As the seasons turn, our sun rises and sets, we breathe in and out, a the tennis ball lobs and lands, so we return each June to shift left and right shoes one after the other, with or without wind, rain or sunshine, time and again encircling a time-honoured loop, ever the same anew, around Lennox Gardens…

The age categories in the Half-Marathon extended all the way to the top, with Julie Bell (2:22:43) and Peter Badowski (2:18:33) leading the way for us all in the 70 and Over categories. Clare Wall ran a classy 1:52:31 to take out the F60-69, with Chris Gammon likewise excelling in the M60-69 with 1:42:44. Tracie Scarlett-Arundell took out the F50-59 in 1:59:21, and Mark Duncanson the M50-59 with 1:42:58.

Lili Mooney was streets ahead in the open women’s race, holding her fine form all the way to take the race in 1:320:52, from Linda Edstrom (1:40:12) and Aline Pottier (1:48:44).  Adrian Gebers (1:19:05) likewise led from the front in the men’s event to win from David Reis (1:24:02) and Shamsher Foley (1:27:59).

To keep things in balance, exactly as many runners – 34 – finished the 5 mile race as the Half-Marathon. Yolanda Yovie-Toon proved best on the day in the women’s race with 35:49 – earning her 3rd place outright – ahead of Emily Gearside (38:20) and Lee Steel (38:24). Debra Kay won the F50-59 with 40:25, just behind F60’s Jennifer Kellett (40:19), while Action Hero Caroline Campbell – fresh from racing up Mt Tennent on Saturday – took out the F70+ in 52:45.

The men’s 5 mile race saw David Beaven in fine stride to take the win with 31:38, from Bruce Jenkins’ 32:43 – both running from the M50-59 category! 3rd place male went to Simon Yung  form the MU50s with 35:56, followed by another from the M50-59, James O’Neill’s 36:32. Next was Kim Houghton, 1st in the M60-69 with an impressive 37:00; while Jim White gave his all to take home the main prize in the M70+ with 47:20.

Tom Sharp lived up to his name in the 2 mile race, completing the 2 laps in 12:55. The next 3 finishers were all form the Boys Under 13s – Evan Minto (14:50), Callum Minto (15:27) and Darcy Parrott (17:37). Zhenyu Wang took out the Female 17 and Over with 21:53, and Liesel Parrott the Girls Under 13, in 24:08.