Walhalla 50 km Trail Race.......Australia
Sunday May 5th 2002
Results
1.John Mackenzie 3:51:55
2.Nigel Aylott 4:28:29
3.Robert Embleton 4:42:34
4.Kelvin Marshall 4:44:36
5.David Styles 4:47:01
6.Garry Wilson 5:04:12
7.Kevin Cassidy 5:23:53
8.Lee Graham [F] 5:25:33
9.Bruce Salisbury 5:27:48
10.Barry Higgins 5:41:33
11.Ian Fromholtz 5:51:34
12.Ernie Hartley 5:57:18
13.Peter Gray 6:37:07
14.Stan Miskin 7:29:30
DNF. Ian Twite [got lost]
Report by Kevin Cassidy
Just a three hour drive east of Melbourne lies the beautiful and
historic goldmining township of Walhalla with a history dating back to
the mid 1800's. Nestled in the valleys at the south end of the Baw Baw
national park, Walhalla has undergone a restoration over the last eight
years that has recaptured its former glory. Even the old miners train
has been restored and now runs over a short rail link to the Thompson
River.
Bruce Salisbury and the Traralgon Harriers [along with Bruce's long
suffering wife, Margaret!] organised an excellent event. 15 runners
lined up in the 50km with another 17 tackling the 37km or 19km options.
The course was as scenic as you could get. Running out of Walhalla past
the old mines via the old tramway trail, across the historic Poverty
Point Bridge to the imposing Thompson River. The old rail trail then
takes you through some beautiful forests to the historic Coopers Creek
Township before crossing the historic [again] Bruntons Bridge before a
10km climb to the summit of the ridge. The final kilometres are similar
to the finish at the Six Foot Track event in that you drop steeply into
the small township below before a very sharp turn in the final 100
metres. The warm sunny weather added to the day and the course was very
well marked, however Ian Twite managed to get himself lost and his
Traralgon Harriers "friends" have promised not to let him forget it!!
Nigel Aylott got the "Gong" award for turning up late and missing the
start by 40 minutes..."I took a wrong turn on the way here" he said
flatly as he ran past me at the 30km mark. Stan Miskin [76 years young]
provided some entertainment when he toed the starting line with his
hands and knees covered in bandages and scars. Stan finally admitted
that he had had a fall during the week when he was walking in his local
suburb and found a "Hopscotch" drawn on the footpath..Stan just couldn't
help himself."I made it all the way to the final hop before I lost my
balance" he laughed.."I should know better at my age!"
The inaugural Walhalla 50 was as good as any event that I had been to in
many years and is well worth the trip to Gippsland. Michael Leaney of
the Star Hotel kindly provided showers and a variety of prizes as well
as taking a number of photos that will appear in the next "Ultramag". If
you are heading to Walhalla at any time, make sure you look up Michael
or visit their website at www.starhotel.com.au
Walhalla Woundup 5th May 2002.
You sick puppy was all I could say to John as I picked him up at 6:20 A.M. Sunday morning to drive to Walhalla for Bruce's Walhalla Woundup. Why would you even contemplate running 50km after spending all Saturday down Melbourne the day before racing the first Cross-Country of the A.V. winter season. Simple we are loyal clubmen and we love bush running so the opportunity to have a Sunday run in the bush was not going to be passed up. Sure we could choose the lesser distances of 37km and 19km. The thought may have passed through our minds but it was never really going to be an issue. John and I both felt that it was important that in its first year we supported fellow club member Bruce by doing the long event. Everything went perfect the weather was brilliant a good crowd of runners turned up. At the start everyone was chirpy and the atmosphere was great as we rolled along the trail above the sleepy town of Walhalla with its great views. It was very much this for the next 6km to 8km enjoying the views and having a good chat as we rolled along. John and several others had taken off ahead and I started to think about getting a move on. I picked up a bit to see how I felt. Yes not bad I will cruise along at this pace until the two hour mark and then if I still feel good I will give it a belting for the third hour then cruise for the last hour and a bit until I finish. Plan goes well pass another runner and at the two-hour mark I pick it up a bit more. Good running now though open bitumen road leading onto a wide soft dirt road with steady flat terrain. I pass Kelvin who is suffering from a sore ankle and running 84km the previous weekend. Only John in front of me now but I am use to that. Plan goes well as I approach the three-hour mark I am well past the 33km mark and heading down towards Bruttons Bridge. I am feeling pretty good, enjoying the scenery and figure I will be in Walhalla just under the 4hr 30min mark. Then it all went wrong. Forgot to look at the map. Now Leanne Mullens will tell you it is useless me looking at a map because I cannot read one. I may have taken many a wrong turn when people have followed me on some endless circuits around the countryside looking for our running destinations. The likes of John & Tina, Rob & Leanne and Sandra & Al will tell you it is usually the road signs or maps we had used. This time I hadn't looked at the map so I made the wrong turn and got totally bushed. Being lost running is different than driving because you get tired. So I was a tired soul when I made it back to the main road about an hour and half later. Fortunately Sandra and Al came from the opposite direction because I was not having much luck hitch hiking back to Walhalla. I wasn't disappointed about getting lost it happens and it was my own fault I just wish I had been able to finish such a great race. Now I will still have to wait five years to be a Wally.
Results- Open Female 19km 1st Bridget Rutherford 1:58:27, 2nd Nicole Austin 2:23:12.
Open Male 19km 1st Graham Challice 1:42:07, 2nd Neil Burgess 1:47:14, 3rd David Arnup 2:10:28.
19km Vet Males 1st Rob Donaldson 1:46:56, 2nd Ken Lancaster 1:53:01, 3rd Steve Eagle 1:54:11, 4th Peter Gritxi 2:00:13, 5th Bill Rutherford 2:45:54.
Open 37km Males 1st Darrel Cross 2:44:30, 2nd Matt Frankie 2:59:59, 3rd Richard Comber 3:02:15, 4th Neil Griffiths 3:16:51, 5th Roger Maximiw 3:20:44#
#Roger also took a wrong turn when sitting in second place he probably ran his first Marathon.
37km Vets 1st Denis Stevens 3:16:51, 2nd Brian Glover 4:44:00.
Open 50km Males 1st John MacKenzie 3:51:55, 2nd Kelvin Marshall 4:44:36, 3rd Gary Wilson 5:04:12, 4th Nigel Aylott 5:08:16, 5th Peter Grey 5:37:07.
Open 50km & Vet Female 1st Lee Graham 5:25:33.
50km Vets 1st Rob Embelton 4:42:34, 2nd David Styles 4:47:01, 3rd Kevin Cassidy 5:23:53, 4th Bruce Salisbury 5:27:48, 5th Barry Higgins 5:41:33, 6th Ian Fromholtz 5:51:34, 7th Ernie Hartley 5:57:18. (age 76), 8th Stan Miskin 7:29:30.
Lost- Ian Twite Distance unknown, time 4:50:07.
Winners are grinners but they are not grinning because they won but at me getting out of the car at the finish. Kelvin Marshall left Rob Embelton centre have both been my long time nemesis in any race over 30km and they are just loving this. John MacKenzie the 50km winner is just happy that he does not have to go looking for me as he had been nominated by the other two to do the right thing and go look for me. Photo on the right is me finding a new way to D.N.F. in a 50km race and give victory to Kelvin and Rob. Well run boys.