MCCARTHY fights BLUE LAKE MONSTER TO WIN THE HERTZ
The Blue Lake hill is a monster. It’s 800m of unrelenting uphill agony for each DVAC athlete who attempts the John Hertz Handicap each year. The reward is a similar distance of downhill joy with majestic views overlooking the Plenty river surrounds. But that hill … four times for the 6.44km journey is enough to break the strongest spirit.
This year Brody McCarthy, one of the Backmarker crew, survived the Blue Lake Monster, and got to salute the judge to claim the 2024 John Hertz Handicap. Brody took the lead as he crested the final hill and charged down to the finish line to claim his first DVAC Handicap race. Brody said, “I was able to hold a fairly consistent pace throughout. I worked up the hills and pushed the downhills as much as I could, letting the legs go.” Brody completed the 6.44km distance in 28:22 to record a 30second pb on the course.
Second over the line was Debbie McKenzie whose time of 37:04 was also the Masters Female Fastest Time. Jo Moxon crossed the finish line in 3rd place in a time of 40:26.
In the Open & Masters race James Telford’s actual time of 27:21 was the Male Open Fastest time and Charles Jacobson’s 27:44 was the Male Masters Fastest time. For the women it was Sarah Papadopoulos to post the Female Open Fastest time, 47:28.
The DVAC Handicapper, Greg Luck took pleasure in seeing a further 10 of the field of 16 cross the finish line within two minutes after Brody. It was a similar story in the Junior race where the nine finishers crossed the line in rapid succession.
In the Junior two lap race, covering a distance of 3.22km, Erin Maloney was the first to charge down the final drive to the finish area and cross in an actual time of 14:46. Erin was followed in by Ethan Armstrong-Bourne, 12:30, and Jack Daley, 14:35. Ethan Armstrong-Bourne logged the Male Fastest Time and Rose Jarvis recorded the Female Fastest Time for the Junior race with an actual time of 13:56.
There was a happy band of helpers at Yellow Gum Park to assist with the conduct of the event. Thanks to the following:
Course set-up: David Armstrong, Lyn Davis, Max Balchin with thanks to Andrew L’Estrange for the Course Pack-up.
Timekeepers: Andrew L’Estrange, Karen Quinn, Keith King, Lyn Davis, Max Balchin, David Armstrong
Photography: Cathy Tomkins
Trophies: Maryann Murray
2024 DVAC John Hertz Handicap
Yellow Gum Park
Saturday 22 June 2024
Results:
Open & Masters 7.44 Handicap (4 Laps)
|
NAME
|
HANDICAP TIME
|
FINISH TIME
|
ACTUAL TIME
|
PLACE
|
|
Brody McCarthy
|
21:00
|
49:22
|
28:22
|
1st
|
|
Debbie McKenzie
|
12:43
|
49:47
|
37:04
|
2nd
|
|
Jo Moxon
|
9:27
|
49:53
|
40:26
|
3rd
|
|
Jarryd Cripps
|
21:28
|
49:57
|
28:29
|
4th
|
|
Andrew McKenzie
|
13:18
|
49:59
|
36:41
|
5th
|
|
Scott Barnes
|
17:09
|
50:12
|
33:03
|
6th
|
|
Charles Jacobson
|
22:31
|
50:15
|
27:44
|
7th
|
|
James Telford
|
23:20
|
50:41
|
27:21
|
8th
|
|
Dylan Littlejohn
|
23:48
|
51:54
|
28:06
|
9th
|
|
Mark Jarvis
|
20:22
|
52:01
|
29:39
|
10th
|
|
Michelle King
|
7:35
|
52:08
|
44:43
|
11th
|
|
Elyse Littlejohn
|
0:00
|
52:58
|
52:58
|
12th
|
|
Kate Ryan
|
12:29
|
53:25
|
40:56
|
13th
|
|
Sarah Papadopoulos
|
6:04
|
53:32
|
47:28
|
14th
|
|
Aaron Bourne
|
17:02
|
54:05
|
37:03
|
15th
|
|
Brett Maloney
|
16:27
|
54:27
|
38:00
|
16th
|
Junior 3.22km Handicap (2 Laps)
|
NAME
|
HANDICAP TIME
|
FINISH TIME
|
ACTUAL TIME
|
PLACE
|
|
Erin Maloney
|
14:28
|
29:14
|
14:46
|
1st
|
|
Ethan Armstrong-Bourne
|
16:51
|
29:21
|
12:30
|
2nd
|
|
Jack Daley
|
15:06
|
29:41
|
14:35
|
3rd
|
|
Georgia L’Estrange
|
13:39
|
29:15
|
15:36
|
4th
|
|
Rose Jarvis
|
16:02
|
29:58
|
13:58
|
5th
|
|
Brodie Batt
|
17:19
|
30:06
|
12:47
|
6th
|
|
Lucy Johns
|
13:49
|
30:14
|
16:25
|
7th
|
|
Nicholas Tomkin
|
17:26
|
30:22
|
12:56
|
8th
|
|
Alex Dewar
|
15:36
|
32:30
|
16:54
|
9th
|
