The final race of the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series 2009 was held in Centennial Park on Sunday 22 November, incorporating a Half-Marathon, 7 km and 4 km runs.
View the full results by category for the Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park Half-Marathon>>
View the full results by category for the Sri Cinmoy Centennial Park 7 km run>>
View the full results by category for the Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 4 km run>>
Centennial Park is a Sydney jewel – a haven of beauty, recreation and aspiration in the very heart of a pulsating city. Concert goers, cyclists, artists, cricketers, picnickers, horse riders, conversationalists, bird watchers, sun bathers, sky gazers – and runners – flock to the park to celebrate nature, humanity, community – and life.
The final race of the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series 2009 – offering the choice of a Half-Marathon, 7 km or 4 km run – was run over tracks and trails within Centennial Park on Sunday 22 November. With a forecast of 39 degrees, aid stations were equipped with additional water and runners came prepared for a hot day at the office.
The course comprises a smaller loop for the 4 km, and a larger loop for the 7 km event. The Half-Marathon completes three laps of the 7 km loop, which winds amongst tree-lined trails, ponds, open fields and the perimeter trail of this vast park.
Due to significant heavy vehicle presence associated with the bump-out from a large polo event the previous day, one section of the original course was replaced with a meandering jaunt betwixt the thick vegetation of Snake Bank, adding a degree of adventure and about 100 metres to the length of each loop.
The Half-Marathon saw a stellar run from Matt Janes (right), smashing the course record by 5 minutes and winning the race by 11 minutes. Running solo from the outset, Matt's 1:12:28 over a challenging cross-country course under very hot conditions showed the finest elements of running – courage, focus, determination and grace.
Meanwhile Dave Barr (left) and Scott Milson had a decent battle for second, crossing the line in 1:23:16 and 1:23:35 respectively. Gregory Scott took the Men 50-59 category in 1:29:47.
Lizzy Hall was surprised to find she had won the women's Half-Marathon in 1:37:33, having run behind Laura James the whole race. Unfortunately for Laura, while following another athlete she inadvertently missed one turn and so did not run quite the official course so her time could not be recognised despite her fine effort. Kate Gustafson finished second amongst the women in 1:42:56.
First home in the 7 km was an outstanding run from Dennis Wylie, setting a new course best time of 26:43 for the Men 50-59 category. Max Delacy (27:00) and Scott Stefl (27:15) were not far behind, leading home the Men Under 50. Gerard Tupin, visiting from France, won the Men 60-69 category in a fine 32:08, while Edward McMaster established a new course record for the Men 70+ with his 45:38.
A tight race in the Women's 7 km was won by Myree McCosh in 31:43, from Liliane Peroton (31:49) and Sue Stedman (31:54). Sylvia Nichols continued her wonderful running form with 36:09 to take out the Women 50-59 category.
The 4 km women's race saw Jennifer Stevens (right) exactly equalling the course record of 16:36, set one year ago by Larissa Tichon. Amanda Perez was first girl under 17 in 29:00, while Catherine Barlin won the girls under 13 category in 19:48.
Daniel White was first boy under 13 home in 16:51, placing him 3rd male outright behind Nathan Barry (14:21) and Davor Zailac (16:25). Ricci Stavropoulos took the boys under 17 category in 33:45.
Full results are published along with an extensive dynamic photo album from the morning's action.
Organisers and runners are most grateful to Peggy Huang of Sports Medicine Australia for her invaluable service, and to the staff and rangers of the Centennial Parklands Trust for their kind assistance and cooperation in the staging of this event.
13 September 2009: Summer arrived early on Sunday. Even before the dawn the heat loomed, the sun appearing with a vehemence that instantly proclaimed who's boss.
Runners acclimatised to cool Winter mornings, were not prepared for the dramatic mercury rise. Particularly the 24 km entrants – many of whom were inadvertently led to run up to an additional kilometre – found in the alliance of rising heat and lengthening distance a formidable adversary.
First away were the 6 km runners, over a direct out-and-back course to the Cumberland Highway overpass and return. The men's and women's fields were led home by Greg and Katharine King in 22:56 and 26:34 respectively. Nadia Barrett took home the Girls Under 13 gold medal with her 34:14.
The 12 km course followed parklands along the southern bank of Prospect Creek to Polding St, returning along the waterway's northern shore. Following several months sidelined through injury, Italian Daniel Lorenzotti celebrated his return to running form with his first victory in a Sri Chinmoy Series race in 47:41, with series regular Pavol Sefcik of Slovakia following in 49:46. Next home was Men 50-59 winner David McEwan in 50:34, while Robert Amery led the Men 60-69 in 1:04:04.
Two women came in under the hour – Corinne Fulford continuing her fine recent form with 59:34, followed closely by Estelle Von Abo in 59:46. Jo Rickards claimed first in the Women 50-59 with her 1:07:57.
Most of the field in the 24 km, including the lead cyclist, were confused by a directional sign which had been interfered with – leading to most runners covering from 700 metres to one kilometre extra. Runners showed their resilience by taking this error in remarkably good grace, as another hurdle to surmount in the day's long and arduous journey.
Despite the additional distance and attritional heat, Chris Waterhouse finished in the excellent time of 1:36:23, ahead of Wayne Bulloch (1:38:28). Next home was the Men 50-59 winner, Carl Barker setting a new category record of 1:47:56. Bob Corderoy was first home in the Men 60-69 with 2:10:56, while the small women's field was led by April Palmerlee in 2:14:00.
Full category results are published, as well as a photo album. The last race in the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series 2009 offers the choice of a Half Marathon, 7 km or 4 km cross-country in Centennial Park on Sunday 22 November.
Please select the link below for full results of Sri Chinmoy 24 km, 12 km and 6 km Runs staged at the Jack Ferguson Recreation Area, Gipps Rd Sporting Complex, Greystanes on Sunday 13 September 2009. All results are in pdf format.
Please select the relevant link below to display the full results by age category, for each of the 3 distances of the Sri Chinmoy Dolls Point Fun-Runs staged at Peter Depena Reserve on Sunday 12 July 2009
12 July 2009: Race records were broken in all 3 distances run during the Sri Chinmoy Dolls Point Half-Marathon, 10 km and 5 km Runs on Sunday.
A still, cool and overcast morning with just a hint of drizzle towards the close provided helpful conditions for fast times.
Just over half of the total field took part in the 10 km race, with 169 participants. The course followed the cycle path north through Cook Park, alongside Botany Bay as far as Ramsgate Beach before returning south, past the start at Peter Depena Reserve and continuing along the shore as far as the St Georges Sailing Club; then crossing over Captain Cook Bridge in both directions before homing to the finish.
The men's 10 km race was dominated by the Carvalho family, with Sergio taking out the Under 50 men's race in a new record time of 33:48, from Michael Fox and Richard Fogarty; while Jose completed the double in the Men 50-59 with his fantastic 37:53. Robert Amery came in first in the men 60-69, finishing in 49:32.
Emma Yench led the women home in 45:30, followed by Corinne Fulford. Merridy O'Donnell took line honours with 52:18 in the women 50-59, while Kerry Bray won the women 60-69 with another excellent showing in 57:55.
The Half-Marathon field had started first, completing a small loop of 1.1 km around behind the Georges River Sailing Club before returning to the start to set out for two loops of the 10 km course.
The run of the day in the Half-Marathon belonged to Magda Karimac-Poulos, setting a new course record in 1:22:21 and placing 5th overall in the field of 96 runners. After Magda, Sue Thompson and Verity Tolhurst also broke the 1:30 barrier.
Just ahead of Magda, in 4th place overall, was Carl Barker, winning the men 50-59 category in an outstanding time of 1:22:00, while Arthur Huxtable successfully defended his title in the men 60-69 division, coming in in 1:48:01.
Darren Moiro appeared at the registration table after the field had been called to the starting line, the latest of late entries. He carried his haste onto the running course, and was able to draw away from Brendan Davies to win the men's Half-Marathon in 1:16:51.
The front of the 5 km race was a one-man show, with Trent Wood blazing a course record of 16:00, to win by over a minute from Chad Stewart. Brad Fraser showed good form to take out the Boys Under 17 category in 18:40, while Gerry Georgiou set a new best time for the Boys Under 13 of 22:27.
Jodie Till led the women home in the 5 km in 19:55 from Larissa Tichon, while Maddison Zahra came in first in the Under 13 Girls in 24:16.
Full results by category are now published, along with a photo album.
The next event in the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series is the Prospect Creek 24 km, 12 km and 6 km race at Jack Ferguson Recreation Area, Gipps Road Sporting Complex, Greystanes, on Sunday 13 September.
Select the link below for a full listing of finishers, by age category, in each of the Sri Chinmoy 16 km, 8 km and 4 km Runs held at Cooks River on Sunday 21 June 2009.
21 June 2009 - The first time the Sri Chinmoy Cooks River course was used, in 2008, building works on the cycle path necessitated an alteration which slightly shortened the route. This meant that whoever won their category in today's race was assured of setting a new "official" course record!
The first to claim a new record was the flying Under 17 runner Brad Fraser, who easily took out the one-lap 4 km race in a very impressive 14:59, ahead of Under 13 Daniel Heaslip's 16:07, with Darren Szczepanski the first Over 17 runner in 16:13. First Over 17 female, Amy Brown was not far behind in 16:37, ending Larissa Tichon's winning streak in this year's series, Larissa placing second in 17:06.
The fields in the short races have increased over the past year, to the point where today more entered the 4 km than the 16 km. It was the middle distance however- the 8 km race- which attracted most interest, fielding more than the 4 km and the 16 km combined.
In the 2-lap event, another Fraser dominated, with Cameron's time of 29:30 almost 2 minutes clear of Pavol Sefcik in second. Meanwhile, 4th and 5th outright went to David McEwan (32:09) and Dennis Johnson (32:11) after an engrossing duel in the Men 50-59 category. Rob Connolley's Men 60-69 time of 34:24 would also have placed him in the top 7 men under 50.
Sally Lynch and Emma Grubb battled neck-and-neck for first place, with Sally eventually breaking away to win in 34:13, just 6 seconds clear of Emma. Pennie Psaltis added to her string of course records by taking out the Women 50-59 category in 39:53, just in front of the fast-finishing Sylvia Nichols in 40:01; while Kerry Bray likewise shone in the Women 60-69 with a fine 43:54.
A group of 4 led out the men's 16 km race. Despite a fall after an encounter with an oblivious iPod-wearer, Dani Andres (58:25) was able to draw away from Gary Howard (58:47) to clinch the victory. Kathryn Parkinson took out the women's race in 1:07:18, ahead of Audrey Hall in 1:08:19. Wayne Morgan led home the Men 50-59 in 1:14:24, and Frances Bowman was first in the Women 50-59 in 1:55:48.
Full results are posted, as well as a photo gallery. The next race in the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series features a Half Marathon, 10 km and 5 km at the beautiful Dolls Point on Sunday 12 July.
See the following links for full results by category for each of the three distances for the Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove Run held on Sunday 10 May 2009
10 May 2009: With two large fields participating in Mother's Day races elsewhere in Sydney, the remaining 287 of Sydney's runners gathered at Leichhardt Park to enjoy one of the city's simplest, most sublime pleasures- a ritual otherwise known as The Bay Run.
A cloudless dawn sky gave little hint of the deluge which was to inundate the course in the latter stages of the event. Participants in the shorter races- 4 km and 8 km- were fortunate to enjoy their pancakes in the sun, while most of the 16 km field enjoyed a considerably 'watered-down' recipe.
Happiest runner of the day was surely Audrey Hall. To complete her longest-ever race would have been achievement enough for the 16-year-old- to win the 16 km race outright in a sparkling new course record of 1:04:54 was astonishing, and she could hardly contain her joy.
Less than a minute behind the super-charged teenager was Christine Wong, returning to Iron Cove with a fabulous performance of 1:05:48 (also inside her own previous course record). Meanwhile, Linda Barwick clearly enjoyed her home turf to win the Women's 50-59 division in another record time of 1:24:58 (though outsprinted by 'Fastmo' Michael Bedward in the finish chute).
Outstanding in the men's 16 km race was Darren Moyle, whose 56:45 set the pace for others to follow. John Hughes and Brendan Davies both finished under the hour in a strong field. Winning the Men 50-59 division, Wayne Gregory's 1:01:45 was the 5th fastest time outright and a new age record by several minutes, while Derek Bolton took out the Men 60-69 top award.
Matt Webster flew home in the men's 8 km field in record time- 27:31, almost a minute clear of his rivals. Wayne Morgan claimed the main prize in the Men 50-59 with a snappy 35:28, while Englishman Rob Connolley continued his fine form in the Men 60-69 with another outstanding record-breaking run of 33:05.
Katie Kelly won the women's 8 km race by a long margin in 33:38, finishing just outside the top 10 men. Jayne McManis took out the Women 50-59 in 41:26, with the evergreen Kerry Bray bringing home gold and another course record in the Women 60-69 with her 43:17.
The 4 km race saw girls breaking course records in every division! Larissa Tichon set a new mark with her fabulous 14:18 in the Female 17 and Over; Corinne Fulford's 17:25 (Under 17) and Nadia Barrett's 21:00 (Under 13) both eclipsed all previous times on this course.
Nathan Barry outstripped his rivals with a flying 14:18. James Madden took out the Boys Under 13 race in 19:53, and Brendan Greene the Boys Under 17 in 19:17.
Full results are published (by category), and a photo gallery of the event.
Please see results below for each of the Sri Chinmoy 12 km, 8 km and 4 km runs conducted in Centennial Park on Sunday 29 March 2009.
29 March, 2009: The first race of the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series for 2009 was an event of surprises.
The first surprise came on the Thursday prior to the race, when Centennial Park officials informed organisers by email that the event was to be cancelled, due to a double-booking! Fortunately, an agreement was reached to contain the course to within only the southern portion of the Park, foregoing the full 7 km cross-country course and employing only the smaller, 4 km loop instead.
The advertised distances of 14 km and 7 km were amended to 12 km and 8 km- 3 and 2 laps of the 4 km loop respectively- effectively compacting the event into half the space of the original course.
The next surprise was far more pleasant: given the recent track record of Sri Chinmoy races at Centennial Park, blazing sunshine was a most welcome change!
The final and biggest surprise was the turn-out on the morning, with 150 late entries swelling an already large field of pre-entered athletes to fully stretch the registration processes.
Concerned about fitting so many athletes onto the shortened and convoluted course, organisers spread the field by starting each race in waves of male and female athletes, staggered a few minutes apart.
It is not often that an Under 13 runner wins a race outright. Morgan McDonald showed the 4 km field a clean pair of heels (or more precisely, pair of bright yellow running shoes), finding his way through a crowd of 8 km runners coming the other way, to cross the line in 14:27. Next home was Male 17-and-Over winner, Andrew Dyer, in 14:49.
The women's race was won by Under 17 entrant, Amy Bettiol in 16:27, from Larissa Tichon, first 17-and-Over athlete in 16:36. Georgie Blank came not far behind, earning the Under 13 Girls gold medal with her 17:53.
The eye-catching run of the day came in the 8 km race- Bryan Keane bolting from the start to win by an astonishing margin of almost 5 minutes, his 24:58 automatically counting as a course record on this virgin course. 6th fastest male runner in 32:31, was another astounding runner, Rob Connolley, competing in the Men 60-69 division! Rob left most of the younger runners in his wake, though Ken Cross' 33:36 to win the Men 50-59 was also an outstanding effort.
Elizabeth Lee was unchallenged in winning the women's 8 km race, finishing in 29:51, over 2 minutes clear of the field. Sylvia Nichols took out the Women 50-59 division with an excellent 40:15, while Kerry Bray led home the Women 60-69 with her 45:13.
The feature race of the day, shortened from 14 km to 12 km, was led home by Pete Conway in an impressive 42:58. holding off strong challenges from Scott Milson (45:03) and Brad Smith (43:21). Wayne Gregory was far too sleek in the Men 50-59 division, winning in 46:15, while Greg Heibron took out the Men 60-69 in 1:02:28, with Bert Sloan doing the Over 70s proud with his splendid 1:11:03.
Laura James (48:21) held off Lisa Marangon (48:59) to take out the Women's 12 km race from Jo Turl (51:09). Kate Rowe was impressive in leading home the Women 50-59 in 59:31.
Special congratulations to all women participants in the event- who made up a full 60% of the field, manifesting an eagerness to enjoy the occasion, and wonderful spirit of mutual encouragement which was much appreciated by all- officials, spectators and participants alike.
Full results by category are published, along with a photo album from the day.
