THE RUNNERS SHOP/BROOKSBLACK MOUNTAIN CHALLENGESUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER, 2009

It was another beautiful morning in Canberra for the running of the 21st annual Runners Shop Brooks Black Mountain Challenge. Once again the start was delayed by some minutes to allow some extra time for competitors who had been inconvenienced by the road closures due to the Canberra Half Ironman Triathlon. The organisers had been watching the road closure notifications carefully but with signs indicating closures on 6 December and 20 December, it was thought the roads were clear, but no such luck! At the starting line it appeared to be a race in three for overall honours with New Zealand triathlete, Nick Horspool, 2005 winner (and 1991 junior winner), Dave Osmond, and 2006 winner, Stuart Doyle, while in the female section, it looked like a race between last year’s winner, Jessamy Hosking and last year’s runner up, Vanessa Haverd. By the time they got to the top of the hill, Nick was 32 seconds ahead in a time of 18.29 with Dave second in 19.01 and Stuart another 14 seconds back in 19.15. Stuart was first veteran, not far in front of Bruce Graham (19.21) to reverse last year’s veteran result, and the third veteran, Ian McConville was the next runner across the line (20.17). Their times were well outside Gerard Ryan’s untouchable veteran record time of 18.15. In the female event, the result was the same as last year with Jessamy in 9th place overall in 20.43, a PB 14 seconds faster than last year. Vanessa was 12th overall in 21.07 and another PB, 32 seconds faster than last year while former dual Australian mountain running champion, Judith May was third in 22.52. Louise Sharp was fourth with Elizabeth Humphries fifth.Despite a troublesome knee, Fiona Jorgensen was the first female veteran (24.49) for the eight consecutive year but well outside her own veteran record (21.17) set in 1999. In the junior section, 15 year old Ryan Gibson (23.00), was the first male but did not challenge Paul Crake’s 1994 junior record (18.34) which appears unbeatable. Fourteen year old Naomi Stewart (26.05) was the first junior female but she was also well outside the junior female record set by Emily Brichacek last year (21.10) which also appears untouchable. In the superveteran (60 years and older) category, Paul Archer (25.35) was ahead of Robbie Costmeyer (26.01) and Bob Harlow (26.52) but did not threaten Kent Williams 2006 supervet record (22.52). To complete a family trifecta, Sue Archer (26.23) was the first female supervet and lowered her own supervet record set last year by 30 seconds.There were no changes to the male race rankings but in the female rankings, Jessamy has moved from 4th to 3rd while Vanessa has moved from 7th to 5th.After the completion of the run, finishers and their families enjoyed a breakfast of fruit salad and bread subsidised by that long time supporter of ACT Athletics, Baker’s Delight. The race prizes and barrel draws were sponsored by The Runners Shop and Brooks.This was the 19th running of the event on the current course. Tom van Gerwen and Nigel Coldrick have both run 18 of the 19. Fiona Jorgensen, Hugh Jorgensen, and Jim White have each run 17 while Brian Wenn has run 16. Ex-Canberran Rick Hatcher has run 15 while Maria White has run 14. Nick Blackaby, Maree Coldrick, Hugh Moore, Carol Harding and and race statistician, Mick Corlis have all run 13. Rounding out the stayers with 12 runs are Roger Abbott, Ray Bramwell and Doug Fry. Many thanks to Mick for processing the results.

Report circulated by Ian Boyd to those who requesred it.