An overcast morning flirted with showers, before falling for the blustery bravado of a vigorous but unreliable wind, with occasional gusts proving strong enough to blow away one marquee and tilt the timing tent to a perilously horizontal lean. Pancake production was almost brought to a standstill as the wind aggressively threatened the barbecue’s flames.

Perhaps it seemed a good morning to sleep in, for a surprisingly modest turn out turned out for the trio of distances – 14km, 7lm and 4km around Centennial Park. All the more pancakes for those who made the effort of appearance…

Despite the smaller field, quality showed it can stand alone from quantity, with some course records tumbling. Richard Sarkies took a long-standing record in the 7km Male 50-59 with his outstanding effort of 25:48, earning him second outright; while Ernest Jordan set a new best time for the 14km Male 70 and Over with his fine 1:19:41.

Darren Moyle showed good form to win the Men’s 14km race in a round 53:00, ahead of a tighter tussle between Christopher Strom (54:57) and Erin Cook (55:16). Peter Sewell continued his fine run of form to take out the Male 50-59 in 56:35 (4th outright); while Craig Thom won the Male 60-69 in 1:09:00 and Ernest Jordan as previously proclaimed, took out the Male 70 and Over in a record 1:19:41.

The women’s 14km race saw Tiffany Knight (1:02:10) hold off the efforts of Laura Roff (1:02:43) with Aurelie Ryan (1:04:32) completing the podium placings. Vicki Jeffreys ran a superb 1:04:56 to take 4th outright and win the Female 50-59; with Merridy O’Donnell setting the pace for the Female 60-69 with 1:26:09.

Robbie Neill was outstanding in the windy conditions to take out the Men’s 7km one-lap race in 25:10; with Richie Mason (27:40) and Tom Owen (28:20) taking the minor placings in the Male Under 50. Richard Sarkies ran from the front from the outset to blaze a new record in the Male 50-59 of 25:48; while Ric Giddins ran an excellent 32:39 to take out the Male 60-69 and David Iverarch continued his winning ways in the Male 70 and Over with a superb run of 33:46 (though missing the course record he set here at his previous outing).

Fiona Low won the women’s 7km race in 30:29, from Laura Pigot (31:02) and Renee Kramer (32:44). Vianney Smith was first home in the Female 50-59 in 40:40; and likewise Sylvia Nichols in the Female 60-69 with another impressive run of 36:27.

Ollie Mason was outright winner of the 4km race and fastest of the Boys Under 13 in 16:55; He-Shyan Balnave took out the Boys Under 17 with 19:44; and Sean Hails the Male 17 and Over with 17:08. Nyree Gale won the Female 17 and Over with 18:12; the Girls Under 13s was won by Evie Cook in 19:04; and Julian Tully took out the Girls Under 17s in 22:18.

After a week of relentless rain in Sydney, one could have been forgiven for assuming that the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast for Sunday was a joke: a UV warning was issued!

When the rain started falling again at 3.30am, another day of drizzle beckoned. Yet the Bureau’s forecast proved absolutely correct – the sun shone, coats were cast off and yes, sunscreen was applied.

The Sri Chinmoy Dolls Point Festival of Running has seen all manner of conditions over the years: cold, rain and gale force winds which once blew hats and even eye glasses off runners on the crossing of the Captain Cook Bridge. Yet today’s conditions proved the best yet, with mild temperatures and nary a breeze.

Construction works on a section of cycle path just south of Peter Depena Reserve enforced a late change to the course, with a detour along suburban footpaths and a consequent shortening of the northern turnaround point. Because this revised course could not be officially measured and certified in time, unfortunately any course records which might have been set cannot be recognised.

The marathoners were first to get the legs turning over, at 7am, followed an hour later by the Half-Marathoners, then in turn the10km and 5km runners. Thien Vuong led from the outset and ran a steady pace the whole way to record a good win in the men’s marathon in 2:58:24, though Lachlan Dansie was not far behind in 2:59:48, delighted with his first-ever sub-3 hour effort. Glenn Gielissen was 4th outright and 1st in the Male 50-59 with 3:10:56; while Leon Barnard led home the Male 60-69 in 3:44:51.

Athene Chariot, making her long-awaited return to the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series after a lengthy hiatus, looked comfortable in the lead of the women’s marathon, but sadly had to withdraw from the fray due to injury. We hope your absence will not be not so long this time Athene, and wish you a speedy recovery!

Kirby Clarke, running in her first-ever Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team event, ran strongly throughout to record a fine win in 3:36:09; while Jane Trumper was dauntless in her Female 50-59 victory in 4:07:19.

Sara Burgess was dominant in the women’s Half-Marathon, winning in an exceptional 1:31:14.  Vicki Jeffreys was 2nd overall in the women’s race in taking out the Female 50-59 with her strong run of 1:37:30; while Veronica Hopkins won the Female 60-69 in 2:29:25.

Timothy Molesworth meanwhile had won the men’s race in a solid 1:17:45. Stephen Orr took out the Male 50-59 in 1:29:45; and Noel Weeks the male 60-69 with 1:51:23.

The closest race of the day was in the men’s 10km event, with Matt Craft (37:03) just edging out Nelson Santos’ 37:07. Greg Rankin took out the Male 50-59 in 47:17, though both more senior age groups did progressively better – Brian Radburn winning the Male 60-69 in a faster time of 45:42; and David Iverarch the Male 70 and Over with a splendid 45:29.

Bronwyn Wood won the women’s 10km in 43:11; Tracey O’Donnell the Female 50-59 in 49:37; Rosemary Roedigger the Female 60-69 in 46:37; and the indefatigable Kerry Bray the Female 70 and Over with 1:02:47.

A relatively sparse field turned up for the 5km race today, though what they lacked in numbers was certainly made up for in eagerness. Carter Clifton was rewarded with 1st place in the Boys Under 13 with 26:08; Gerard McMahon took out the Male 17 and Over in 21:49 – but it was Louise Graham who took line honours in the race for the women in 21:17.

Our special congratulations and gratitude to Trent Morrow: congratulations for completing his 309th marathon today, and gratitude for supplying 2 pairs of superb Altra running shoes as prizes for a few of today’s winners!

Please also enjoy this wonderful selection of photos from Shane Braz Photography!

Sunday the 1st of May saw more than 300 runners line up for the Sri Chinmoy Royal National Park 5K, 10K, Half and full Marathon trail runs.

Set in the beautiful Royal National Park, the main track takes the runners out and back – easy, right?  However, Mother Nature, with all her beauty on show in this spectacular race also gives the runners some challenges to keep everyone honest.  The course is undulating with a nice little hill at the end, it’s just a little bit rocky at times, and - well muddy.  As one competitor commented “just run through the first puddle and then you don’t have to deal with dodging anymore”.  Good advice I say!  And yes, many a runner came back with mud sprayed up their legs.  Watching them cross at the finish you knew they had a good race.

The Marathoners arrived in the predawn to register and collect their numbers, the heavens were showering us with light rain and all runners toed the line at 7am to start the first of one small and two long loops up the course.

An hour later the three other races were started, with all competitors now out enjoying the course.

Coming in first were the 5k finishers with Paul Molloy cruising in to win in 21:17.  In the Under 13, Lewis Cook secured first place in an impressive 23:53, with Evie Cook taking out the under 13 girls in an equally amazing time of 24:56, only 6 seconds behind the 13 – 17 female leader Jade Garrahy who did a time of 24:50, who in turn was only 8 seconds behind the over 17 year old women’s leader Nyree Gale in a time of 24:42.  It was a busy finish chute when the 5k pack came in!

In the 10k race Jeffrey Whalan made it under the 40 minutes mark winning the under 50 male category in 39:24 with Alistair Sandilands hot on his tail in 2nd place in 39:58 The women’s leader, Amy Carrad, was just over 1 minute behind Alistair, finishing in 41 minutes flat, winning the under 50 female category and placing fourth outright while Tracy Davenport took out second place in the Women’s under 50 in 42:46.

Unfortunately, a missing turnaround sign meant that almost all of the field in the Half Marathon ran an additional 600 metres or more. Hence the times are slower than they otherwise would have been. The Half Marathon saw James Carroll take out first place in 1:31:09, with Paul Gillan 2nd in 1:32:57 and Aaron Cooper in 3rd in 1:33:51.  Peter Sewell was first in the Male 50 – 59 in a great time of 1:32:35, putting him second overall while Michael Rendle won the Male 60 – 69 category in a time of 2:01:06.

Watching Larissa Tichon cross the line to place first in the women’s category was fantastic to see, she looked effortless in her time of 1:46:28.  Second place getter, Julia Wenner, came through smiling in 1:55:03, with third place not too far behind for Millerine Brikkerin in 1:57:17. Amanda Smith was first in the 50 – 59 category in 2:10:04 while Merridy O'Donnell took out the 60 – 69 category in 2:24:15.

The wonderful finale to these events was the triumphant finishes of the Marathon runners.  First place male, Under 50 Raymond Wareham comfortably broke the 3-hour mark in 2:54:58, with Darren More 2nd in 3:02:06 and 3rd place to Stephen Redfern in 3:05:11. 

Winning the 50 – 59 category was Geoff Barnes in an impressive 3:18:19, placing him in the top 10 marathoners for this race while Sydney Strider Victor Correa won the 60 – 69 category comfortably in 3:24:58, adding yet another win to his new age category! In the same category, Ray James had a hard day at the office, finishing in 6:26:30 but perhaps can be excused as he ran another marathon the day before at the Relay for Life!

First in the women’s race went to Alicia Ralph who looked strong as she came into finish in 3:37:05, 2nd place going to Mary Ryan in 3:40:45 and 3rd to Katy Anderson in 3:51:48.

An ever-smiling Jane Trumper took out the women’s 50-59 category in 4:46:16, finishing yet another of her more than 100 marathons, finishing side by side with her husband Peter.

A special mention should be made to Kelvin Marshall who drove all the way from Queensland and Zach Benjamin who flew from Japan to run his first trail Marathon in the Royal National Park.  Well done!  As well as Steve who did the half marathon on his birthday and still made it back to celebrate with his family!

Congratulations to all competitors!  We applaud you for challenging yourself and hope you enjoyed the race as much as we enjoyed putting it on!  We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Enjoy the SCMT race photos and also these offerings from Shane Braz Photography.