SMILING FACES AFTER FUNDRAISING RACE
HUNDREDS of runners flocked to Hobart’s waterfront on Sunday for the 28th annual Roll Cycles Hobart Fun Run.
After last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid, the event returned with a bang this year and featured one of the most competitive fields in its nearly 30-year history.
In the hotly contested men’s field it was Launceston runner Douglas Hamerlok who broke away from the field to be the first across the line in a time of 14:38 ahead of Brit Nick Earl (14:47) and local Sam Clifford (14:51).
Hamerlok said the win came as a bit of a shock after focusing more on his family than running in the past 12 months.
“I’m really surprised as there was a lot of talented athletes in the field and since becoming a father last year I’ve focused more on that and I’ve just been running when I can and getting my body right,” he said.
“I’m down here with my family and some friends and I just entered to have some fun.”
In the women’s field it was Melanie Daniels who was victorious in a time of 17:02 ahead of Ebony Webb (17:28) and Meriem Daoui (17:34).
“I’m really happy about the win,”
Daniels said. “It was a little windy but other than that it was a great race and it supports a great cause.”
Race director Pat Smith said about 900 runners took part in the 1km, 2.5km and 5km events and he was thrilled with the event’s return.
“We’re really excited with how today went and we’ve raised another $10,000 for the Royal Hobart Hospital which is fantastic,” he said. “There were lots of happy smiling faces.”
The event has raised more than $195,000 for the Royal Hobart Hospital’s children’s ward since 1994.