The 2023 XCR season concluded with the ever popular Tan Relays on Saturday. Our women’s Division 2 team finished in eighth position with Amy running the first leg in our fastest time of 14:18, followed by Nicki in 16:18, Nat (after a half Ironman the weekend before) in 16:17 and Tilly (17:49). In Division 5, Emma made an impressive debut with 18:37, ably assisted by Anna in 20:41.
Meanwhile, our men’s Division 3 team finished in twelfth with Aaron running the first leg in our fastest time of 13:06, followed by Ben in 14:10, Nick in 15:00, Marcus in 15:03 and Arun in 16:34. In Division 4, we had strong runs from Nathan 16:02, David N in 18:38, Neill in 14:43 and Richard in 20:58.
Saturday the 15th of September saw the 2018 running of the Tan relays and the end of the XCR season for another year which made some sad, some nostalgic and some as excited as your correspondent’s eldest daughter at her kindergarten fairy dress up day. Saturday the 15th of September also saw a very busy Tan track where car spaces were at a premium.
“Against the wind We were runnin' against the wind We were young and strong, we were runnin' against the wind” - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
When thinking of world famous lakes there may be a number that spring straight to mind including those such as Lake Michigan, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness or even Lake Eyre here in Australia. However, a lake that has, depending on your point of view, become either famous or infamous for members of the Malvern Harriers is Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, home of the Athletics Victoria’s 15km annual road race.
“If It Wasn’t for Bad Luck, I Wouldn’t Have No Luck At All” Born Under a Bad Sign – Albert King
Whether you’re Albert King or just running at Albert Park Lake, luck, like other things, just happens. Some people believe you make your own luck, some people believe they were born unlucky, some believe fortune favours the brave. As a gust of wind blew my car door into the neighbouring car at Chadstone Shopping Centre last week causing over $800 damage, this and other events - including the performance of a few Malvern Harriers at this years Athletics Victoria Albert Park road 10km - had your correspondent wondering about luck and the double-edged sword role it plays in sport.
I think it’s fair to say that if Bob Dylan was searching for the answers to his questions then Lake Wendouree on Saturday would have been a good place to start. Yes, there were particularly windy conditions that greeted the Malvern Harriers as they made their way up to Ballarat for the 15 kilometre road run for 2017.
With forecasted rain in the afternoon the beautiful morning soon subsided, but this didn’t deter eighteen Malvern Harrier runners and half a dozen officials, coaches and supporters from attending the prestigious Nim Gorrie Memorial handicap in Oakleigh South on Saturday the 6th of May 2017.
Malvern had a good start to the XCR season at the Jells Park relays on Saturday, with five teams entered for a total of twenty two runners. With the temperature hovering around 21°C, the two laps of the 3km cross country course were dry and the runners were sweaty.
Our women's division two team finished sixth. Eilidh Grigg, despite the warm conditions, improved on her time from last year, followed by a strong run from Amy Hessell, Tracey Austin with the fastest time of 23:16, and new president Michelle Jelleff.
It was a unseasonal 25°C for the second race on the XCR calendar but this did not deter the Malvern Harriers who posted some terrific results. This year brought some changes to the short distance cross country event with the venue moving to the Wandin Park Equestrian Centre in the Yarra Valley and the open women’s race being extended to 6km.
It was a beautiful spring morning at the Tan for the final round of XCR15, with Malvern fielding five teams in the iconic relay race.
Damien Bertram, first runner in our men’s division three team, ran our fastest time for the day (13:23). Despite strong runs from Jaco Kukkuk, Ash Snowden, Dan Halliday and Chris Scully, the team finished eleventh in what was a very competitive race.
Meanwhile, Nicki Macfarlane (16:07) ran a blistering pace as the first leg of our women’s division two team, ably supported by Eimear Fox, Sophia Hanlon and Colette Hanlon.
