Black Ducks and Blackbutts?
Event: Newcastle Park Tour2 – Event2
Location: Blackbutt Reserve
Entries: 81
Weather: Ideal
Round two of the 2008 Newcastle Park tour was contested on Wednesday evening at the picturesque but hilly Blackbutt Reserve. This was the club’s first event in Blackbutt for a number of years, precipitating the need for a complete remap. 81 competitors turned out to compete on the two courses offered by setters Greg Bacon and Russell Rigby.
The long course required a couple of hill climbs that took a toll on those runners not quite up to their usual race fitness level. It looks like it’s going to be difficult to unseat Steven Todkill and Josh Blatchford from the top two places on the long course, once again filling them in that order with Stu Adams picking up third. Kim van Netten returned to form in the long women’s section, perhaps she likes the hills, while Karen Blatchford’s injury improvement saw her back up into second place. Carolyn Mathews rounded out the place getters in third. Nicola Blatchford was once again on top of the short course winning overall and taking out best-placed woman. Nickki & Sonia Brown teamed up to take second in women’s and also overall with Carolyn Rigby picking up her first podium finish of the series in third. The men’s short course results saw Andrew Power holding of challenges from the young lads Scott Charlton and Matt Hayes.
Thanks once again to Greg Bacon and Russell Rigby for a fine set of courses and for producing what virtually amounts to a new map. Kerry Bacon and Carolyn Rigby also deserve a wrap for their assistance on the day. Seems we are blessed for these qualifying rounds with next week’s event at Thomas H Halton Park, Eleebana also being contested on a new map.