WINTER SUCCESS SET UP AT WENDOUREE

The success of the 2023 Winter season for the Diamond Valley Athletic Club was confirmed by a strong showing at the Road Races around Lake Wendouree on Sunday 6^th August. Despite the early start at Ballarat on a Sunday morning there were still 40 DVAC athletes (14 Female & 26 Male) present to fly the club colours in either the 6km Road Races or the 15km Road Races.

By the end of competition the top Open DVAC teams in Division 2 had done much to secure their place in the division; the Women Under 16, Women Under 18 and Men 60+ (Short Course) had all retained their place on top of their respective season ladder; and Heidi Kuppler had improved her lead on the season ladder of the Women Under 14 Champion Athlete. There was definitely a positive buzz around the Valley Tent.

DIVISION 2 - BOTH STUCK IN FOURTH GEAR

Nothing wrong about being stuck in fourth gear in the XCR23 season. It means that you’re earning top points toward the season ladder. The Women’s team of Shania Murray, Sarah Leeming, Taylor Radatti and Adina Morrow finished in fourth place at Wendouree but will remain in fifth position on the season ladder.

The first two DVAC Men, Chris Rancie (38^th) and Caden Murray (39^th) staged a tight battle to the line with Chris holding Caden out by one second – 48:59 to 49:00. Then followed a succession of DVAC men in close order: Dylan Littlejohn, 55:37, James Telford, 55:59, Jarryd Cripps, 56:19, & Craig Cassidy, 56:46, to complete the Men Division 2 team. The result of this spirited road race around Lake Wendouree was that the Valley Division 2 team has moved from 12^th out of 14 teams to equal equal 9^thon the ladder. If that’s being stuck in fourth gear, let’s do it again!

TWO MEDAL WINNERS

Matilda L’Estrange, WU18, won the silver medal with a strong race around the Lake, finishing the 6km in 21:49. This was a minute faster than her time in last year’s event.

Heidi Kuppler, WU14, was a clear winner of the 6km Road Race. Heidi finished in 22:08. She now moves further ahead on the season ladder for the Champion Athlete in the Women Under 14.

Both Matilda and Heidi will be competing at the 2023 Australian Cross Country Championships in Canberra on Saturday 26 August. Another DVAC athlete set to compete at the Nationals is Rose Jarvis, WU16, who finished in 23:05 and placed seventh in her field.

BIG IMPROVERS

There were many good news stories around the Valley Tent at the end of the races. One of the biggest improvers was Rhodri Whelan, MU18, who finished the 6km race in 21:12 compared to his time of 23:57 in 2022. Georgia L’Estrange, WU16, went from 27:28 in 2022 to 24:59 on Sunday. Dillon Vidanapathirana, MU20, lowered his time of 33:08 last year to 29:10 this year.

GONE FISHIN’

Patrick Knight, MU16, combined his passion for running with his passion for fishing at the one venue. Patrick ran his lap of the lake in 22:20 before setting up with the fishing rods on the opposite side of the lake to the Valley tent. Patrick and his father were later joined by the Armstrong-Bournes but no report about their success with the rods has yet come to hand.

THANKS!

Thanks to David Armstrong and Rob Wendel for the Tent set up at Wendouree. Thanks to all those who brought along some food to share. It was all appreciated in the damp & cold conditions. Thanks to Lyn Davis, Erin and Imogen Maloney and Elyse Scheuermann for the Time Keeping duties. Thanks to the willing team that did the pack up.

Thanks to Fleur Owen for volunteering her services as a Club Helper at the next event, the Ekiden Relays at Myrniong. There is still one more Club Helper required for Myrniong. Volunteers, please.

LAKE WENDOUREE ROAD RACES

XCR’23 Rd 7

SUNDAY 6 AUGUST 2023

DVAC Results:

Female Open
15km: Shania Murray 55:42 (WOpen 9^th/162); Sarah Leeming 1:04:48 (WOpen 71/162); Taylor Radatti 1:05:35 (WOpen 76/162); Adina Morrow 1:10:40 (WOpen 108/162); Debbie McKenzie 1:13:34 (W50+ 10/16); Lorna Maloney 1:22:38 (W45+ 13/13);
Female 18
6km: Matilda L'Estrange 21:49 (2^nd/19); Erin Maloney 24:00 (10^th/19);
Female 16
6km: Rose Jarvis 23:05 (7^th/16); Georgia L'Estrange 24:59 (12^th/16); Luella Wood 26:53 (13^th/16); Lucy Johns 27:30 (14^th/16);
Female 14
6km: Heidi Kuppler 22:08 (1^st/7);
Male Open
15km: Chris Rancie 48:59 (MOpen 38^th/336); Caden Murray 49:00 (MOpen 39^th/336); Dylan Littlejohn 55:37 (MOpen 147/336); James Telford 55:59 (MOpen 155/336); Jarryd Cripps 56:19 (MOpen 160/336); Craig Cassidy 56:46 (M45+ 9^th/27); Brody McCarthy 57:31 (MOpen 180/336); Matthew Thompson 59:53 (MOpen 216/336); Aaron Scot-Dalgleish 1:00:01 (M50+ 16^th/31); Blake Barnes 1:04:29 (MOpen 271/336); Scott Barnes 1:05:26 (M50+ 24^th/31); Aaron Bourne 1:09:01 (M45+ 24^th/27); Brett Maloney 1:22:38 (M50+ 31^st/31);
Male 20
6km: Dillon Vidanapathirana 29:10 (13^th/13);
Male 18
6km: Joel Imbriano 20:51 (13^th/23); Rhodri Whelan 21:12 (14^th/23); Jordan Rudd 23:55 (21^st/23);
Male 16
6km: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 20:23 (10^th/28); Patrick Knight 22:20 (19^th/28); Jack Daley 24:16 (26^th/28); Glen Imbriano 27:38 (28^th/28);
Male 14
6km: Logan Armstrong-Bourne 24:39 (7^th/11);
Male 60
6km M60+ Short Course: Peter Ramsay 25:45 (1^st/12); Rob Wendel 28:28 (4^th/12); Greg Luck 29:34 (5^th/12); Lyal Douglas 29:38 (6^th/12);

LAKE WENDOUREE ROAD RACES

XCR’23 Rd 7

SUNDAY 6 AUGUST 2023

DVAC TEAM Results:

Female Open:

Division 2: (4^th/12 Teams) Shania Murray (9^th); Sarah Leeming (65); Taylor Radatti (69); Adina Morrow (98)

Division 4: (5^th/7 Teams) Debbie McKenzie (106); Lorna Maloney (134);

Women 40+: (17^th/27 Teams) Debbie McKenzie (33); Lorna Maloney (50);

Women 50+: (16^th/17 Teams) Debbie McKenzie (16)

Under 18: (4^th/ 12 Teams) Matilda L’Estrange (2); Erin Maloney (10)

Under 16 (1): (3^rd/ 10 Teams) Rose Jarvis (7); Georgia L’Estrange (12); Luella Wood (13)

Under 16 (2): (8^th/ 10 Teams) Lucy John (14)

Under 14: (3^rd/ 5 Teams) Heidi Kuppler (1)

Men Open

Division 2: (5^th/14 Teams) Chris Rancie (38); Caden Murray (39); Dylan Littlejohn (147); James Telford (155); Jarryd Cripps (160); Craig Cassidy (165)

Division 5: (3^rd/10 Teams) Brody McCarthy (180); Matthew Thompson (216); Aaron Scot-Dalgleish (218); Blake Barnes (271)

Division 7: (8^th/14 Teams) Scott Barnes (280); Aaron Bourne (299); Brett Maloney (331)

Men 40+ (1): (19^th/59 Teams) Craig Cassidy (33); Aaron Scot-Dalgleish (59); Scott Barnes (101)

Men 40+ (2): (46^th/59 Teams) Aaron Bourne (114); Brett Maloney (141)

Men 50+: (14^th/ 40 Teams) Aaron Scot-Dalgleish (25); Scott Barnes (49); Aaron Bourne (81)

Men 60+ (1) (Short Course): (1^st/ 8 Teams) Peter Ramsay (1); Rob Wendel (4) Greg Luck (5)

Men 60+ (2) (Short Course): (5^th/ 8 Teams) Lyal Douglas (6)

Under 20: (9^th/9 Teams) Dillon Vidanapathirana (13)

Under 18: (2^nd/ 14 Teams) Joel Imbriano (13); Rhodri Whelan (14); Jordan Rudd (21)

Under 16 (1): (5^th/ 16 Teams) Ethan Armstrong-Bourne (10); Patrick Knight (19); Jack Daley (26)

Under 16 (2): (16^th/ 16 Teams) Glen Imbriano (28)

Under 14: (6^th/ 8 Teams) Logan Armstrong-Bourne (7)