Sri Chinmoy "Gungahlin Gallop" 31km trail run, Sunday 17 July 2020, full results by age category 1.55 MB Sri Chinmoy "Gungahlin Gallop" 10km trail run, Sunday 17 July 2020, full results by age category 118.05 KBThe views are extensive and gratifying – but they come at a cost. The trail following the ridgeline which forms the northern ACT/NSW border offers a variety of terrains and habitats, yet for the runner completing the 31km out-and-back race, which includes a full ascent of One Tree Hill TWICE (in both directions), the course hides demons as well as angels. This is a challenge for the fit and the earnest, offering nowhere to hide…
The Queen of the 31km Gungahlin Gallop was re-crowned today as Pam Muston claimed a new record in her new age group of Female 60-69 with 3:21:53, to ink her name against 2 records for the same event, her 50-59 time from 2018 still standing tall. Clare Wall (3:47:34) and Jennifer Kellett (3:59:28) also deserve praise for their tremendous runs in this age group. Penny Slater took out the younger Female Under 50 with a fine-paced 2:45:23, from Ada Klinkhamer with 2:53:54 and Isabella Comfort’s 2:54:32 taking 3rd. Debbie Maher won the Female 50-59 in 3:35:38, from Kerron Clare with 3:36:20 and a slightly-battered Kerri Vaughan in 3:45:00.
Michael Chapman’s 2:15:25 was one of the swiftest times ever for this most challenging course, winning convincingly from Aaron Smith (2:21:20) and Andrew McConnell’s 2:23:25. Glenn Paterson was 1st among the Male 50-59 in 2:43:00, showing a clean pair of heels to Stuart Whitten (2:59:17) and Brad Archer (3:14:32). Paul Newall took out the Male 60-69 with 3:46:05 from Peter Badowski’s 3:58:57 in the Male 60-69; while Peter Allan defended his Male 70 and Over champion’s status with a gutsy 4:57:38.
Runners in the 10km showed that a few months of lockdown have not dulled fitness levels or competitive spirits, as 5 or the 8 available course records were toppled. Glen Sturesteps neglected to take a crucial turn in last year’s Gungahlin Gallop, and after 12 months was determined to make amends, which he did in style to take out the men’s 10km race in a new course record 40:50 for the all-ascending, all-descending excursion of One Tree Hill. Glen was followed onto the oval at Hall Showgrounds by Trevor Spencer (41:15) and Jonathan Fearn (41:43). Matt Lemm lead home the Male 50-59 in 50:21 from Martin Fryer’s 50:48 and Will Sharpe’s 51:22; while the elder statesmen blazed stunning new records with Trevor Jacobs (52:35) taking out the Male 60-69 and David Baussmann setting a new best time for the Male 70 and Over of 1:03:47.
The women’s race was a convincing win to Jess Ronan in 46:21, from Nicola Connell’s 49:59 and Ainsley Pahljina with 50:16. Anita Scherrer was in a league of her own in the Female 50-59 with a swift 56:02. Elizabeth Simpson showed superb form to sweep away the Female 60-69 course record with an impressive 59:18, from Carol Harding’s 1:05:05; while Ruth Baussmann likewise raised the bar in the Female 70 and Over with her fine gallop of 1:21:21.
Daniel Randall zoomed around the short – but not flat – 2.2km route in an impressive new record time for Boys Under 13 of 9:50, the first runner ever to break 10 minutes for this course, and winning the race to boot; though Caleb Quispes was not far behind to take 2nd in this category with 10:19, from Xavier O’Brien’s 10:41. Caleb’s sister Hannah meanwhile also took an age group record with her 12:01 in the Girls Under 17 – though she trailed the flying Zahli Smith who won the female race outright in winning the Girls Under 13 category in yet another impressive age group record time of 11:30, from her sister Arabella in 12:52. Carly Wilder won the Female 17 and Over in 21:18; and Dominic Yau the Male 17 and Over with 14:25.
Congratulations to one and all for a memorable day of racing and transcendence!
