VINTAGE VALLEY VALIANCE IN THE VINEYARDS

The Diamond Valley Athletic Club had 34 runners compete in Round 3 of the XCR’23 season. The course set around the Vineyards of St Anne’s Winery, Ravenswood challenged each athlete with steep climbs, sharp turns, uphill finish and rutted tracks over a 4km or 3km loop. The athletes may not have appreciated the stunning views, autumnal colours and local hospitality until their race was over, but it definitely goes down as one of the most scenic courses of the season. There were 14 Women (6 Open & Masters, & 8 Juniors) and 20 Men (14 Open & Masters, and 4 Juniors) that managed to produce 21 team results. There were 12 Men’s team results & 9 Women’s team results by the end of competition.

Heidi Kuppler (WU14) stormed around the hills at the head of the WU14 field and crossed in first place a clear winner of the 4km race. Heidi finished the 4km in 15:45, over 30sec clear of the second finisher. As there were no other teams with more than one runner, Heidi’s win doubles up as a win in the Team event scores to send the Women Under 14 team into second place on the season ladder.

Rob Wendel (M60+) finished the “Short Course’ 4km loop in second place in a time of 19:45. Combined with Lyle Douglas (21:34) Diamond Valley now sits at the top of the M60+ Short Course season ladder and the team will be aiming to defend their title from the 2022 season.

Ethan Armstrong-Bourne (MU16) finished in 4^th place in the Men U16 3km event in what was one of the most competitive races of the day. Ethan completed the 3km in 10:12 to cross 7 seconds behind the 3^rd placegetter and only 20 seconds behind the winner.

Both the DVAC Women Under 18 and the Women Under 16 teams gained valuable points on the season ladder by finishing as the third placed team at Ravenswood. Ally Brooks (12:01), Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (12:21) and Erin Maloney (13:20) formed the U18 team. Matilda L’Estrange looked set to lead the team home as she mixed it with the lead pack until she suffered an ankle injury inside the final kilometer: Matilda had stepped into a deep rut on the course and needed assistance from the First Aid people.

Rose Jarvis (12:04), Georgia L’Estrange (13:08) and Lucy Johns (13:34) formed the DVAC WU16 team. Ally Brooks (12:09) & Georgia L’Estrange (14:49) sliced time off their run at the same venue last year.

Both the DVAC Women’s Division 2 team and the DVAC Men’s Division 2 team earned valuable points on the day. The Women Division 2 team was led home by Shania Murray who finished in 13^th position from a field of 150 in the Open Women’s 8km Cross Country. Shania completed the 8km in 31:04. Simone Kuppler (35:14), Taylor Radatti (37:27) and Debbie McKenzie (40:59) completed the Division 2 team.

Dylan Littlejohn (29:56) led the Valley Division 2 team home. He was followed in by Blake Barnes (30:05), Jarryd Cripps (31:40), Charles Jacobson (31:48), Craig Cassidy (32:02) and James Telford (32:24). The team went into Round 3 on the bottom of the Division 2 ladder finished 11^th out of the 15 teams and started their Operation Fightback that will hopefully see the team avoid relegation at the end of the season.

Final Notes:

• The DVAC Tent stood proudly in prime position at the Winery thanks to the energy & support of David Armstrong. Thanks go to David and the happy team that packed the Tent up at the end of the day.
• Thanks go to Lyn Davis, Erin Maloney and Lucy Johns for their Timekeeping throughout the day. If you would like your splits for the 4km/8km mark they are available on request.
• Thanks to those kind members who provided the spread of yummy foods. Those Cakes with chocolate Koalas set on top were simply unbelievable.
• Charles Jacobson had his first run with the Valley for the season at St Anne’s. Charles ran the Boston Marathon on April 17 and recorded a personal best time of 2:57:10. Charles ran a negative split at Boston & said that it was a much better experience than ‘blowing up’!
• Welcome to Sebastian Morgan (MU14) who had his first run with the Valley.
• Well done to the following in posting improved times on this run last year: Damien Clifford (39:03); Taylor Radatti (39:13); Debbie McKenzie (43:19).
• Well done to the athletes who posted negative splits on the day: Simone Kuppler (17:48/17:28); Debbie McKenzie (20:33/20:28); Scott Barnes (18:44/18:36); Jarryd Cripps (-31); Brett Maloney (-27)
• Metronome Awards went to: Blake Barnes (+4sec for 2^nd Lap); Jo Moxon (+9); Shania Murray (+9); Charles Jacobson (+14); Craig Cassidy (+14); Dyaln Littlejohn (+16); Damien Clifford (+18); Brody McCarthy (+31); Aaron Scot-Dalgleish (+34); James Telford (+43); Daniel Rees (+45); Patrick Clarke (+50); Aaron Bourne (+60); Taylor Radatti (+1m19s); Gayle Clifford (+1m50s); Andrew McKenzie (+4m06)
• Huge thanks to the First Aid team employed by AV for the day at Ravenswood: their care and support for Matilda and Simone was super impressive.
• Most enjoyable part of the day for some was definitely the get together at the end of the day over the local wines & a pizza.

AV XCR’23 Rd 3

St Anne’s Winery, Ravenswood

Saturday 27 May 2023

DVAC Results:

Female Open
8km: Shania Murray 31:04 (WOpen 13^th); Simone Kuppler 35:14 (W40 6^th); Taylor Radatti 37:27 (WOpen 77^th); Debbie McKenzie 40:59 (W50 15^th); Jo Moxon 45:58 (W55 8^th); Gayle Clifford 59:32 (W50 25^th);
Female 20
4km: Sugi NeeCowen 19:16 (11^th);
Female 18
3km: Ally Brooks 12:01 (10^th); Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 12:21 (14^th); Erin Maloney 13:20 (22^nd);
Female 16
3km: Rose Jarvis 12:04 (8^th); Georgia L'Estrange 13:08 (20^th); Lucy Johns 13:34 (24^th);
Female 14
4km: Heidi Kuppler 15:45 (1^st);
Male Open
8km: Dylan Littlejohn 29:56 (MOpen 138^th); Blake Barnes 30:05 (MOpen 143^rd); Jarryd Cripps 31:40 (MOpen 186^th); Charles Jacobson 31:48 (M40 14^th); Craig Cassidy 32:02 (M45 7^th); James Telford 32:24 (MOpen 206^th); Daniel Rees 33:21; Aaron Scot-Dalgleish 33:45 (M50 11^th); Brody McCarthy 35:27 (MOpen 264^th); Aaron Bourne 36:48 (M45 22^nd); Scott Barnes 37:19 (M50 24^th); Damien Clifford 38:33 (M50 27^th); Brett Maloney 39:23 (M50 30^th); Andrew McKenzie 40:42 (M55 23^rd); Patrick Clarke 42:44 (M50 31^st);
Male 20
4km: Dillon Vidanapathirana 19:39 (17^th);
Male 16
3km: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 10:12 (4^th);
Male 14
4km: Logan Armstrong-Bourne 16:52 (10^th); Sebastian Morgan 17:03 (12^th);
Male 60 Short Course
4km: Rob Wendel 19:45 (2^nd); Lyal Douglas 21:34 (5^th);

DVAC TEAM RESULTS:

WOMEN:

Open:

Division 2: (Shania Murray, Simone Kuppler, Taylor Radatti, Debbie McKenzie) 4^th/11;

Division 4: (Jo Moxon, Gayle Clifford) 5^th/8;

Women 40+: (Simone Kuppler, Debbie McKenzie, Jo Moxon) 9^th/32

Women 40+: (Gayle Clifford) 32^nd/32

Women 50+: (Debbie McKenzie, Jo Moxon, Gayle Clifford) 7^th/21

Under 20: (Sugi Neecowen) 9^th/11

Under 18: (Ally Brooks, Poppy Scot-Dalgleish, Erin Maloney) 3^rd/19

Under 16: (Rose Jarvis, Georgia L’Estrange, Lucy Johns) 3^rd/15

Under 14: (Heidi Kuppler) 1^st/7

MEN

Open:

Division 2: (Dylan Littlejohn, Blake Barnes, Jarryd Cripps, Charles Jacobson, Craig Cassidy, James Telford) 10^th/14

Division 5: (Aaron Scot-Dalgleish, Brody McCarthy, Aaron Bourne, Scott Barnes) 8^th/11

Division 7: (Damien Clifford, Brett Maloney, Andrew McKenzie, Patrick Clarke) 6^th/15

Men 40+: (Charles Jacobson, Craig Cassidy, Aaron Scott-Dalgleish) 8^th/60

Men 40+: (Aaron Bourne, Scott Barnes, Damien Clifford) 31^st/60

Men 40+: (Brett Maloney, Andrew McKenzie, Patrick Clarke) 39^th/60

Men 50+: (Aaron Scot-Dalgleish, Scott Barnes, Damien Clifford) 10^th/39

Men 50+: (Brett Maloney, Andrew McKenzie, Patrick Clarke) 17^th/39

Men 60+ Short Course: (Rob Wendel, Lyal Douglas) 1^st/7

Under 20: (Dylan Vidanapathirana) 11^th/11

Under 16: (Ethan Armstrong-Bourne) 8^th/15

Under 14: (Logan Armstrong-Bourne, Sebastian Morgan) 2^nd/13