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Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove Half-Marathon, Sunday 13 June 2021, full results by category 97.77 KB

Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove 7km run, Sunday 13 June 2021, full results by category 89.21 KB

Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove 4km run, Sunday 13 June 2021, full results by category 67.31 KB

Race Photos

It is said that one can never have too much of a good thing. In the case of running around Iron Cove, this adage certainly holds true. No matter what the conditions, in this inner city haven there is always beauty to behold, happiness to inhale and valour to savour. The course presents a passing pedestrian parade, a murmuring hum of contemporary humanity, from ambled conspiratorial gossip to aspiring elite athleticism. In amongst it all, each of us fits perfectly with our own gifts, goals, dreams and daily dramas. The Bay Run is so special, because we are The Bay Run.

Is it because the pancakes are not on offer in these times that overall participation numbers were slender today? In any case, the field was more intimate than usual, enabling a broader spectrum of contenders to claim prizes and glory. Congratulations to all who turned up and played your part, no matter what the distance!

The 3-lap Half-Marathon saw a breakaway run from James Costello, who early on realised he would be running solo and took up the mantle with a stylish showing of 1:16:59, with a chasing pack including Nero Zhang (1:18:04) and Michael Mangili-Vincent (1:18:28). Richard Sarkies ran a heroic race in the Male 50-59 to claim 6th outright with 1:21:23, well ahead of his rivals Eddie Guo (1:29:41) and Wai-Yat Yuen (1:35:24). Gregory Leamon took out the M60-69 with 1:45:17; and Ben Dallamico the M 70 and Over in 2:15:06.

Jemima Bissett led home the women’s field with an impressive 1:38:04, ahead of Morgan Yuen’s 1:39:27, just edging out Phoebe Fear with 1:39:30. Lily Iamundi won the F50-59 with 2:00:19 from Barbara Hemingway’s 2:01:06; though both trailed the impressive June Southwell, who took home the F60-69 main prize in 1:52:26.

Thomas Virgona was a stand-out winner in the 7km men’s race, leading from the outset to finish with a huge lead in 23:14 (just 16 seconds outside the course record), from Joe Ghilks’ 25:52 and Eamon Bullock in 27:33. Lorenzo Modesto was first home in the M50-59 with 26:01, from Philip Balnave (27:18) and Bruce Burns (27:58); while Jimmy Owens stood first in the M60-69 with 33:51 from Christ Webster’s 34:58; and Derek Bolton took his category of M70 and Over with an impressive 37:01.

The women’s 7km race saw a fine win to Rosheen Boyle from the Female 50-59 category with 32:21, just ahead of Portia Palmerlee (F Under 50) in 32:24, from F50-59 2nd placed Zoe Melling (32:31), and Erin Jones’ 33:07, then Jessica Monaghan with 34:27. Tracey O’Donnell took 3rd spot int he F50-59 with 34:54. Rita Webster was fastest among the F60-69 in 3G 6:08; while Anne Elizabeth Boyd again excelled in the F 70 and Over with a new age group record of Phil Balnave ran 51:50.

Amber Kusano showed fine form and style to win the 4km race outright from the Girls Under 13s, in a wonderful 16:15. Erin Allison was next, 1st in the Girls Under 17 with 18:11. Laura Heaney won the Female 17 and Over category with 24:28, while Douglas Upton took out the Boys Under 13 with 44:31.

Our immense gratitude to all helpers and volunteers, especially the ever-enthusiastic Albert Ho and the irrepressible Kieron Blackmore.

Results (PDF Download)

Sri Chinmoy Royal National Park Trail Marathon, 2 May 2021, full results by category 73.03 KB

Sri Chinmoy Royal National Park Trail Half-Marathon, 2 May 2021, full results by category 90 KB

Sri Chinmoy Royal National Park 10km Trail Run, 2 May 2021, full results by category 74.48 KB

Sri Chinmoy Royal National Park 5km Trail Run, 2 May 2021, full results by category 62.92 KB

Race Photos

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Lady Carrington Drive, in Royal National Park, is one of the favourite destinations for runners, organisers and helpers alike in the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series. In a venue which can range from cold to wet to an absolute slosh, today offered perhaps the optimal conditions for running in the forest: mild, fresh and invigorating. This is a route which fulfils at once the eyes with its noble trees, verdant foliage and flowing river; the ears with an incessant chorus and carolling of ebullient birdsong from all sides, above and even below; the lungs with an unceasing ecstatic surge of fragrant air; and most importantly, the heart with its all-encompassing purity, soothing harmony and uplifting beauty.

Having missed this event in 2020, anticipation was high for its promised return...

While the longest race of the day may have attracted only a small field, as always the strength of character and stamina required to complete a marathon ensured that much of the morning’s most compelling drama belonged to this event. Perhaps the outstanding performance of the race came from Greta Truscott, who impressed her fellow runners and spectators alike with her 4th placed outright, 1st female win in a new course record 3:23:52, ahead of fellow Female Under 50s Sophie Shawdon’s 3:53:59 and Trang Ha with 4:45:15. Vicki Jeffreys was best of the Female 50-59 with 4:19:06; while Jane Trumper backed up her 100km from the previous weekend in Canberra with an age group record time of 5:08:42 to lead home the Female 60-69 ahead of Gloria Lau who flew from Perth for the race, finishing strongly and happily in 6:17:17.

This is a local run for Stephen Redfern, who lives just 10 minutes from the start line and while he has run the race several times, today marked his first victory in the event, in 3:12:23. Congratulations Stephen! Next home was David Chiew with 3:18:36, ahead of Michael Cartisano’s 3:29:12. Meanwhile, in 3rd overall, Philip Balnave – who had run from his home to the start – was a class apart in the Male 50-59 to take the category in 3:22:35, from evergreen Masanori Chiba (3:43:02) and Carl Schwartz (3:45:24). Leon Barnard led home the Male 60-69 with 4:06:21 from Kieron Blackmore’s gutsy 4:22:13 – with a Special Mention to another local lad, Bob Fickel, completing his 289th marathon in 5:24:31. Many more stories abound from each and every finisher over this heroic distance, though only a few make their way onto the winner’s podium…

The largest field of the morning were chasing glory and satisfaction over the 21.1km Half-Marathon distance. Jordan Awad stayed with the leaders from the start, and after the 1st (2.2km) turnaround, made his move to take the lead, which he held to the end with a strong run, his 1:19:06 a mere 4 seconds adrift of the course record. Gareth Franklin was 2nd in 1:21:10, with Inigo Jauregi Unanue completing the podium in the men’s race with 1:22:57. Gareth Prosser took out the Male 50-59 in 1:38:44 from Mark Irwin’s 1:39:31; while Chris Dixon led home the Male 60-69 with a fine run of 1:40:48.

Janice Minogue was a clear winner in the women’s race, pacing herself wisely to finish in 1:41:16, a clear 10 minutes ahead of Sarah Colquhoun’s 1:51:07, and Alice Caldwell with 1:54:15. Yvonne Richards led home the Female 50-59 with her excellent 1:51:49, from Sue Flynn’s 1:59:12; while Amanda Barlow took out the Female 60-69 in 2:13:47.

The standout feature of today’s 10km trail race was the remarkable showing of the Female 50-59 category as a whole – with a quarter of the top 16 finishers! Sure enough, Harley Mangham took line honours from the Male Under 50s in 43:34, though next home was Eileen Cantwell for the women in 45:22, from Natalie Kapitzka (48:52), just ahead of the 1st Female 50-59 champion and new age group record holder, Zoe Melling in 49:02, who led home the first of the Male 50-59s in John Hayes (49:05) and Greg Rankin (49:27), with Rosheen Boyle (again Female 50-59) on their tails with 50:46. Pam Joseph took out the Female 60-69 with 1:02:15.

The shorter 5km race was won handsomely by Oliver Fyfe, from the Boys Under 13 category in an impressive new course age group best time 22:50 (breaking a 7-year-old record), from Male 17 and Overs Pablo Arenas’ 22:44 and Angus Fyfe’s 22:51. Toni Faros won the largest contingent of the day (16 out of the 23 contestants), the Female 17 and Overs, with her 26:41.

Congratulations and sincere thanks to all who took part in any way in this memorable morning in the forest!

Results (PDF Download)

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park Half-Marathon, Monday 5 April 2021, full results by age category 364.83 KB

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park Half-Marathon, Monday 5 April 2021, full results overall 291.58 KB

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 7km race, Monday 5 April 2021, full results by age category 365.48 KB

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 7km race, Monday 5 April 2021, full results overall 294.94 KB

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 4km race, Monday 5 April 2021, full results by age category 358.23 KB

Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 4km race, Monday 5 April 2021, full results overall 289.28 KB

Race Photos

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Being the shortest distance and smallest field, and catering primarily for kids and newbies, we don’t usually start a race report with coverage of the 4km event. Today we do!

The all-comers course record for the Sri Chinmoy 4km loop at Centennial Park was set on Easter Monday in 2013 by Ali Najem, and stood unthreatened for 8 years – until today, when it was lowered by a full 8 seconds in a head-turning display of style and speed – by Ali Najem. His new best time, 12:40. Thank you Ali, for the inspiration and sheer joy you bring through the passion, power and grace of your running!

Ali was not the only super-fast runner burning up the grass today, as he was chased by a flying Max Russell – whose awesome 12:59 set a new record for the Male Under 17 category – with Brady McIntyre also streets ahead of the rest of the field in 13:08.

Natasha Ward was next runner home, winning the Girls Under 17 in the process with an impressive 14:48. Tahli Weigand took out the Girls Under 13 with a well-below-4-minute-pace run of 15:45; and Natalie Malligan the Female 17 and Over with 17:18. Evan Rowbotham meanwhile won the Boys Under 13 in 15:11.

Usually one expects the early finishers in these races to be populated by the Male Under 50 category, yet the big story of today’s 7km one-lap race saw 3 of the top 5 placings upsetting this dominant paradigm. Yes, Nic Bailey won the race outright from the MU50s with his accustomed sleek style in 26:27 – yet next home was a flying Ella Higgins, taking out the women’s race and 2nd outright with a fantastic 26:39, a mere 12 seconds adrift of Nic. Ella barely held off the charge of Alan Wheat, 1st in the Male 50-59 and 3rd outright, winning his category in 26:42. Shaun Malligan got one back for the MU50 for 4th outright with 25:56, before Audrey Hall flew across the line next in 27:33. 3rd placed Female Under 50 was Amber Kusano with 32:45; with the same trophy in the Male Under 50 claimed by Joe Park (27:53).

Zoe Melling took out the Female 50-59 category with 33:27, from Kathleen Wallington’s 34:00 and Rosheen Boyle’s 34:47. Visiting legend Belinda Soszyn – who was also timing and producing results for the entire event with husband Greg D’Arcy – showed her ageless pedigree in winning the Female 60-69 with 35:44, from Rita Webster (39:11) and Sylvia Nichols (41:43); while Anne Elizabeth Boyd came home 1st in the Female 70 and Over with an impressive 50:43.

2nd in the Male 50-59 was Shane Maundrell with 32:22, from Aaron Francey’s 33:12; while Craig Saphin took out the Male 60-69 in 33:23, from Chris Webster with 36:51 and Marc Jarman in 39:28.

The advantage of the loop course is that spectators – while not seeing the entire race unfold – are at least treated to regular snapshots of the action, observing the entire field passing by 6 times in the course of the Half-Marathon. So it was that the excitement and anticipation built through the race as Gerber Koster was shadowed by Stuart Rennie through most of the distance. Who would make their move and how would the other respond? As it turns out, Gerber eased away over the final mile, to claim victory in 1:19:39 from Stuart’s 1:20:21, with John McCormack completing the podium positions with 1:24:33.

Though a lovely day for spectators and supporters, it was nevertheless deceptively warm for running more than one lap, and most runners found their times a little slower than might have been anticipated on a cooler morning.

Ruth Thomas was best on the day among the women, winning by a clear margin in 1:34:28, from Krista King (1:39:47) and Georgia Auchterlonie with 1:41:15. Soonchul Shin won a tight race in the Male 50-59 in 1:32:00, from a close-finishing Eddie Guo with 1:32:13 – a good distance ahead of their competition. Rob Ellis won the Male 60-69 with 1:51:51 from Gregory Leamon’s 1:57:53; while Paul Feain won the Male 70 and Over in 2:33:45. Elaine Glass earned the main prize in the Female 50-59 with 1:58:38; while Cheryl Parnham took home the trophy for 1st Female 60-69 with 2:21:29.

Congratulations to all participants and thanks to all helpers! Our special gratitude to Belinda Soszyn and Greg D’Arcy of Multisport Australia and Sports Splits for their generosity, kindness and superb professional service.