SPRINT FINISH SEALS THE DEAL FOR MATILDA

Matilda L’Estrange has finished the 2022 Winter season in a blaze of glory. After finishing in 4^th place in the Women Under 18 at Ravenswood, and 5^th place at Cruden Farm, Matilda has moved up the ranks dramatically with wins in her last two events.

Going into the final round of the Individual Championship, Matilda was one point down on the season points tally for the Champion Athlete award and needed a good result at Burnley. In a desperate sprint to the line, Matilda managed to claim first place by a mere second. Matilda completed the 5km at Burnley in 18:11.

The extra point awarded as a bonus for winning has made all the difference and Matilda’s best four results for the five event season now tallys 36 points and are two points clear of the nearest athlete in the Women Under 18.

Matilda L'Estrange in the race to the line at Burnley.

FIEKE WINS UNDER 20 5km AT BURNLEY

A week after her 7^th place finish at the Australian Cross Country Championships in Adelaide, Fieke Van Der Kamp was probably still having nightmares about the mud at the Oakbank Racecourse. A flat and fast 5km course at Burnley was the perfect antidote. Fieke took full advantage of the perfect conditions at Burnley to record her first win for the 2022 XCR season, crossing the line in 18:07 a good 34 seconds clear of her nearest rival in the Women Under 20 event.

Fieke has only recently returned to racing after a lengthy spell out of the sport with injury.

MARATHON CALLING

A number of the DVAC runners returned to the Valley tent of completing the Half Marathon at Burnley with a wry smile of their faces and a distant look in their eye. Half Marathon is good: Marathon is better. Yes, the Melbourne Marathon is a mere four weeks away. James Telford & Peter Van Der Kamp were two such athletes at Burnley. Each has their own dream for the Melbourne Marathon and each was very pleased with the feedback they were getting from their efforts over the 21.1km hit out on the Boulevarde beside the Yarra. Good luck to all the Valley athletes that will be running the Marathon on October 2.

TIM & CADEN LEAD THE DVAC TEAMS HOME

While the DVAC Men Division 2 team finished in 6^th place out of the 13 teams, it was a very strong result and owed much to the efforts of Tim Logan & Caden Murray. Tim was very satisfied with his finish time of 1:09:16 that placed him 19^th. After the run Tim said that the best thing was that his overall pace was quicker than the 15km run at Ballarat. He saw this as a good sign that things were starting to pick up after a long & unpredictable struggle with covid.

Caden Murray ran his first Half Marathon & felt the need to be fairly cautious. Cautious was not slow as Caden went through the first 10km in 33 minutes. He still managed to pump out the second 10km in 32:50. That’s a high quality first attempt at a Half Marathon. Caden was placed 37^th.

Peter Van DerKamp 1:17:20; Dylan Littlejohn 1:22:04; and Brody McCarthy 1:22:58 completed the DVAC Division 2 Men’s team.

BRING ON THE TAN

The Tan Relays on Saturday 17 September 2022 are the final event on the 2022 Winter season. DVAC stands to win THREE TEAM PREMIERSHIPS at the Tan Relays.

The DVAC Men 60+ Short Course team will go into the final round with a whopping 18 points margin over their nearest ‘threat’. Well done on a great season. Lyal Douglas, Rob Wendel, Greg Luck & Peter Ramsay have fought for this flag.

The DVAC Women Under 18 team (nicknamed the ‘Bradbury’s) hold a 11point margin before they line up at the Tan. Matilda L’Estrange, Sugi Neecowen, Annalise Jones & Georgia L’Estrange have pushed for this pennant although for most rounds it was just Matilda & Sugi. This will be a miracle premiership.

The DVAC Women Under 16 team of Ally Brooks, Jamieson Lander, Poppy Scot-Dalgleish & Georgia L’Estrange have been pushed all the way by the team from Mornington and our girls hold a 7 point margin before the Tan Relays. A good result is still needed.

Everybody loves running The Tan. Getting your Tan Time down is such a common goal with Melbourne runners. One Lap – 3.8km. Let Max Balchin (0409 350 280), Maryann Murray (0439 636 325) or Greg Luck (0417 317 421) know if you would like to run in the Tan Relays on Saturday 17^th September 2022

Team entries (DVAC puts the teams in) are due in by midday Monday 12 September 2022. We must know who is available by next weekend. As Relays are not covered in AV Membership costs, DVAC does require athletes to cover the cost of each relay entry by paying $15 each.

LEADER OF THE PACK

Seth O’Donnell may have crossed the finish line first, but he did finish behind our own Paul Schofield who rode the lead bike in front of the big field.

DVAC is required to provide TWO Club Helpers for the Tan Relays. Kirby Telford has volunteered to assist. There is plenty of room for others to help out for this final event of the season. Let Max know on 0409 350 280

XCR22 RD 9: DVAC TEAM PLACES AT BURNLEY

Women:

Div 2 – 10^th/ 11; U20 – 3^rd/8; U18 – 3^rd/12; U16 – 1^st /16; U16 – 1^st/9; 40+ - 19^th/24; 50+ - 6^th/17; 50+ (Short Course) – 6^th/7

Men:

Div 2 – 6^th/13; Div 5 – 4^th/ 11; Div 7 – 11^th/11; 40+ - 16^th & 43^rd/57; 50+ - 14^th/18; 60+ - 10^th/10; M60+ (Short Course) – 5^th/7; U20 – 10^th/10; U16 – 2^nd/8; U14 – 7^th/10

WHAT’S COMING UP

Saturday Sept 10 DVAC Yellow Gum Challenge Yellow Gum Park,Plenty

(See the attached pdf for further information on this event.)

Saturday 17 Sept XCR 10 – Tan Relays The Tan

(Everybody wants to do the Tan Relays. Get in early & let Maryann, Greg & Max know that you are available to run. DVAC has to provide two CLUB HELPERS at this event.

155012518309. Sept 22 Willinda Classic (3km/ 1km/ 10km) Willinda Park

BURNLEY RESULTS

AV XCR’22 Round 9

Road Races at Burnley

Sunday 4 September 2022

DVAC Results:

Women:

WOpen
21.1km: Debbie McKenzie 1:48:49 (W50: 14/19);
W20
5km: Fieke Van DerKamp 18:07 (1/10);
W18
5km: Matilda L'Estrange 18:11(1/15); Annalise Jones 28:23 (15/15);
W16
5km: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 19:19 (4/15); Jamieson Lander 20:27 (7/15); Georgia L'Estrange 22:30 (12/15);
W50
5km: Gayle Clifford 31:28 (8/10);

Men:
MOpen
21.1km: Tim Logan 1:09:16 (Open: 19/290); Caden Murray 1:10:56 (Open: 37/290); Peter Van DerKamp 1:17:20 (M45: 7^th/36)); Dylan Littlejohn 1:22:04 (Open: 145/290); Brody McCarthy 1:22:58 (Open:156/290); Aaron Scot-Dalgleish 1:25:00 (M50: 13^th/30); Matthew Thompson 1:27:16; Rory McPhillips 1:29:04 (Open: 195/290); Aaron Bourne 1:35:00 (M35: 26/36); Andrew McKenzie 1:42:59 (M55: 13^th/20); Peter Ramsay dnf; Invite: James Telford 1:22:35
M20
5km: Dillon Vidanapathirana 25:57 (16/16);
M16
5km: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 16:50 (4/14); Dylan Nutbean 18:15 (8/14); Rhodri Whelan 19:14 (12/14);
M14
5km: Felix Morgan 19:33 (10/13);
M60
5km: Lyal Douglas 23:21 (4/8);
XOpen
5km: Damien Clifford 24:55 (24/28);

WHERE: Melway - 10 F5 Meet at - Picnic Area (at end of Picnic Area)

MAP: See Parks Victoria web site at: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/plenty- gorge- parklands

THE CHALLENGE: The event is the Club John Hertz Handicap conducted over a 6.88k course of 4 laps (with a 2 lap 3.44k option available). From the picnic area the course follows the walking track down to Blue Lake and then up the other side (steep climb) to the final 300m of the access road and back to the picnic area.

FACILITIES: Toilets, Water Taps, car parking, shelter and barbeque all available at start/finish area.

CAN’T RUN? Do yourself a favour and head down to Yellow Gum Park to walk this beautiful trail.

10 REASONS TO RUN BLUE LAKE ON SATURDAY 10^TH SEPTEMBER 2022:

1. You are looking for a challenge – look no further. And … 4 laps of the 1.6km ‘course’ at Blue Lake is just that. (2 laps for Juniors)

2. You still haven’t been more than 5km from Home since the Lockdown. Here’s your chance!

3.You are running the Tan Relays & want a hill session to get you ready for Anderson Street.

4. You’ve heard of Blue Lake but never seen it – this is a hidden treasure on our back doorstep.

5. You are a Trail Runner ... so this is perfect!
6. You’re interested in local history: As a result of

severe bushfires during 1957, the Clear Hill estate was subdivided into smaller allotments. The portion now known as Yellow Gum Park was purchased by Reid Quarries Pty Ltd who quarried the area to produce materials that were used in the construction of many of Melbourne's early 'Sky Scrapers'. Quarrying operations commenced during 1959 and Boral Australia took over the site in the 1960s. The plant was closed in the early 1970s because of ground water seeping into the quarry hole. The ground water seepage has produced the lake we now see today.

7. You’re a ‘twitcher’ at heart: Yellow Gum Park is also

regarded as being of National Faunal Significance. It is home to the rare swift parrot during the winter months. They come to feed on the nectar of the flowering Yellow Gums.

8. You’re a Greenie at heart: Yellow Gum Park is an environmentally sensitive area. It is regarded as being of State Floral Significance,

and Hyacinth Orchids grow in the area.

There are four major vegetation communities within Yellow Gum Park. They include grassy woodland, escarpment woodland, box ironbark woodland and riparian woodland. This habitat provides home to many native plants and animals.

9. You’re looking for a new place to have a Bar-b-que ... perfect!

10. You have visitors from overseas and want to show them kangaroos! Guaranteed!