BUNDOORA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
14 JULY 2001

 As one senior Box Hill supporter commented on the course, conditions were typical at Bundoora this year, freezing with a strong biting wind.  This was noticed by the army of Box Hill supporters who travelled to the course to assist with officiating and manning the canteen tent.  Box Hill runners competed in almost every race.  Haley Tomlinson clearly won the 14 years’ race beating many older competitors running at the same time.  Juliet Thornton finished 4^th in the 16 years’ section from Georgie McCallum, 5^th, in the same race, with Kate Thornton finishing 18^th and Sarah Evans managed 23^rd. Andrew White ran well in his race to finish 2^nd.  Jess de Bruin ran well to finish 4^th while Audra Papworth finished 8^th in the 20 years’ division.  Michael Bourne running in the 16 years’ section placed 24^th in the 6k.

 Sam Hassett returned to race after a long layoff due to injury and ran very well indeed in the U/20 race finishing in 8^th position ahead of Alan Craigie, who finished 10^th.

 Adrian Vincent ran very impressively in the 18 years’ division to place 6^th, with Daniel Clark, just over a minute behind in 18^th position.  It is really pleasing to see the number of Marcellin boys representing Box Hill, thanks to John Meagher’s encouragement. 

 Anna Thompson was very prominent in the 8 k. race, positioned just behind Susie Power, who is running in sensational form at present, after the first 2 k lap.  Eventually Power drew clear of Anna, who maintained her momentum to place 2^nd, well clear of Serena Gibbs who finished 3^rd. Nicki Chapple ran a solid race to place 7^th and looks to be improving her fitness level, which is a good sign.  Megan Sloane completed the Women’s team, and placed 2^nd in the 45 years’ age group. 

 The Open Men’s (12 k.) and Women’s (8 k.) races. attracted 12 athletes representing Box Hill. We were able to field only one senior men’s team for the second consecutive race.  However we finished a senior women’s team this week. 

 There was strong competition at the top end of the field with two NSW runners, Kim Gillard and Nick Cope and a New Zealander, Blair Martin, contesting the race.  Paul Fenn, running for Eureka, was again prominent together with Nick Harrison, Rod de Highden, Darren Wilson and several other well-credentialled athletes.

 Gillard eventually broke clear and maintained his lead until the end of the race, with Paul Fenn making up considerable ground to be only 2 seconds in arrears at the finish.  Nick Harrison ran away from the Wellington runner, with Darren Wilson and Rod De Highden filling fifth and sixth positions respectively. Box Hill’s leading contenders were John Meagher, Kynan Dawes and Graeme Olden. Kynan and Graeme had a ding dong battle the whole race with Kynan just getting to the finishing line ahead of Graeme, by a very slender margin, after trading places a number of times throughout the race.  Luke Yeatman started off powerfully, but was caught by both Kynan Dawes and Graeme Olden, and was unable to get back on equal terms in the concluding stages of the race.  Dale Bickham produced another workmanlike performance, slowing in the second and third laps but lifting again in the final lap. Tony Bird and Adam Pepper ran in close proximity to each other, with Tony drawing clear in the second half.  David Ayers demonstrated that the batteries in his alarm clock need replacement, doing his warm-up from the car park to the start line.  He offered to run as anybody in his haste to get a running tag, as the starter raised the starting gun.  His bag revealed that he does his training by carrying 10 house bricks to the track and competition. Dave Boyd completed our contingent plugging away to finish in 57 m. 33. 

 Ian Sloane

 Unofficial Results and Times of Senior Men’s Race

U/20

 Sam Hassett                            8^th               28 m. 20
Alan Craigie                             10^th             28 m. 36

U/18 

Andrew White                         2^nd (inv.)      20 m. 15
Adrian Vincent                         6^th               20 m. 48
Daniel Clark                            18^th             21 m. 52 

U/16 Males 

Michael Bourne                       24^th             27 m. 26.2

 Women’s results

 Susie Power                            1^st               26 m. 28
Anna Thompson                      2^nd               28 m. 35
Nicki Chapple                         7^th               29 m. 59
Megan Sloane                          41^st             35 m. 03 (2^nd 45 years)

U/20 female

Jessica de Bruin                       4^th               24 m. 25
Audra Papworth                      8^th               27 m. 14 

U/18

Kate Thornton                         11^th             16 m. 43   

 U16

Juliet Thornton                         4^th               15 m. 27
Georgie McCallum                   5^th               15 m. 38 

U/14

Hayley Tomlinson                    1^st               14 m. 13
Sarah Evans                             23^rd             18 m. 33