Wiry Will just too quick
Eleven-year-old Will Moloney became the youngest winner in the 53-year history of Stawell Amateur Athletic Club after matching motors with more seasoned rivals in a five-kilometre handicap at Stawell.
Deciding he was fit and strong enough to bypass a one-kilometre sub-junior scamper, the wiry Will lined up with seniors.
He then waged a seesaw war with the nuggetty Bal Sukhpreet throughout the race, which helped him to post an impressive winning time of 22.06 minutes on a challenging course.
When handicaps were applied, Moloney had a 0.23-minute margin over much-improved Naomi Hunter, with a super-fit Jess Cass the fastest female but 0.11 minutes behind on handicap.
“I didn’t feel tired at all at the end, only glad, and it was really good practice for the school cross country next term,” Moloney said.
The youngster had shown potential and stamina as a nineyear-old when he tested the mettle of this writer and beat him in an eight-kilometre Best’s Great Western Classic in 2017.
Torn between whether he wants to focus on playing football with Navarre or apply himself to running, he said: “I like them both about the same, but my mates play footy and I’ll be playing with them when the season starts.”
In the sub-junior event, Jerome Baker was too slick for Will Freeland, Indigo Venn and 15 others in the biggest field of youngsters club veterans could remember.
The club meets at the Concongella Hall at 9.30am on Saturday for a five-kilometre handicap. It welcomes fun runners.
‘Gibbo’ gallops to win
In six years of B Grade cricket with Rhymney club, Peter Gibson never made a century, nor did he get a ‘five-for’, but his annual pilgrimage to the bucolic cricket ground for Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club’s season opener produced a third win in the five-kilometre Rhymney Reef handicap.
“I’ve had more success with my running than I had with my cricket, but I have always loved the game and probably stopped playing too soon,” said Gibson, who first won at Rhymney in 2004 and again in 2013.
Gibson led early from homeground favourite Andrew Reynolds who took control on the Moyston road and led to the finish without completely shaking off a determined ‘Gibbo’.
After handicaps were applied, Gibson emerged with a 0.26-minute margin over Reynolds with Julie Hertz a surprised third.
Reynolds, who overlooks Rhymney Cricket Ground from his home on the hill, registered his third second placing in the race, having won before in 2017.
On the dirt road leaving the cricket ground, he exercised local knowledge by crossing to firmer footing on the right hand side and avoiding roof-like corrugations.
The smart him.
The club welcomed new runners Emma Carr and Kieran Blizzard to their first ‘professional’ race and both finished a challenging course for debutants.
The club travels to Stawell on Sunday for a five-kilometre handicap.
Fun runners are welcome and should meet members at Three Jacks Reserve from 9.15am. runners followed