BBQ Stakes News

Wednesday 27 January 2010

Bernice Matthews had a win today, with Darren Leseberg second and Raymond Chao third.

Raymond had a win not long ago.

Nick Walshe had a recent (two weeks ago) PB of 21:06, which puts him amomgst the fastest this year.

There were fewer runners today, between 36 to 39, with a few turning up later than usual.

Our timekeeper today, signalled that he will be working in Belconnen in the near future, and of course he will miss his weekly BBQ Stakes runs.

Matthew Murphy continues his good form, with another lump off his recent times.

John Busteed continues his return to the Stakes, with another run to add to his total.

Run 4 Your Life Current Issue February - March 2010

Contains an article on the Canberra Marathon Dispute.

It concludes with advice (see page 22)

The final sentence is "the future of the event will most likely be decided via our legal system"

I love a sunburnt country

The title of this post is the opening words of Dorothy McKellar's poem.

On the ABC this morning they were discussing what could be considede icinoc Aussie songs.

So I thought I'd look for the words of Dorothy McKellars famous poem.

A listener rang in to say, it had been put to music, by William James and that she had it on a record.

So, as one does I tried to find the music on the internet.

I found the words to the poem, but not the music.


The love of field and coppice, Of green and shaded Lanes, Of ordered woods and gardens, Is running in your veins; Strong love of grey-blue distance, Brown streams and soft, dim skies - I know but cannot share it, My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of drought and flooding rains, I love her far horizons, I love her jewel sea, Her beauty and her terror - The wide brown land for me.

The tragic ring-barked forests Stark white beneath the moon, The sapphire-misted mountains, The hot gold hush of noon. Green tangle of the brushes Where lithe lianas coil, An orchids deck the tree-tops And ferns the crimson soil.

Core of my heart, my country! Her pitiless blue sky, When sick at heart around us We see the cattle die - But then the grey clouds gather And we can bless again The drumming of an army, The steady, soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country! Land of the Rainbow Gold, For flood and fire and famine, She pays us back threefold; Over the thirsty paddocks, Watch, after many days, The filmy veil of greenness That thickens as we gaze.
An opal-hearted country, A wilful, lavish land - All you who have not loved her, You will not understand - Though Earth holds many splendours, Wherever I may die, I know to what brown Country My homing thoughts will fly.

Just like the old days

We listened on the radio many many years ago to the radio broadcasts of the Davis Cup.

Tonight I have on the computer a live broadcast of the Bagdatis tennis match against fish.

Will be back to the live television coverage later for the women's final.

Hope it's a close one throughout.


Meanwhile, a huge wrap for the ballboys, who I have not seen miss a beat.


Hope dimentieva wears something other than her green and white outfit.

BBQ Stakes 13 January

Today was lower in runners competing/running at 32 finishers.

First was Melissa Carters, second was Matthew Murphy, I think he was the last starter, 3rd was Richard Dukes. Matthew has been in the top three runners for the first several events of the year.

Daniel Buckley completed his 100th BBQ Stakes, he ran the Lake Tuggeranong Stakes on the Tuesday. He has 4 Wins in the BBQ Stakes and should get his T-Shirt presentation soon.

The T-shirt was not available on the day.

I think he has a Best of 26:11, and enjoys the Vets Monthly Handicaps.

Brian Crowe helped out with the recording.

It was a 35 degree day, falling to 31 degrees at midnight.

Mark Tucker, has won the 27th Tasmanian Half Marathon in Hobart

Geelong runner, Mark Tucker, has won the 27th Tasmanian Half Marathon in Hobart, and broken the race record.
Tucker set out hard in the 21-kilometre race and led throughout.
The 30-year-old crossed the line in 65 minutes and 34 seconds, breaking the 15-year-old race record by 26 seconds.
Behind him was David Thomas from Launceston; as the first local home, the second placing earnt him the Tasmanian Half Marathon Championship title.
44-year-old Sandra Prosenica from Victoria won the women's Half Marathon title in one hour, 20 minutes and 48 seconds.
In the full marathon, Scott McTaggart was the winner.
The 32-year-old from Canberra also set a course record of two hours, 23 minutes and 40 seconds.
Sharon Ryder of Brisbane won the women's full marathon in just over 3 hours.

Currently Reading

One of the presents for Christmas.

John Grisham - The Partner.

Many twists and turns to this tale.

He stole ninety million dollars from his own firm, just before he was to be sacked.

I have read read a previous book by the same author "The Innocent Man", my choice from the bookshop.

Both good stories.

Looked on the internet for the meaning of po'boy

This was mentioned on page 374.

A term I will probably never use.



Scroll down for enlightenment.


















A kind of open sandwich, with edible ingredients of your choice.

The car's back and repaired.

Our car is now repaired and back in action in the ACT.

Has a peplaced starter motor, which was sent from Perth, and a new battery.

So here's hoping for years of trouble free motoring.

It was put to good use yesterday, and today.

Public transport, including the use of buses and taxis, is not the same as having your own car, being able to walk out the door and drive wherever you want to, without having to wait for other transport.

BBQ Stakes 6 Jan 2010

A somewhat smaller field ran in the Stakes today.

Raymond Chao was the winner. He runs for IP Australia. That team won the trophy today.

The first Wednesday of the month is a teams event, when all participants run the course clockwise, the first eligible three in a team determine the winner of the team trophy.

Terry Dixon, who is involved in the results processing was awarded his 200th run T-Shirt. His PB is 27.10.

A couple of injuries surfaced today, to Roger Pilkington, and to Jeff Gardner.

Even so, Roger rode his bike to and from the event, without competing.

Adrian Plunkett got a mention today of having completed over 750 runs, with a PB of 23:46.

He covered the course today, with Marc Wilson, to help Marc improve his running.


Kerrie Tanner announced the results, and competed. As previously advised, she has now taken over from Steve Smith, as the handicapper.

Speedygeese present today were Katie Forestier, and Gary Bowen.

Starter Motor gave up the ghost

It was a dark and windy, cold night.

The starter motor decided to give up the ghost.

This involved the NRMA being called, and saying the car was going nowhere under it's own power.

The NRMA person called a tow truck and it was towed to Melrose Hyundai.

The next morning/afternoon, the day before christmas, we were told the bad news.

A starter motor would take 7 days to be sent from Perth, and then put in the car.

We asked also for advice from our son-in-law what we should do otherwise.

We were told to also get a new battery installed along with the starter motor.

We are now waiting patiently with fingers crossed, and doing penance without a car.

Our brother in law will give us a lift tonight.

Other outings are in the offing but will involve careful planning.

The things we do like shopping trips to Woden and other places will also need to be planned.

It's not going to be the same, as walking out the front door and hopping in the car to drive anywhere, until we get the repair done.

Here's keeping the fingers crossed that there are no unnecessary delays.

A new year and a new rule re False Starts

A new year and a new rule
The New Year will mark the international commencement of the new false start rule as defined by the IAAF at their annual congress meeting held in October 2009.
The rule, in its current format, states:
“Any athlete making a false start shall be warned.
Except in Combined Events, only one false start per race shall be allowed without the disqualification of the athlete(s) making the false start.
Any athlete(s) making further false starts in the race shall be disqualified from the race.”
Effective from January 1, 2010, the new rule has been changed to essentially remove the allowance of a false start by any competitor stating:
“Except in Combined Events, any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified.”
Combined events remain unaffected by the rule change with a single false start allowed. Any competitor who false starts following the initial warning will be immediately disqualified.
Referring to the Korean host city for the world championships in 2011, the president of the executive council of the IAAF Lamine Daick has said, “we need to change it next year because everyone will have ample time to change by the time of Daegu.”
Jorge Salcedo, head of the IAAF’s technical commission, said at the time of the new rule’s proposal in March that “many athletes were playing mind games with the others, but under the new rule, that would not be possible.”

(Still have to read this again carefully to try and understand it.)