The annual Sri Chinmoy Labour Day 10km & 4km Fun-Runs were staged fro the Acton Ferry Terminal, Canberra on Monday 6 October 2014.  Full results for each of the distances follow:

Sri Chinmoy Labour Day 10km Fun-Run, 6 October 2014, full results by category>>

Sri Chinmoy Labour Day 4km Fun-Run, 6 October 2014, full results by category>>

Patches of rain over the weekend did not bode well for Canberra day. But lo and behold- a perfect day! Hot air balloons dotted the sky as scores of eager runners turned out to register. Even the dreaded Skywhale couldn't tarnish the atmosphere (just kidding- we all love our Skywhale).

Having checked the course the day before, the race director had been alerted to a large dead tree which had fallen across the bike path, just before Black Mountain Peninsula. Two beefy cyclists helped him remove it- or rather, he helped them, as they were already wrestling with the fallen giant when he arrived. So a big thanks to our tree wranglers, who prevented our race from becoming a hurdles event.

All preparations were made, the 10km started more or less on time, with the 4km runners starting a few minutes later. All was well, but then- the laptop used for timing the 4km developed an unusual feature, which involved not recording any runners' times. Hilarious! Fortunately we had a high-tech backup known as a pen and some paper, on a fancy device called a "clipboard". This enabled us to enter a post-computer age, and record some results.

The incredible Keely Small was the first home overall in the 4km in a time of 15:13, winning the girls' Under 13 category, and pipping Andrew Simpfendorfer (Male Over 17) by five seconds. Connor Frew won the boys' Under 17 in 16:12, one second ahead of Alex Hughes (Boys Under 13).

Aston Duncan 37:18 (Male Under 50) was the overall winner in the 1okm race. Hannah Walmsley 38:42 (Female Under 50) was the fastest woman. Caroline Campbell was the only Over 70 finisher today, beating the sixty minute mark by 27 seconds.

Overall there were 229 finishers in the two races, making this one of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team's biggest ever races at Acton Ferry Terminal on beautiful Lake Burley Griffin. Thank you to all the runners and walkers who turned out.

Full results are published, and also a photo gallery.

After a week or so of windy, or rainy weather, we were pleasantly surprised this morning to be greeted with an absolute pearler of a day: clear blue skies, and nothing more than a gentle breeze to rustle the leaves. Not even forgetting to bring the legs for the barbeque could mar the perfection!

It has been nearly thirty years since the Sri Chinmoy 10km running course was inaugurated on the bank of Lake Burley Griffin. Since then, bike paths have been added, signposts and lampposts erected, a particularly scenic stand of pines has unfortunately  burned down, and more than one of the green metal signs that mark the course has mysteriously disappeared. Happily, signs can be replaced, and Canberra's most established 10km running course lives on.

Before the race began, I remarked that it is usually the younger participants in the 4km race who run the fastest times. And today was no exception: Keely Small in the Under 13 Girls' category led the field in a blistering 14:54. Next fastest was Mark Bateman who won the 17 and Over Male category in 15:12. Spencer Burns was first U13 boy in 15:58,  William Zeitlhofer  won Under 17 Males in  16:37, and Kylie Wilson won the Over 17 Female category in 18:30.

In the 10km race, Shane Farrant scored first place in a time of 33:30, which is the fastest time anyone has run on this course in at least the last three years.  Joshua Torley's second place time of 35:33 would have been fast enough to win any of our Acton Ferry 10km races held in 2011 or 2012 (and would only have been beaten by Travis Haslam at our March race by nine seconds.)

Joshua's sister Nicola Torley won the U50 Female category in 42:25, one mnute fourteen seconds faster than her finish in the race held here in March.

Anna Konig won Female 50-59 in 53:30, and Geoff Hawke won the Male 50-50 in 40:20.

Michael Wilson won the Male 60-69 in 50:40, Lynne McDonald won the Female 60-69 in 53:38.

Caroline Campbell won the Female 70+ category in 58:55. In the Male 70+ category, Lachlan Lewis took the honours in a time of 1:11:10. After his customary speech praising the race organisers, he posed for a photo with his daughter and granddaughter, both of whom also competed in todays' events!

Thanks to all who took part in the 10km and 4km races. On days like this, running and race organising seem to bring out the best in everybody. And we got the barbeque legs just in time, too.

Full results are posted here>>

You can see the photo gallery here>>

Canberra turned 100 years old today (well, actually tomorrow, but we celebrated the birthday today). For 30 of those years, the Sri Chinmoy 10km Race has been held from Acton Ferry Terminal, and has become a regular feature for the city’s running community, many of whom would still run along the beauteous Lake Burley Griffin even if there was no race. (They wouldn’t get pancakes, however.)

On this Centenary day, race organisers were not sure of what to expect. With so many events surrounding us, would the people of Canberra be preoccupied at the world’s longest bubbly bar or the balloon festival, or would they celebrate the day by converging on Acton Ferry Terminal?

It soon became clear that many were keen to take advantage of the excellent weather (one of Canberra’s great qualities over the past 100 years) and enjoy the 10km and 4km races. In fact, we had the largest field in our 30-year history!

It was a race that came together well, despite the hints of foreboding. There was a faint greyness in the sky, which – accompanied by weather reports – suggested that the sunshine wouldn’t last forever. Would we have enough breakfast for this record field? Would we run out or water? (Well, probably not… but cups were a different matter.)

Happily, the Sun continued to shine. If anything, it provided an extra challenge for the runners. As they headed back along the cycle path – hopefully in time to enjoy the procession of veteran cars, as they drove to the rally at the nearby National Museum of Australia – the day was becoming convincingly hot.

Cups? Relax, there were plenty. Pancakes? We were convinced that our supplies wouldn’t last, but as the last runners enjoyed the breakfast, we were left with a single pancake.

Congratulations to all who participated today, and congratulations too, to Canberra for your first Century!

Full results are published for both races.

The Sri Chinmoy Labour Day 10 km & 4 km Fun-Runs are traditionally the best-attended of our Acton Ferry races (which, admittedly, have shrunk to a scant two per year!) But today's race was a genuine blockbuster, smashing all records at the box office; 268 runners and walkers in total took part in the events.

It was a lovely warm Spring day, which definitely enticed a lot of on-the-day race enter-ers to come out! The registration personnel knew it would be a big day when we ran out of entry forms, and runners were reduced to entering their details on blank paper, power bar wrappers, and pieces of bark (ok, maybe not the last two.)

Fortunately the race started more or less on time. An Under 13 trounced the field of female runners in the 4km; Keely Small crossed the line in 15:05, claiming the second-fastest time overall. Only Michael Torley in the Male 17 and Over category was faster, with 14:25.

14 male runners broke the 40-minute mark in the 10 km race. Dean Erasmus took line honours in 35:40. Among the female runners Vanessa Haverd was fastest in a time of 38:41.

No doubt some runners took advantage of the close proximity of Floriade to stop and smell the flowers after the race!

Full results are now published, as well as a photo album.

The Sri Chinmoy Canberra Day 10 km & 4 km Fun-Runs took place on Monday March 12th commencing from Acton Ferry Terminal and following the Sri Chinmoy 10 km Recreational Running Course; a popular signposted training and recreational facility on pedestrian and cycle paths along the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin, in the heart of Canberra.

Overcast yet mild conditions provided agreeable conditions for the field of 145 runners.

There were many notable performances on the day: Callum Burns' outright win in the 4 km in 15:37, from the Boys Under 13 division (with younger brother Spencer in outright 2nd place); while David Hertzberg (36:32) and Jodie Barker (41:38) took out the men's and women's 10 km respectively.

Despite all these excellent performances, it should be noted that none came close to the all-comer's course record, held by Nick De Castella, brother of marathon legend Robert de Castella. Nick's 1985 time for the hilly, challenging 10 km course still stands at an impressive 30:13.

A big thank you to all who participated. We look forward to seeing you at our next race.

Full results are published, as is a photo album from around the course.

A dusting of fresh snow on the distant Brinbabellas was fitting backdrop for this year's Sri Chinmoy Labour Day 10 km & 4 km Fun-Runs from Canberra's Acton Ferry Terminal.

Yes it may say October on the calendar, but the breeze across the lake this morning missed its appointment by about 3 months. Thankfully the sun shone and post-race pancakes were warm and scrumptious, leaving a cheerful gathering dispersing to their various Monday holiday pursuits.

Stuart Grey showed his cleanest heels in the 10 km run, his 35:37 a really decent time in the cool breeze, with Tony Piazza and Mark van deer Plaeg filling out the podium positions. Alex Gossman ran a super 43:32 to take out the Male 50-59; Jim White winning the Male 60-69 in 50:55 and the inexhaustible Bob Chapman leading home the Male 70+ division in 57:36.

Meanwhile, Kim Wilmshurst dominated the women's field with her fine 41:48, ahead of Lydia Stove and Patricia McKibbin. Diana Wright took the honours among the Female 50-59s in 1:00:26; with the evergreen Caroline Campbell taking the Female 60-69s with an impressive 54:17.

It's not often that an entrant wins a race outright from the Under 13 Girls category – yet that's just what Keely Small achieved with her superb run over 4 km of 15:35! She was nearly 9 minutes ahead of the first Female 17 and Over runner, Philippa Brotchie in 22:32.

Gary Potter took out the Male 17 and Over category with 16:02; Callum Burns winning the Boys Under 13s in 16:27 and Nathan Runge the Boys Under 17s in 17:09.

Despite Winter's final fling, a wonderful morning was enjoyed by runners and organisers alike.

Full results are now published along with a photo album from the course.

The Sri Chinmoy 10 km & 4 km Fun-Runs were staged from Acton Ferry Terminal, Canberra on Sunday 6 March 2011.

Results by age category for Sri Chinmoy 10 km Run>>

Results by age category for Sri Chinmoy 4 km Run>>

A cool, overcast morning offered perfect conditions for running, as 177 runners and walkers set off alongside Lake Burley Griffin to start their holiday Monday in the best possible manner.

The 4 km distance was added to the traditional 10 km event several years ago, primarily to offer an opportunity for children to participate - and the kids certainly participated today, dominating the top placings in both male and female divisions!

Under 13 runner Joshua Torley led the 4 km field early, though he was eventually reeled in by the more experienced Ben Wisbey, who took line honours in the excellent time of 14:16. Joshua was next in though, his 15:04 over a hilly 4 km course a super time for a 12-year-old.

Next after Josh was brother Michael who took the Boys Under 17 category in 16:01, then sister Nicola who won the Girls Under 17 with a fine 16:42. After another Under 13 boy - Max Williams in 16:24 - next to finish was the Girls Under 13 winner, the dashing Olivia Fogarty in 16:42. First Female 17 and Over was Rebecca Fitzgerald who came across the line in 18:31.

Brett McRitchie claimed the major prize n the Men's 10 km event, winning in 36:54 from Michael Martin in 37:13. Alex Gosman took the Men 50-59 category with a sterling 45:01; Jim White, now racing in the Men 60-69, winning his category in 47:22; while Bob Chapman breezed home in the Men 70+ in 57:49 ahead of Rad Leovic and Lachlan Lewis.

Meanwhile Jodie Barker ran an excellent 41:07 to win the women's race from Natalie Wood (42:52). Pam Muston just keeps getting better, her 46:11 taking out the Women 50-59; with champion Caroline Campbell's 53:52 winning her the Women 60-69 category.

Following a pancake-and-fruit breakfast, most runners vowed to return for the next Sri Chinmoy 10 km & 4 km Fun-Runs to be staged in 2011.

Full results for both the 10 km and 4 km events are published, along with a comprehensive photo album from the Hospital Hill road crossing.