Race 9 of the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series for 2012 was held in Centennial Park over distances of 14 km, 7 km and 4 km (cross-country) on Sunday 25 November 2012. Full results by age category for each of the 3 distances follow:

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 14 km, 25 November 2012 full results by category>>

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 7 km, 25 November 2012 full results by category>>

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 4 km, 25 November 2012 full results by category>>

Race 8 of the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series for 2012 was held around Iron Cove over the Half-Marathon (21.1 km), 7 km and 4 km courses on Sunday 14 October 2012. Full results by age category for each of the 3 distances follow:

Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove Half-Marathon 14 October 2012 full results by category>>

Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove 7 km 14 October 2012 full results by category>>

Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove 4 km 14 October 2012 full results by category>>

24 km Race Results>>

12 km Race Results>>

6 km Race Results>>

Race Seven of the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series 2012 was held at Greystanes on September 9th. Athletes enjoyed the picturesque paths of Prospect Creek as they covered distances of 6km, 12km and 24km on a mostly flat course.

Amidst all the activity of the day there was an overwhelming consensus that it was a great course and that it is certainly worth the extra effort to get there. It is indeed an ideal venue for a fast time and an all-round enjoyable experience; the paths are wide and uncongested, the air fresh and the vegetation lush and beautiful.

The weather on the day was ideal; a crisp, still and clear start, with beautiful sunshine then bringing increasingly delightful warmth to post race proceedings. Operationally everything ran very smoothly, providing the perfect platform for many notable feats of athletic achievement. Five new course records were set on the day. Brendan Davies blitzed the field and the previous record in the Open Male 24km Category in a time of 1:28:02. Sianna Steel knocked 11 seconds off her own course record in the Girls Under 13 6km race, coming in fourth overall in a time of 26:46. Records were also set by Brian Radburn (Male 60-69 12km), Eileen Cantwell (Open Female 6km) and Annie Tobey (Female 50-59 24km).

Of course, it goes without saying that there were many other heroes on the day; runners who challenged the pride of frightening distance and with poise, power and perseverance coaxed an extra ounce of effort from aching legs and burning lungs. Well done to you all!

We look forward to seeing you all at our next race at Iron Cove on October 14th.

Full results are published, along with a small but sweet photo gallery!

Keith Bateman was using today's Sri Chinmoy Half-Marathon along the tracks and trails of his beloved Centennial Park as a trial after a long lay-off with injuries, so started out conservatively, running the first few laps alongside eventual runner-up Douglas Kelley. Keith's innate class shone through in the final lap however, as he moved up a gear and flew home to win the race outright in 1:16:21 – an outstanding new course record for the Men 50-59 age group.

Douglas Kelley's consolation for his own fine run of 1:17:20 was 1st place in the Men Under 50. Sid Astbury also had an excellent win in the Men 60-69 with 1:47:45.

In the women's race, Athene Chariot continued her recent winning ways with a big-hearted 1:29:50; while Raewyn Harlock was outstanding in winning the Women 50-59 division in 1:34:17.

The Half-Marathon featured by far the largest field of the day. Up until a year ago, the middle distance was invariably the most popular of these races, but the recent trend has seen more and more opt for the longer run…

Better conditions could hardly have been dreamed of for this morning's running in the park – a cloudless blue sky, whiff of breeze and mild temperatures throughout. Only a few muddy patches along the course bore witness to Sydney's long wet Winter, now seemingly a distant memory.

Outstanding run of the day in the 7 km race saw a new all-comers course record of 23:18 to Robbie Neill, a splendid win in style from Chamkaur Dhaliwal (24:08). Mark Hodge took out the Men 50-59 in 34:52; while Brian Radburn's slick 30:52 was a sensational win in the Men 60-69. Evergreen Edward McMaster took out the Men 70 and Over in 49:57.

Lisa Biffin ran a strong race in the Women's 7 km to win in 28:45 from Nicole Pearson (29:54). Sylvia Nichols continues to impress in the Women 50-59 with another superb showing of 35:40; while Helen Stanger similarly showed her class in winning the Women 60-69 again in 36:24.

In the 4 km race, all eyes were on the Under 13 Girls, with Megan Milekovic (19:15) just edging out Haruka Yamane (19:18) to take the top two placings amongst all females in the event. Michelle Joseph was fastest among the Over 17 Females in 19:46; and Belinda Milekovic in the Under 17 Girls with 27:32.

Davor Zailac – always consistent – took out the Men's 4 km race in 15:23; with Ryan McElduff winning the Boys Under 13s in 18:13 and Nick Korhonen the Boys Under 17s in 29:04.

A photo album from the morning is now published, along with full results by age category for all 3 distances.

The Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series for 2012 next heads west for the highly-rated Prospect Creek course on Sunday 9 September – over 6 km, 12 km and 24 km. Not to be missed!

All good things come to those who wait – and after some troublesome weather for this event in the past (who can forget the ferocious winds of last year crossing the Captain Cook Bridge?), Sunday 8 July presented the perfect morning for running alongside Botany Bay: sunshine, a few tempering clouds and just a whiff of breeze…

So it was no surprise that a largest-ever field assembled, and course records were broken in each of the 3 distances contested.

Blake Lampert led the way in the 5 km, winning the race outright and setting a new best time for the course for the Boys Under 17 of 17:20. He held a 2-minute buffer on 2nd, with Anthony Bailow leading home the Men 17 & Over in 19:25 from Tarjei Vassbotn (19:36). Hayden Brown won the Boys Under 13 in 21:50.

Ehlana Hards led home the women in 24:58 – also running the Girls Under 17 category – from Stephanie Erin (25:09) and Katie Gilbert (25:18) in the Women 17 & Over; who were in turn just ahead of 1st Girl Under 13, Megan Milekovic in 25:35.

Outstanding runs in the 50-59 categories of the 10 km event saw records tumble in both the men's and women's races. Ian Cameron not only set a new record in the Men 50-59 of 37:10, he also won the race outright from Under 50 winner Martin Amy (37:18); while Sharon Lane set a new course best time for the Women 50-59 with her 46:24. Meanwhile, in the Women Under 50, Michelle McAdam – who placed a remarkable 4th outright in the race – finished just one second outside the all-time women's course record (set by Ruth Gluckman in 2010) with her 38:32. Merridy O'Donnell continued her winning ways in the Women 60-69 with 54:24; and Bill Hick likewise in the Men 60-69 finished well up in the top half of the field with a spirited 45:07.

In the Half-Marathon, it was again the Men 50-59 which saw the record falling, with David Riches' fine run of 1:20:16 also claiming 2nd overall behind runaway leader Ben Bell's superb 1:16:20, untouchable on the day. Evergreen Arthur Huxtable took out the Men 60-69 with his 1:47:51.

In the women's race, Athene Chariot shone with 1:28:57, placing her just outside the top 10 in the men's field. Kay Poletto took out the Women 50-59 with 2:11:30, not far ahead of Kerry Bray whose 2:12:35 won her the main prize in the Women 60-69.

A crowd lingered longer than usual after the races, testimony to the serene scene and picture-postcard conditions – and perhaps also, the pancakes...

The Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series for 2012 is now at its halfway point. Next in line is the Centennial Park Half-Marathon, 7 km & 4 km cross-country runs on Sunday 29 July.

Full results from the Dolls Point runs are now posted, along with a photo album from around the course.

Course records were the order of the day, as a brand new loop around Iron Cove made its debut.

The ever-increasing popularity of this area amongst runners, walkers and cyclists, meant that by last year the sheer volume of traffic had turned the traditional out-and-back into something of an obstacle course. The new cycle/pedestrian pathway included with the recent bridge upgrade paved the way for a full loop of The Bay. A detour around the grass playing fields at Callan Park brought the new course to a precise, certified 7 km loop.

With rain forecast on and off for the whole day, only the second lap of the 14 km was "blessed" with a shower – otherwise, a cloudy and cool aspect presented ideal running conditions.

Evergreen Dani Andres led the 14 km field from start to finish, setting an inaugural course record of 51:04. Second home was Male 50-59 star, David Riches in 52:30. William Lonsdale led the Men 60-69 in 1:01:15.

Alyssa Betts took out the women's 14 km in a convincing 58:00, with Athene Chariot also breaking the magical hour barrier with 59:14. Julie Tayles was first among the Women 50-59 in 1:07:40.

The one-lap race was won for the men by Roussos Alexopoulos in a strong 25:32 – the exact same pace as Dani Andres' win in the 14 km – from Hamish Wallace and Jonathan Heron. Brian Radburn took out the Men 50-59 in 29:48, and Witold Krajewski the Men 60-69 in another fantastic run of 28:37.

Elmarie O'Regan (28:46) outlasted Collen Scuter (28:51) in the women's 7 km, with Suellen Stirling (35:51) also winning a close contest in the Women 50-59 from Sylvia Nichols (36:04), while Renee Reynolds took out the Women 60-69 in 41:39.

In the 4 km, the Under 17 Boys staged a demonstration race, with the first 4 across the line. Jarrod Biczo ran a blistering 13:46, a new age group record and only one second outside the all-time course record (the 4 km course used the traditional out-and-back, so runners in this race were challenging well-established records). Ben Moss, Tom Scullion and Luke Schofield all came home in under 15 minutes, excellent running in anyone's language. Daniel Moore was first in the over-17s brigade in 15:03, with Angus Beer taking out the Boys Under 13 in 15:53.

Just as the Under 17 Boys shone, so also the Under 13 Girls blazed ahead of the Female field. Sarah Playford set a new record for the Girls Under 13 of 16:00, while all of the top 6 female finishers came from this highly talented group! Not far behind Sarah were Sianna Steele (16:32), Madeline Playford (17:24), Kirrali Schofield (18:52), Isabella Mardini (18:42) and Tamara Lenthall (19:25) all finishing in under 20 minutes. Zoe Iron was first among the Girls Under 17 in 22:13, and Lucy Milekovic showed the 17 and Overs how it's done in 21:32.

Full results for all races are now published, along with updated course records for the new distances.

A photo gallery can be viewed here.

A beautiful day provided a delightful atmosphere for Race 3 of the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series 2012 held along the picturesque banks of Cooks River on Sunday May 6th 2012. Race morning saw runners from all parts of town converging upon the recently landscaped grounds of Ewen Park, eager to test themselves over distances of 16km, 8km and 4km on the flat and fast course.

There were many notable performances on the day. In the female 16km race the standout performance came from Raewyn Harlock, 1st woman in a course record of 1:06:57, and that from the Women 50-59 category! The Under 50 category was won by Athene Chariot in1:07:56. In the 60-69 category Merridy O'Donnell placed first in 1:29:02.

Tony Cusack took the honours in the 16km Male under 50s coming in under the hour in an impressive 59:04, over 3 minutes clear of second place. Victor Correa was first in Male 50-59 in a time of 1:05:12, whilst Michael Tayar took out the 60-69 Category.

The 8km male race saw Shaun Malligan dart to victory in a time of 30.01, whilst the 50-59 and 60-69 categories were won respectively by Andrew Webb in 35:21 and Bill Hick 35.20 (who just pipped Andrew in a daring dash to the line). In the 70+ category Edward McCaster came first in 57:40. In the females 8km another Malligan took the tape, this time Natalie in time of 33.29 and well clear of her rivals. The 50-59 group was won by Sylvia Nichols in 40.25, whilst first in 60-69 was Sri Chinmoy Races stalwart and Woodstock Runner Kerry Bray in 44.50.

An exciting finish in the boys under 13 4km race saw Nicholas Katsillis (5th overall) narrowly edge out a gallant Charlton Zahra (7th overall) to take the honours at the line. Well done boys, you have a bright future ahead of you! In the boys under 17 Jack Barrueto was first in 20:36. In the 17 and over category Davor Zailac edged out Killian Hickey by a mere 8 seconds.

In the girls under 13 4km a mere thirteen seconds separated first place Megan Milekovic from second place Carla O'Donnell. In the under 17 Belinda Milekovic took first place, whilst in the 17 and over Leonie Howes was victorious in 19.12.

Unfortunately a race report is incapable of capturing all the heroic efforts of determination and perseverance, of triumph in the face adversity, of the accomplishments that are not fully reflected by the clock alone. We recognise those who battled simply to reach the finish line, and those who, in the soul-stirring words of Kipling, "forced their heart and nerve and sinew to serve them turn long after they were gone, and so held on when there was nothing in them except the will which said to them: 'Hold on!'." We salute you all.

Thank you to everyone involved for making today's race so enjoyable. Good luck with your training. We look forward to seeing you all at our next race at Iron Cove on Sunday June 10. Full results are published, along with a comprehensive photo album from around the course.