Rogers steams ahead
It did not take long for Stawell policeman Tom Rodgers to stamp his authority on Stawell Amateur Athletic Club.
Rodgers, in only his second run with the club, won the 10-kilometre handicap by the widest margin in 15 races this year.
His first run, in mid-may when he clocked fastest time in the five-kilometre Stephen Baird Handicap, ended not so happily.
Fourth in that race after handicaps were applied, Rodgers disappeared post-race into the forest for a lengthy warm down and returned to the start to find that everyone had left, leaving him stranded with no phone, no wallet or car keys, and shivering with no change of clothes.
Chillingly it crossed his mind that he might have been the victim of an opportunistic thief.
In clear distress, Rodgers found fortune when he connected with course managers in the process of picking up witches hats. One phoned ahead to confirm that his essentials were safe before they were promptly dispatched.
“Someone had picked everything up, not knowing who it belonged to, and had taken it to the clubrooms,” Rodgers explained.
In his maiden win, Rodgers again recorded fastest time, a scintillating 38 minutes flat on a course with more ups than downs.
The hills test the survival of the fittest and it was comforting to know that this policeman is a fitness fanatic, already a veteran of triathlons, half-marathons and half-ironmans.
He quietly mentioned he prepared for the race by running 60 kilometres during the week.
After surging to the lead with 1.5 kilometres to run, Rodgers, 28, exploded away from the nearest chaser, Matilda Iglesias, to win by a staggering 3.37 minutes – about the equivalent of a kilometre.
Endurance specialist Kieran Ryan was a distant third.
In a one-kilometre sub-juniors race, Claire Christian earned bragging rights over the boys – Tom Whyte and Flynn Davies – with a narrow win.
On Saturday, the 16km Keith Haymes Living Legend Handicap celebrates the life of the club’s 91-year-old founder.
Win on home ground
Seventeen-year-old Tayissa Watkins surprised her family by winning Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club’s Watkins family handicap on Sunday.
She has previously run with the club as an invi
tation runner, but decided to sign up and compete with the club.
‘Tay’ as she likes to be called, glided through the finish gates and was the second fastest female runner for the day.
The Watkins family race is a championship run with all runners starting together.
After handicaps were applied, Watkins finished ahead of runner-up Natalie Beer by 1.05 minutes, with Nicki Blackie a further minute behind in third place.
The event attracted 20 runners who were blessed with sunshine for the out-and-back course mainly on sealed roads.
This was a change from the previous run, which had an unavoidable water hazard.
Mark Thompson was fastest on course, with Tessa Thompson first female home.
The club has been completing five virtual races during the lockdown weekends.
President Shev Healy said the virtual races were a great way to keep momentum within the club.
The highlight of the presentations was celebrating Peter Gibson’s 500th club run.
Placing fifth, he still runs with stamina after starting with the club 35 years ago. He has won 20 races and has had many roles.
The club’s next run is the Peter Gibson handicap on Sunday, starting at the Dunnesworthy common on Sawpit Flat Road Ararat.
Fun runners are welcome for both club events.