to run under 4 minutes per km with his rate being 3.49 Campbell Park the track was familiar to Peter because he minutes. An amazing forty people had a rate of under 5 often either runs that track or the longer one around Mt minutes per km. Of those forty, nine were women. Ainslie and Mt Majura. At the moment work precludes There were 108 participants in the Thomas Series. Peter from group training but he’s hoping to change that some time soon. Frylink Series The silver medal was won by Ewan Brown (M55) in a The gold medal was won by Megan Haylock (W40) from net time of 34.36 minutes with a per km rate of 5.46 from a group 26 start in a net time of 15.15 minutes and a per a group 9 start. Ewan’s goal for this year is to run faster km rate of 5.05. Along with competing in triathlons, one of at 5.30 per km. The silver medal is great result seeing as Megan’s fitness goals this year was to not let her sister though Ewan, who always trains alone, didn’t do any Karen beat her to the finish. Megan attributes her gold training over the Christmas break. (Continued on Page 13) Page 2 — March Vetrunner A very warm opening day for the handicaps The Frylink Series. Above, Megan Haylock, left won the short course run at the Campbell Park course with Neil Boden who was third. The Waddell Series. Rosalie Pilkinting, above centre, starts the year off Jack Thackray, not in this shot, was second. where she left off in 2005 — winning the gold medal. On her left, Rick Hatcher was runner up and Rod Gilchrist took the bronze medal T-Shirts for Brenda and Peter 100 and counting. Left, Brenda Day has notched up 100 handicaps. Halfway there. Above, Peter Cullen, was presented with his 50 Run Handicap T-Shirt March Vetrunner — Page 3 This month our membership numbers have reached 510 – still short of the 530 who registered for 2004-05, but we PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE have a few months to go in the current membership year. Exceeding 500 members in every year of this century (well, such opportunities as they present themselves and create we’ve had several years of it now!) is a feat matched even more of our own, to publicly expose the good things we amongst our inter-State peers only by Victorian Masters enjoy in our club, and to promote athletics. Athletics. Our numbers continue to represent about one Making ourselves visible in the community is also sixth of the total membership of veteran/masters athletic important to our major external funder, Sport and clubs in Australia. That’s well above the ACT’s population Recreation ACT. A recent ‘meet and greet’ session that I share. had with representatives of the agency provided Though these numbers are an indicator of a successful confirmation that its funding contributions to sporting club, ACTVAC faces stiff competition from a range of organisations are seen as investments in an active and organisations that offer different options for people healthy community. I expressed this view in an earlier interested in active lifestyles. Cycling (road and MTB), column in which I wrote about our funding relationship orienteering, triathlons, adventure sports and many team with government. sports are amongst those currently attracting large On the other side of the equation lies our obligation to numbers into mature age competition. This should continue to offer attractive facilities to current and emphasise to us that we compete for members in a market potential members. The vibes I felt at the meeting were all in which there is an expanding range of opportunity. Some good, suggesting that SRACT is satisfied with its of these groups are becoming increasingly entrepreneurial ‘investment’ in ACTVAC. Hopefully this will be reflected in in advancing their sport. For instance, the Brindabella bonus funding, for which our 2005 Key Results outcomes Challenge bicycle events conducted over a weekend in early are currently being assessed. December demonstrated the level of organisation that the I think I’ve left just enough space for a reminder about various cycling groups can achieve. The events attracted the need for everyone to get behind our club’s organisation interest from media, the general community and even from of the Australian Masters Athletics Championships at government. All that must be good for the cycling Easter. Roy Jones and his team continue to work hard to community. prepare what should be a great competition. Dave It was therefore a very good initiative taken by Roger Mackenzie will be looking for many more volunteers to help Pilkington to organise a stall at the recent ‘Contact throughout the Easter weekend. Please give Roy and Dave Canberra’ expo, part of the National Multicultural Festival and all of the organising team your support. With over 500 activities in Civic. He had good support from a number of members we should have no trouble putting on a good show club members who spent time at the stall, promoting our for interstate visitors and local competitors alike. club. Thanks to Roger and all of those who volunteered for You will probably receive this Vetrunner at around the this. Hopefully it will gain us some new members but, time of the ACT Championships. Best wishes to all of you regardless, our club was prominent amongst others who are competing or volunteering at this event. pitching their wares to the community. We need to take And let’s all enjoy the Commonwealth Games. GEOFF ACT VETERANS ATHLETIC CLUB “Fitness Through Fellowship” The Vetrunner is the official Newsletter of ACTVAC ISSN 1449-8006 Postal Address: GPO Box 2356, Canberra, ACT 2601. Internet at: actvac.com.au Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of ACTVAC Patron: Jack Pennington (m). Email: Run/Walk Handicap Stuart J Statistican and Club Records: President: Geoff Sims [email protected] Reid 62942368 (h). Email: Neil Boden 62424038 (h) 62547284 (h) Email: Finance/Admin Sub-Committee. [email protected] 62499428 (w). Email at home: [email protected] Peter McDonald 62486960 (h). Aministration/Finance [email protected] or at Vice President: Chris Lang . 62405731 (w). 0412661071 Information and Technology/ work [email protected] 62317353 (h) 62612826 (w) (m). Email: Registrar Mick Corlis Throwing Handicapper: Trish 0427317353 (m). Email: [email protected] 62963969 (h) 62750753 (w) Thomas 61613635. Email: [email protected] Events Sub-Committee. Email: [email protected] Secretary: Ken White Roger Pilkington 62517966 [email protected] Uniform and Badges Sales: 62662589 (w) 0417029744 (m).