There’s a mix of anticipation, excitement and nervousness in the air – from runners and organisers alike. For nearly 200 runners lining up to collect their permanent race number bib, this will be their first taste of a Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series event, and they’re not sure what to expect. For the organisers, this is the first outing for a brand new course, and while we’ve run it ourselves we’re never really sure how a new course will be received by those who matter – the runners.

After a chilly start, the most glorious Autumn day imaginable settles over Weston Creek, taking all into its embrace as though to reassure and remove any possibility of apprehension.

Congratulations to every age group winner in each distance today, as you are now all course record holders, your achievement etched in the history books for at least one year!

Chapman Oval proved an ideal rallying point for the race, offering a  almost rural ambience along with access to power, an amenities block and an impeccable sward of green.

The one setback of starting on a a suburban oval, is that there is 1km of quite steep uphill to climb on footpaths before reaching the trails of Cooleman Ridge. This km featured in both the 5km and 10km courses: fortunately it had to be run downhill towards the finish, though the hill stayed in runners’ memories more for the outward journey than for the return.

The 10km course was designed by Martin Fryer, who as an ultra marathon runner living in the area, probably knows every inch of every conceivable track and trail on, along and around Cooleman Ridge – as this course showed. Superb views on all sides from the very best vantage points, were interspersed with wooded single track, fire trails, management trails, some long flat stride-out opportunities … and of course, some gut-busting ascents. In particular, it was noted by many, that the climb of Mt Arawang chooses undoubtedly the toughest of any available approach to the summit. For someone wanting a good taste of some of the varied surfaces, terrains and demands of trail running, this course certainly fit the bill!

Our inaugural course winner and record holder was local speedster Matty Robbie, running a commanding 40:16, in front of Andrew Gatenby’s excellent 40:37, just ahead of the gallant Sean Smee in 40:45. Andrew Tully was fastest among the Male 50-59 with 44:46; David Alder took out the Male 60-69 with 52:01; while the amazing Peter Clarke ran away with the Male 70 and Over prize in 53:34.

Petra Mossop is now owner of the Female course record, winning in 47:57, from Alice Arch (48:54) and Mandy Smyth with 52:18. Bron Adams was best among the Female 50-59 with 58:52; Elizabeth Simpson took out the Female 60-69 with 59:55; while Susan Archer confirmed her class yet again, winning the Female 70 and Over in 1:08:00.

The 5km route orbited around the central regions of Cooleman Ridge, avoiding the higher trig points to the south and north, while venturing over to the western slopes to take in the sweeping views across the Bullen Range and the Brindabellas.

After an initial flurry of speed from some over-eager starters, Lachlan Dow settled in to cruise away with a clear victory in 20:35, from Kodi Clarkson (21:34) and Xavier Quispes (21:42). Peter Tinnock took out the Male 50-59 with 28:50; David Jarvis the Male 60-69 in 29:22; and Jim White the Male 70 and Over with 33:09.

The women’s 5km race was much closer, with almost a sprint in the chute between Frederike Stock (26:17) just besting Yvonne Carter (26:19) at the finish, with Kate McConchie (26:53) taking 3rd place. Nicole Havranek (30:02) was too good in the Female 50-59; Ros Barrett took out the Female 60-69 in 41:97; and Patti Wilkins strode away with the Female 70 and Over win with 44:05.

The 2.2km course was 2 loops of a 1.1km circuit around the outer perimeter of Chapman Primary School, which gave all he spectators a chance to cheer the participants through their 1st lap and applaud again at their finish.

Ryan Huynh won the race outright from the Boys Under 13 category in a fine 8:25, from Daniel Randall (Boys Under 17) in 8:49. Talia Chambers took out the Female 17 and Over with 10:13; Zoe Shepherd the Girls Under 13 in 12:18; and Andrew Shepherd the Male 17 and Over with 12:46.

Congratulations to all finishers and our immense thanks to all involved in such a splendid morning, a fine portent for the upcoming season of Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail runs.

 

One day you’re not even dreaming about racing, working your own hours from home and enjoying a few meandering solitary jogs in the forest… then suddenly it’s all back on, your trim-looking rivals are eagerly toeing the start line, the adrenaline is pumping, the course has been described, and – once that silence is announced, there’s no escape!

Outwardly, many adjustments appeared in the way the event presented: no on-the-day entries or registration, new-look permanent sail-cloth race number bibs, multiple wave starts, no drink stations, no post-race burgers, no formal awards ceremony. Yet all this was superficial: like meeting an old friend with a new hair-cut – after a momentary double-take, your underlying friendship resurfaces and takes over. And so it was: blinking a few times to adjust to so many familiar faces in one’s field of view at once, lining up alongside actual people intent on hurtling themselves in the same direction as fast and forcefully as possible, once the legs started turning, the heart thumping and the breath heaving, we were tipped into that place of simultaneous intense discomfort and exhilaration for which we willingly cut short our sleep, pay good money and turn out in the freezing cold … called racing!

If absence makes the heart grow fonder, certainly not having access to organised races seems to have increased runners’ eagerness to participate, as a record field for a Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Run saw 359 pairs of legs soaring, swishing, dancing, prancing, jumping, shunting and shuffling across the finish line.

Elizabeth Humphries bested her own course record from 2 years ago for the scenic (and sorry, not flat) 20km loop, clocking in today in 10th overall with a fleeting 1:27:14, from Penny Slater (1:32:47) and Tara Melhuish (1:36:58). In a strong performance, Anita Scherrer (1:49:56) just took out the Female 50-59 from Mhairi Craig (1:50:36). Pam Muston celebrated her new age group of Female 60-69 with an emphatic triumph and new age group record of 1:51:08.

Matthew Berrington won a close 20km race in the Male Under 50, his 1:17:47 eclipsing Grant Bluett’s 1:18:07 for runner-up and 1:19:16 for 3rd placed Tomas Krajca. Kerry Baxter once again proved his class in the Male 50-59 to win in 1:35:57; while Trevor Jacobs reigned supreme in the Male 60-69 with 1:43:42; and ditto Terry Dixon in the Male 70 and Over with 2:17:50, despite a nasty spill resulting in fair amount of shin skin donated to the track. Kerry, Trevor and Terry were content to defend their titles and not eclipse their own course records from previous yerars.

Months of solo training certainly meant that no-one in the 8km field could complain of being over-prepared, and fresh legs were the order of the day as most age records tumbled in a record-felling spree. Lil Mooney ran the fastest ever time for a female by a few seconds to clock 35:39 and take out the Female Under 50, while Rae Palmer set a new standard for Females Over 70 with a slick 57:07. Etienne Blumstein-Jones flew over the course in a new overall best time of 30:09 in winning the Male Under 50, while other records fell to the impressive Lyndon O’Grady (35:17 to win the Male 50-59) and Jim White (48:43 in the Male 70 and Over). Sally Thauvette took out the Female 50-59 in a swift 42:57; Judith Bibo the Female 60-69 with 1:01:13; and Peter Prince the Male 60-69 with a decisive 40:55.

A modest group of 13 runners made up in enthusiasm what they may have lacked in numbers at the start of the 2km out-and-back trail route heading south from Pine Island. Brother and sister, Caleb and Hannah Quispes, established new course records for their respective age categories of 7:59 (Boys Under 13) and 10:01 (Girls Under 17), while Abhinandan Willis made his journey from Melbourne worthwhile by claiming a new all comers fastest time of 7:09 in taking out the Male 17 and Over. Lily Altamore was swiftest among the Girls Under 13 – and fastest female overall – with 9:30; while Jane Purcell took home the main prize in the Female 17 and Over in 23:06.

Congratulations to one and all who participated, helped, ran and supported!

Winter days in Canberra can be quite miserable … can be absolutely glorious. We hear plenty of gripes about Winter in these parts, so it’s worth wholeheartedly singing the praises of those days when everything comes together in exquisite perfection…

Just the right amount and intensity of overnight rain enlivened the air with possibility; freshened the foliage with a beckoning familiarity; and cleansed the trails of dust, softening the ground underfoot to the ideal texture, affording optimum grip and bounce for fast, smooth running – while adding a zest to the burbling of the nearby Murrumbidgee, The River alongside us an ever-present reassuring pilgrim whispering soulful, life-affirming secrets to each and every attentive runner. Above, clearing clouds were the opening curtains revealing a stage of wide-open azure sky, seemingly beckoning us to expand into the limitlessness of our potential.

The outstanding run of the day was unfortunately not seen by any of the 20km field, as Matthew Robbie showed a clean pair of heels from the outset, never to be glimpsed again. Only the marshals and spectators were able to thrill to the flying form of an elite performer as Matthew blazed a phenomenal new course record of 1:13:34. The next runner, Tim Barnett was a full 8 minutes adrift in 1:21:54 despite his own fine run, with Dave Hardwicke completing the podium placings of the Male Under 50 in 1:24:46.

Kim Houghton led home the Male 50-59 field with 1:42:03 from Gareth Prosser’s 1:42:42; while Michael Sullivan was the standout Male 60-69 in 1:46:12; with Terry Dixon winning the Male 70 and Over with 2:13:59.

The women’s 20km race was closer, though still won convincingly by Alice Westwood in 1:43:03 from Tammy McCabe’s 1:44:49 and Narelle Smyth with 1:45:04. The Female 50-59 was again won by Mhairi Craig in 1:48:38 (4th fastest female overall), from Leonie Montgomery’s 1:53:47; with Sue Bowden again winning the Female 60-69 in 2:18:49; and Margaret Finnigan setting a new Best Time for Female 70 and Over with her steadfast 2:44:21. Special mention to Sandra McBryde who rolled her ankle and persisted, hobbling to the finish in another record – of 4:22:41, accompanied by her friend Cathy Lloyd.

The 8km race saw some of Canberra’s finest runners on display, with a great contest between Jack Bigmore (30:55) and Glen Sturesteps (31:04) at the front of the field, with Bernardo Palma taking 3rd in 31:46. Mark Duncanson continued his dominance of the Male 50-59 category, winning in 36:11 from a returning John Muir in 38:23; while Peter Prince took out the Male 60-69 with a fine run of 40:38.

Olivia Stutchbury ensured Canberra runners didn’t have it all their own way, winning the women’s 8km with a confident 38:22, from Kate McConchie’s 39:57 and Stephanie Boxall with 40:41. Sonja Norris was fastest among the Female 50-59 with 46:22; while Catherine Demayo took out the Female 60-69 in 1:03:36.

The shortest race of the day – the 2km scenic out-and-back – saw Xavier O’Brien establish a new record for Boys Under 13 of 8:30 in also winning the race outright! 2nd and 3rd outright also went to the remainder of the Boys Under 13 field, with Myles Box 2nd in 9:23 and Finn Houghton 3rd with 9:43.

1st among the Girls Under 13 was Evelyn Box in 12:35, from Kaena Hamilton’s 12:58 and Evelyn Fisher with 15:34. Sophie Robertson created a new course record for Girls Under 17 by winning that category in 13:17; while Nicole Clout took out the Female 17 and Over in 15:34, and Carlos Oviedo the Male 17 and Over with 15:39.

Thanks to all helpers whose encouragement and service were indispensable to the success of the day.

Provisional results can be found here – please report any errors or anomolies.

The opening photos of today’s race gallery were taken at 7.30m while setting up the drink station at the far turnaround point of the 31km course. While Canberra slumbered under a blanket of fog, it was clear from this vantage that the race would be held under glorious sunshine.

Unfortunately not everyone had the advantage of this view, and quite a few runners who had already entered for the race, elected not to run today – perhaps persuaded by the fog submerging their houses? Those who chose to come and run regardless of how the weather appeared were rewarded for their courage and foresight with the best running conditions one could possibly dream of – as you will see by scrolling through to the remainder of the gallery.

Another measure of how good the running was today, can be seen from the number of course records broken – no fewer than 7 of the 14 age categories contested today across the 10km and 31km races saw records tumble. It goes without saying that everyone who won any category of the 2.2km race set course records, as this distance today made its debut, proving popular with the younger runners.

Thanks to innumerable runners who kindly mentioned that the “30km” course was quite a bit longer than advertised. We apologise sincerely – this course now will be advertised as 31km, still a little short of its actual distance but closer to the mark… We appreciate that this is a particularly demanding event, and the last thing a runner needs to contend with is wondering when on earth the “15km” turnaround point will appear!

Sasha Lee was not content to own the record for the Female 31km course from last year – she returned with the aim of lowering the mark, and so she did with a brave and determined run of 2:37:10 to take 4 minutes from her previous time. It’s as well she did run so fast, as Sarah-Jayne Miller was never far adrift and also bettered the former record with her fantastic 2:38:45 for 2nd place, ahead of Natalie Wood’s excellent 2:44:18 for 3rd.

Pam Muston is a champion who just keeps getting better and seems to enjoy her running more and more as her stellar career continues. Today she took about 10 minutes off the record for Female 50-59 with a glittering 3:19:30, ahead of Leonie Montgomery (3:31:18) and Kim Greaves (3:35:03). Sue Bowden took out the Female 60-69 with a sterling 4:13:34.

Michael Daly meanwhile conquered the men’s 31km record by about a minute with his superb effort to finish in 2:13:54; ahead of a closer contest for the minor podium placings between Nuru Somi’s 2:18:03 and 3rd placed Daniel Oehm with 2:18:35. Martin Pogson headed home the Male 50-59 with 2:52:48; Michael Sullivan won the Male 60-69 in 3:16:55; and Peter Allen set a new record for the Male 70 and Overs with his strong effort of 4:50:23.

While running an additional lap of the oval is certainly a trial for tired runners, it’s great for spectators as this is our only chance to observe the race – and it’s especially exciting when there’s a close finish to cheer.

Narelle Desmet led home a competitive field in the Women’s 10km race, winning in 49:37 (only 20 seconds outside the course record) from Sally Parker in 50:03 and Kim Ashby almost breathing down Sally’s neck in 50:08. Sarah Fien showed her true class in winning the Female 50-59 category by 10 minutes with her 4th-outright placing and a timing of 50:44. Judy Murray took out the Female 60-69 in 1:26:42.

Tim Barnett showed great speed and agility to take out the Men’s 10km race in 43:30 from Tim Carton in 44:00 and Chris Simms with 44:28. Steve Richardson broke the record for Male 50-59 by running a speedy 48:37. A great race was had between the ultimate winner of the Male 60-69, Peter Badowski who ran 1:04:12, and just pipped Terry Dixon whose 1:04:13 nevertheless broke his own record for the Male 70 and Over.

In the 2.2km short race, outright winner came from the Boys Under 13 category, with Max Alderman’s impressive 11:33 enough to finish ahead of Girls Under 13 winner Chloe Pragt’s fine run of 11:43. Next home was Xavier O’Brien with 11:52 and Ryan Miller’s 12:47, both also running in the Boys Under 13.

Jim White possibly doesn’t expect to win many age group awards these days which are open to anyone 17 and Over, yet that’s exactly what he accomplished with his 177th race of the calendar year 2018. His winning (and course record) time today was 13:08. Joel Kelly took out the Boys Under 17 with 14:56; and Nancy Eyers the Female 17 and Over in 14:21.

Trail running embodies an ideal blend of man-made creativity – the trails we run on – with the energy, beauty, purity, tranquility and integrity of Nature: an eloquent expression of our own creative search for the energy, beauty, purity, tranquility and integrity of our personal self-fulfilment.

The inaugural Recociliation Day Public Holiday in the ACT dawned clear and promising of a bright sunny day: an alluring drawcard to Cotter Bend for the first of this year's Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series, the "Cotter Canter".

A record 327 finishers enjoyed the 10km 2-loop course, the 5km route or the new 2.15km fast paved lap designed for children and trail running novices. A high proportion of on-the-day entrants swelled the crowd waiting in anticipation. The starting words given, the long grassy field at Cotter Bend offers the perfect "runway" for a large crowd to get into stride and allows the faster runners to make their getaway.

10-year-old Chloe Pragt, racing in the Girls Under 13 category, showed a clean pair of heels to the whole field in the short race, which started first and finished just as the 10km runners were setting off. Chloe's 10:19 was too good for all comers, finishing ahead of the first Boy Under 13, Alexander Spaccavento, who in the company of Female 17 and Over winner Nerida Spaccavento, beat home all the older males in an impressive 10:33. Cameron Mackintosh took out the Male 17 and Over in 11:32; while Jayden Alderman won the Boys Under 17 with 12:29. All category winners of the 2.15km race automatically now hold course records as this distance has not previously been run: congratulations all!

The women's 5km race saw a high quality field with Tash Cole drawing away to take first place – and 5th outright – in a course record 22:12, from Verity Farragher in 22:54, just ahead of Kim Ashby's 22:57. Stacey Jukes was the winner of the Female 50-59 with a powerful run and another course record time of 27:44. The men's 5km saw a great tussle at the head of the field with Ethan Garbutt too fast in the final straight with 21:03 to just pip Chris Toyne's 21:06, with Peter Daffern 10 seconds back in 21:16. Mark Duncanson took out the Male 50-59 in a fine new course record 22:46; while Jim White won the Male 60-69 with another course record of 30:21.

In a well fought race for the men's 10km title, Daniel Oehm proved too good on the day, winning in an excellent 37:36, from Jack Brand in 37:51 and Jack Bigmore's 39:06. Kerry Baxter was fastest by a country mile in the Male 50-59, taking the category in 43:44. David Clarke re-wrote the record books for the Male 60-69 with his sensational 45:59; while Terry Dixon also set a new fastest time for Males 70 and Over with a fine run of 1:03:37. Angela Bateup ran a controlled race to take out the Female Under 50 title in 44:57 from Kerry Smith's 45:25 and Kate Chipperfiled with 45:40. Kim Greaves stormed home to set a new course record in the Female 50-59 for 10km of 51:08; while Sue Bowden likewise set a new best time for Female 60-69s with a sprightly 1:01:28.

A dazzling array of satisfaction-smiles and excited chatter post-race were testimony to a slew of personal bests, properly celebrated by the prompt and peremptory dispatch of 300+ veggie-burgers on site. Heartiest congratulations to all!

299 runners today showed that a minus 8.3 degree morning in Canberra is nothing to be afraid of. Rather it is to be embraced, appreciated and celebrated!

Certainly frost was abundant at the outset of the day and drawers were ransacked for the warmest mittens and even balaclavas, but with a 10am start time and a sun-drenched azure sky motionless above, none could have asked, hoped or prayed for more favourable or auspicious conditions.

The second of the Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series for 2017 – the “Tuggeranong Trot” over the distances of 8km and 20km – was staged along tracks and trails above and along the Murrumbidgee River, seemingly in remote bushland, yet within cooee of the Tuggeranong Town Centre.

Kate Chipperfield ran a sterling race to win the women’s 20km in a fine 1:37:32, from Laura Lewis (1:39:06) and Kym Somi (1:40:26). Mhairi Craig smashed her own age group record by an astonishing 10 minutes in taking out the Female 50-59 with her outstanding run of 1:48:24; while Lynne McDonald won the Female 60-69 in 2:25:59.

Joseph Hughes proved the strongest in a competitive 20km men’s field, winning with 1:19:27, ahead of a great tussle to the line between Daniel Oehm (1:20:05) and Sam Burridge (1:20:06). Geoff Breese from Wagga took out the Male 50-59 in 1:34:10  – spare a thought for defending age-group record holder Kerry Baxter from Goulburn, who inadvertently changed out of his shirt with race number and timing chip attached right before the race start, and hence could not be recorded! Michael Sullivan ran out the winner of the Male 60-69 with 1:46:34; while stalwart Terry Dixon set a new course record for Male 70 and Over with his dauntless 2:15:33.

The shorter 8km race was no less competitive, with Andrew Wallace edging out several contenders to take the Male Under 50 in 30:34, from Liam Stewart (30:48) and David Simpfendorfer (31:25). Geoff Ives won the Male 50-59 with 40:30; Jim White set a new best time for Male 60-69s with his winning 44:59; and Alastair Kinloch likewise set a new course record for Male 70 and Over for the 8km of 58:38.

The women’s race saw the closest finish of the day with Claire Osborne (39:25) outsprinting Emily Hill (39:27), with Kate Gilmore (39:49) also in sight at the finish of a thrilling race. With 81 women under 50 racing the 8km, this was the largest category on the day. Karen Daniels again proved her strength and versatility to take out the Female 50-59 in 43:27; while Jennifer Saul was too good in the Female 60-69 with her 58:33.

The next and final event of the 2017 Series will be the “Gungahlin Gallop” over 10km and 30km from Hall Showgrounds on Sunday 30 July.

The third and final event of the inaugural Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series has been run and won. Congratulations to all who participated in any way – running, helping or supporting these events which have been a heartening success and much enjoyed by all. Three varied courses at three compass points around Canberra have highlighted the rich variety of natural resources Canberra runners are blessed with.

The “Gungahlin Gallop” was staged over two distances – 30km and 10km – from the Hall Showgrounds on Sunday 17 July 2016. Following a record wet month of June, the trails were still wearing a fair coating of mud, quite sloshy in places. After some horrid weather mid-week, the day was glorious: sunny, still and rising to a full 15 degrees.

View Peter Komidar's video of the 30km race from a participant's point of view on youtube.

Both distances started and finished with a loop around the expansive Hall Showgrounds. The 10km route followed the Centenary Trail to the summit of One Tree Hill (all uphill) and returned via the same route (all downhill!). The 30km route completed the same course as the 10km, with the addition of another 20km out-and-back following the northern ACT/NSW border a little further than Oak Hill. The actually distance of the longer course was more like 31km.

All winners of all categories are new course record holders: all will need to return next year to defend their titles!

The 30km race saw a dominant performance from Reece Edwards, who ran smoothly and strongly up and down, through mud and over rocks all with the same fine form and steady concentration to win in 2:14:58., from Sam Burridge in 2:20:55 and Joseph Hughes with 2:25:18. Jeff Grey had a superb run to win a competitive Male 50-59 category in 2:34:41 from Kerry Baxter’s 2:36:22. Evergreen master of Canberra’s hills and trails, Steve Appleby, on the eve of his departure to live in Tasmania, took out the Male 60-69 in a fine 3:06:01.

Shannon Jones was in a league of her own in the women’s race, running “in the zone” to win in a superb 2:44:32, from Kate Vandenberg’s 2:57:19 and Sally Parker in 3:00:28. Carol Bruce took out the Female 50-59 in 3:37:23.

The 10km run saw 190 starters – by the far the largest field assembled for any run of the Series to date. Liam Stewart (42:43) outran Paul Cuthbert (42:59) and Rowan Beggs-French (43:26) in the men’s 10km event; while Christian Dussault took out the Male 50-59 in 51:14 and Trevor Jacobs the Male 60-69 with 56:23 and Geoff Barker the Male 70 and Over in 1:33:14.

Bernie Connors was too strong in the women’s race, winning in 49:13 from Karina West (54:42) and Nicole McMillan (56:49).  Catherine Hanley continued her good form to take out the Female 50-59 in 59:23, while Marian Blake won the Female 60-69 in 1:35:48.