The toughest challenge of the Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series is undoubtedly the 31km of the “Gungahlin Gallop”. With its double ascents of One Tree Hill – one on the way out and another on the return journey – and unrelentingly demanding trail, the effort required is certainly the equivalent of a marathon over regular terrain.
Many of Canberra’s best runners have tackled this course, and to win the race is a badge of great distinction. To claim the course record, requires a runner in very fine physical form, awareness, intelligence and control. So it was a remarkable occasion today that both the men’s and women’s course records should fall in the same race.
Brittany Harriden has participated in 4 of the 5 Series events this year, setting a new course record every time she laced her shoes. Arguably, she saved her best till last – her consummate 2:31:54 today, over half an hour ahead of the next woman, and 3rd place outright amidst a pedigree men’s field – a thrilling exhibition of a beautifully blossoming potential.
On the other hand, Benjamin Butler was making his debut appearance at a Sri Chinmoy Trail Race this season, but ran with a perfect combination of fire and ice – inner poise and power – to break the existing all-comers record by a minute, with a withering 2:07:14, 20 minutes clear of the next finisher.
The other course record to fall in the 31km race was claimed by the ageless Clare Wall, who returned to topple her own record from last year in the F70+, clocking 4:23:21 and coming home ahead of many who have seen less than half her summers.
Melissa Caldow was 2nd in the Female Under 50s, with 3:06:13, holding off the challenge from Maddy Simson’s 3:07:05. Debbie Maher claimed the F50-59 main prize with 3:41;41, from Kerron Clare in 3:46:11 and Nicole Siddon’s 3:52:50; while Pam Muston (again) claimed the F60-69 1st placing in 3:33:34.
In the men’s race, Jordan Gradden took the silver medal with 2:27:57, with Scott Ferguson completing the podium positions in 2:35:16. David Sitsky prevailed in the competitive M50-59 category with an emphatic run of 2:36:08, from Paul Tilse’s 2:41:10 and Aston Duncan with 2:48:22. Kerry Baxter was disappointed to miss the M60-69 course record by a whisker – a mere 4 seconds with a sensational effort of 2:56:56.
The 10km race also witnessed an outstanding new course record in the Female 60-69 category, with the amazing Kerrie Tanner taming the tower which is One Tree Hill to clock a super-impressive 58:06. Just ahead of Kerrie, Sile Crowe took out the F50-59 in a sleek 57:07, not far ahead of Narelle Smyth’s 57:44 and Melinda Goad with 58:10.
The women’s 10km race was won convincingly by Sarah King who made it 5 wins from 5 starts in the Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series middle-distance races this year – a perfect record capped by today’s win in 48:15, ahead of Yolanda Lovie-Toon’s 49:19 and Lisa Winssinger with 52:45.
Patrick Clark also set a new course record in the men’s 10km race, with his impressive solo run of 38:34 – one of only a few to break 40 minutes over this unforgiving course. Behind Patrick were Etienne Blumstein-Jones’ 40:36 and Thomas Naden with 44:12. Daniel Landon took out the M50-59 with 58:51 (we are obliged to note that this time is behind both the F50-59 and F60-69 winning times!); while Mark Duncanson was supreme in the M60-69s with a swift 53:04; and Trevor Jacobs retained custody of the M70+ crown, courtesy of his 1:19:26.
Two more course records were set in the “sprint” 2.2km race: overall winner, Felix Botticchio blazed a new record for his category – Boys Under 13 – of 9:32 (the only other runner to crack 10 minutes was also from the Boys Under 13s, Fin Smith with 9:57); while Daniela Wilsener set a new best time for Female 17 and Over with her 12:04. Maddie Giumelli won the Girls Under 13 in 12:22, and Rhys Anschaw the Boys Under 17 with 17:23. Andrew Cuthel took out the Male 17 and Over with 13:35.
Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series 2025 Pointscore Championship
This year for the first time, saw a 3-way tie for 1st place, and the need to apply some “what if the points are tied?” rules. The category of Male Under 50, saw Daniel McLennan, Daniel Carson and Scott Ferguson all score exactly 29 points for the Series. The first rule applied is: the runner who has participated in more races, gets preference. In this case, Daniel Carson drops immediately behind the other 2 and hence takes 3rd place, since he ran only 3 times (for 2 wins and a 2nd placing). Both of the other contenders completed all 5 races of the Series, so the next rule kicked in: the one who completes more long distance races, gets the nod. Since Daniel McLennan raced all the middle distance events, he was relegated the 2nd placing, with the overall title of Champion going to Scott Ferguson, who raced all 5 long distance events.
The Male 50-59 battle was closely fought throughout the Series, with the top 3 contenders racing every event and sharing the podium each outing. David Sitsky, who opened the Series with two 2nd placings, just got better and better to finish with three 1st placings and 48 points. Aston Duncan and Ben Crabb started the “Gungahlin Gallop” on equal points, and were separated in the end by their final performance and one point, with Aston edging out Ben 43 points to 42.
Goulburn runners dominated the Male 60-69 Pointscore. While Kerry Baxter won all 4 races he entered, for 40 points, he nevertheless had to surrender to Rod Smith, who raced 5 times for an impressive total of 45 points. Graeme Smyth took 3rd with 37 points form his 5 outings.
Trevor Jacobs was the ultimate winner in the Male 70 and Over, taking the title with 38 points (from a possible 40, in 4 races), from Eric Wainwright’s 36 points and Peter Allen on 24.
Although Brittany Harriden had a perfect record of 4 wins – and 4 course records – from 4 starts (all long course), she had to settle for 3rd place in the Female Under 50 Pointscore Championship, behind Lisa Winssinger (who would have collected the Best Young Talent award, if there was one) with 43 points from 5 races, and the superb Sarah King, who won every middle distance race of the Series to record the only Perfect Score of 50 points among the more than 1000 participants across the entire Series!
Though giving up a one-race headstart, Narelle Smyth managed to edge out her rivals with an impressive haul of 36 points from 4 events in the F50-59s; ahead of Leanne Haughton’s tally of 34 from 5 races; and Debbie Maher with 31 points, also from 5 events.
Newcomer to the Series, Jie Zhou wowed everyone with her superlative performances in every race, completing the 5 events with an insurmountable total of 46 points to take the F60-69 main trophy. Kerrie Tanner was certainly the outstanding performer in this category, winning all races she took part in, however paid the price for missing one race and hence her 40 points were good for 2nd place. Nik Christen meanwhile scored 39 points with a very consistent showing at every race. There were no qualifiers for the F70+ Championship this year, as the criteria requires a minimum of 3 races to be completed.
