Lake Ginninderra Handicap 29 th January 2013

 

Ginninderra Handicap No 353 on Tue 29/01/2013

A reasonably small field of runners turned up

for the first handicap of 2013 –

 our 30th birthday year (exact celebration dates

depending on definition of 'birthday' to be advised....).

Many grumbled of a lack of exercise and too much

cheer over the festive season with low expectations

of finishing before 1pm and high expectations
 of discomfort.

One exception was Mark Lound, who having

shed 7kg over the break and being gifted
with a new handicap last year was a slight favourite
over last month's

winner in Simon Yelland. Whilst the temperature

was in the low 20s it was a humid afternoon and a very

 sweaty run was in order. Runners also had to navigate

a number of fallen gum trees as a result of last Saturday's fierce

storm. In the end Mark was a comfortable winner over Simon,

earning himself a new handicap in the process, with Darren Hitchman

 finishing third. Also of note was the absence of Jim Roberts

 who currently sits on 199 runs. Phil Carruthers on 190 runs

showed up - how long will Jim tease him before fronting up

and claiming the first to reach 200 handicaps? Jeff Grey

mentioned registration dates for the noted upcoming

Australian Masters Athletics Championships to be held here in

 Canberra over the easter break. To the amazement of at

 least one official the 'Masters' category starts at age 30!

A veteran at 30 - who would have thought it?

Officials: Gerard Wildie, Alistair Rogers, Andrew Sutcliffe.