On Saturday 17th August Nowra Athletics Club conducted their last cross country run at Timberhills.
After 43 years and more than 250 official events, athletes had their final run at this picturesque and exciting cross-country course at Tomerong.
Since 1976 thousands of runners have enjoyed the opportunity to run on the property, challenging themselves on the tough course with numerous hills, and creek crossings in a rural setting; a ‘true cross country course’, even including an odd bullock on the course from time to time. So, Saturday was truly the end of an era.
The Nowra Athletics Club committee presented property owners Ron and Ruth McKinnon with a framed photograph memento of Timberhills as a thank you to them, along with Steve McKinnon and their late father Bill, for developing the course and allowing the Club to use it over a long history. The Club is eternally grateful for the contribution the McKinnon family have made to cross country.
Also, during the afternoon’s celebrations, the most recent, and final winner of the Bill McKinnon Memorial Run was presented with his award. This year Round 8 of the Nowra Athletics Club cross country competition, held at Timberhills on Saturday 1st June served as the Bill McKinnon memorial run. The honours on that day went to Andy Waller who took out the long course in 54:01, a personal best by 4 minutes. Ruth and Ron and Steve were there to present Andy with his award.
Ron McKinnon ran and won the very first event at Timberhills and he was there to walk a lap on the very last event for Nowra Athletics Club which was a fitting end to the history.
For club members it was a mass start with a sealed handicap.
In the 1-kilometre event there were three competitors with Finn Goddard leading the way followed by Malachy Martin and Aidan McLaren.
The 2km event saw 21 eager participants. First home was Jett Goddard in 7.38 followed by Tom Duncan (8.34) then Lachlan Rabey (8.42).
Many of the McKinnon family enjoyed the 2km course with Lola McKinnon crossing in fifteenth place followed by Roslyn McKinnon then Ruth McKinnon. Kate McKinnon was nineteenth and Pamela Davies (nee McKinnon) with Ron McKinnon rounded out the field.
The joint winners of the 3 kilometre were Nash Hay and Jake Pepper both recording 11.07. Running in a close second was Toby Dyball in 11.10. The McKinnon representative Sally McKinnon finished 17th.
The 5 kilometre charge was led by Bradley Sawyers who crossed the line in 20:10. Not far behind was Will Dyball in 21:13 and Erin Smart was third in 23:07 with Dennis Smart hot on her heels in 23:09. There was a total of 34 contenders in this event and both Jenny McKinnon and Fay McKinnon, from the McKinnon family completed the 5km circuit.
In the 10 kilometre there were fewer numbers however it was great to see some of the runners from bygone years return for their last hurrah on Timberhills. It was David Hughes who crossed first followed by Matthew Schofield then Milton Cox. First female was Elysha Bell in fourth place then Richard Bosdyk was fifth. It was great to see Steve McKinnon back running and he finished a very creditable sixth in 55:06. Graham Anderson was seventh followed by Annie Schofield who made the trek to Timberhills to farewell the McKinnon’s. Another familiar face made an appearance with Bill Broughton completing the 10km in 56:42. Geoff Crook, Gavin Dyball and Rebecca Cooper then completed the field.
It was a great afternoon of running to celebrate Timberhills and pay tribute to the McKinnon family.