Nowra Athletics Club debuted the new cross country course at Vincentia on Saturday 11th July. Handicaps applied for the first round of pointscore for the new Winter competition.
The rain held off for the duration of the afternoon and everyone welcomed the new course and its varying surfaces.
In the 1km an enthusiastic Olivia Rabey finished first followed by Malachy Martin then Aiden McLaren and Doonan McLaren.
In the 2km a witches-hat jumping Tom Smart was first home followed by Airlie Stevens and then Bonni Bolan. Miller Bell was fourth then Heidi McLaren fifth, Winter Bell sixth, William Anderson seventh, Myra Betts eighth, and Harry Thomson ninth.
The 3km had sixteen competitors and first across the line was Charlie Fay in 12:04 followed by Katie Bell and Dakota Farn. Crossing in fourth place, looking strong was Tiffany Atkins. Next was Lachlan Rabey then Ella Dyball and Rose Atkins. Darlene Musgrove juggled running with official duties and managed eighth place followed by Nathan Thorogood, Andrew Havadjia, Julia Yenne, Noah Dyball, Joseph Petts, Emily McLaren, Anna Duncan and Hamish Mclaren.
In long course taking out Division 1 was Peter Khourey in 41:39. New runner Stephen O’Connor managed second place, after getting slightly lost on the course and third was Graham Anderson. Chris Berendt clocked 37:05, the fastest time on the day, for fourth place. Glen Sansom was fifth, and Elisha Bell was sixth as the fastest female runner. Glen Mustapic was seventh followed by Jasper Arnold with the second fastest time of 38:09 and Scott Martin, backmarker, finished ninth.
In Division 2 the smiling trio of Leanne Hanson, Natasha Toms and Sky Martin finished one, two, three. Next was Dean Bryce then Michael Duncan, Sabina Hamity and Richard Bosdyk.
Medium course division 1 was taken out by Harrison Baxter followed by Erin Smart then Gavin Dyball. Running in fourth was Peter Dooley, then Jacob Pepper was fifth and clocking the fastest time of 19.55 was Will Dyball in sixth place. Tom Duncan, Ethan Havadjia, Dennis Smart and Darcy Hopkins finished off Division 1.
Division 2 winner was Paul Duncan whilst John Price crossed second and Alex Arnold was third. Alison Havadjia, Sharon Bryce, Lucy Duncan, Angela Bond, Phil Duncan and Darcy Arnold completed the field.
Thanks to everyone for welcoming the new course with positivity and thank you to everyone for continuing to maintain covid safe practices so Nowra Athletics Club can continue running.
Next week’s run is at Longreach on Saturday 18th July.