DAC NEWSLETTER

21st September 2022

XCR Round 10: Saturday 17th September

We’ve made it!  The 2022 XCR season has concluded with Round 10, The Tan Relays, right in the heart of Melbourne city!   11 teams and 37 athletes participated, this time in the morning, allowing families to fulfil their school holiday travel plans.  It was cold, cloudy and blustery, however, the rain held off until the event’s conclusion.  Teams varied in numbers by each age group and division, though all athletes ran just 1 lap (3.827km).  Short and sweet! 

Upon arrival there was a commotion as clubs, teams, athletes and helpers were sorted.  Late injuries and illnesses within DAC ranks meant swapping athletes around between teams; young Josh Kilmartin (age 13), found himself in a Masters team!  Thank you to those who were able to be so flexible on the day.  Looking around, there were many running shoes like the “Winged-Keel” on the 1988 sailboat Australia II!  Apparently, this new footwear technology can improve running time by 1-2 seconds per kilometre, and cost around $300.  Well-designed training is another cheaper option!

Linden Hall was there and recently back from the Commonwealth Games, happy to chat to mere mortal runners, and support home club, Essendon.  For those interested, she ran the Tan in 12:26, the fastest time of all female competitors at the event.  Strava was back!  The Strava section took in the infamous Anderson Street uphill.  For some, the hill was a chance to shine, but for others, a plod and then relief that you’ve made it!  

The 37 DAC athletes included 2 newcomers in Deb Garden and Amanda Baldock (both 40+).  The Ladies had an outstanding first run and we look forward to seeing them in action over the summer season!   Amanda joined young daughter Chloe (U14) at DAC, and added to the many families all participating together.  Round 10 saw 3 Kilmartins, 3 McLennans, 3 Finchs, 2 Marascos, and 2 Baldocks make up a big portion of the 37-strong team!  

There were some outstanding individual efforts – fastest athletes were Chloe Baldock and Remy Williams (Junior), Lydia Rinauldo and Alastair Christy (Open) and Deb Garden and David Vaughan (Masters).  The women’s Open division 3 team were placed 3rd, which included fantastic efforts by all team members: Georgia Chalmers, Leah Finch, Lydia Rinauldo, and late-inclusion, Colleen Kelly.   A couple of other teams were just outside the placings (Women’s U18, and Men’s U18 Team A). 

Thank you to all the athletes, parents, club volunteers and officials who made the 2022 XCR season a great one!  All 10 rounds went ahead, after we missed most of the winter seasons in 2020 and 2021.  Special mention and farewell goes to Kate Downward.  Kate and her family will be leaving DAC to live in Echuca for 5 years (or more), for a work contract.  Kate has been an integral part of DAC going back into her teens, and more recently, assisting on the Committee and with major projects (50th Anniversary dinner and commemorative book).    She is also been a great runner and lovely person to have around!  Kate, we hope to see you back!!

Round 10, all results:

Women Open – Division 3 – 3rd

 

 

 

 

 

4×3.87km: (Lydia Rinaudo: 13:50, Leah Finch: 17:44, Colleen Kelly: 18:42,

 

 

 

Georgia Chalmers: 16:40) 1:06:56;

     

 

 

             

 

Women U18 – 4th

           

 

3×3.87km: (Chloe Baldock: 14:40, Grace Wilson: 16:32, Sanne Bakker: 15:11) 46:23;

 

 

             

 

Women 40+ – 7th

           

 

3×3.87km: (Kate Downward: 17:33, Sue Kilmartin: 18:00, Deb Garden: 17:06) 52:39;

 

Invite team: (Amanda Baldock: 20:37, Kath Gawthorn: 20:31) 41:08 (Team incomplete)

 

             

 

Men Open – Division 1 (10th) and Division 5 (5th)

     

 

6×3.87km Div 1: (Alastair Christy: 11:16, Erick Niyiragira: 11:49, Oscar OConnor: 13:06,

 

John Portwood: 11:47, Nick Finch: 12:42, Anthony Paige: 13:08) 1:13:48;

 

4×3.87km Div 5: (Brendan Cullen: 14:57, Nathan Down: 15:05, Matthew Christy: 12:50,

 

Brock Goodings: 15:52) 58:44;

       

 

 

             

 

Men U18 (A and B) – 4th and 8th

       

 

3×3.87km: Team A (Remy Williams: 11:45, Josh Ascar: 12:30, Luca Scholes-Robertson: 12:25) 36:40;

3×3.87km: Team B (Lachlan Marasco: 12:55, Benjamin Purser: 13:31, Aiden Marasco: 13:11) 39:37;

 

             

 

Men U14 – 7th

           

 

3×3.87km: (Joel Denny: 14:08, Hamish McLennan: 18:46, Lewis McLennan: 17:59) 50:53;

 

             

 

Men 40+ – 7th

           

 

3×3.87km: (Josh Kilmartin: 22:05, Campbell McLennan: 14:50, Darryl Kilmartin: 20:37) 57:32;

 

             

 

Men 50+ – 11th

           

 

3×3.87km: (John Curry: 16:35, James Finch: 19:34, David Vaughan: 14:18) 50:27;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The season ladders have also been finalised, as follows:

Open Men Division 1 – 11th, and relegated to Div 2 in 2023  Won by Bendigo.

Open Men Division 5 – 8th, won by Mentone.

Open Women Division 3 – 3rd, won by Coburg.

Women 40+ – 11th, won by South Melbourne.

Women 50+ – 18th, won by APS United.

Men 40+ – 14th, won by Richmond.

Men 50+ – 14th, won by Glen Huntley.

Men U18 – 3rd, won by Bendigo.

Women U18 – 8th, won by Diamond Valley.

Men U14 – 5th, won by Williamstown.

 

The following athletes were placed in the top 10 for their age group, based on complete season results;

Sue Kilmartin – 6th, 50+ women (short-course)

David Vaughan – 5th – 55+ men

Josh Ascar – 7th, U18

Rachael White – 10th, U16

 

These season rankings reflect both placings and participation over the 6 individual rounds.  Special mention to Grace Wilson – 12th among the U18 Women, and just outside the top 10! 

 

Reminders – upcoming events

SEPTEMBER

 

 

 

 

23-Sep

Bill Chambers Memorial Handicap

9am

Ruffey Lake Park

*

29-Sep

Opening Doncaster Track

6pm

Doncaster

*

 

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER

 

 

 

 

2-Oct

Melbourne Marathon Festival

Early AM

Melb City

 

3-Oct

The Sixty Minutes

7pm

Doncaster

*

8-Oct

AVSL Rd 1

Midday

Various

See attachment

*more information provided below

Bill Chambers Memorial Handicap – This Friday 23rd September!

Can’t get enough of distance running?  After a two-year hiatus, the 45th annual Bill Chambers Memorial Cross-Country Handicap is back! This longstanding event holds a special place in our club history, and is a fun competition, open to all members and their families, regardless of age or fitness level. 

When: Friday 23rd of September (Grand Final Eve Public Holiday)

Where: Ruffey Lake Park (Enter via The Boulevarde off George St on the western side of the park, meet at the undercover BBQ area)

Time: Please start arriving from 8:30am for a 9am start. No pre-entry required, just turn up with your best 3km/5km/10km time and our handicapper will work out your start time! 

Distance: There will be a 3km fun run for members wanting to have a bit of fun or to turn the legs over followed by the 6km handicap race which is two 3km laps of the course that Men and Women of all ages contest together.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Track Re-Opening and DAC Mile – Thursday 29th September

The Doncaster Athletic Club, in cooperation with the Doncaster Little Athletics and Masters Clubs, and the City of Manningham are pleased to invite you to an action packed night of athletics at the inaugural DAC Mile event.

Under our brand new competition lighting and on our newly resurfaced and upgraded track, we look forward to you joining us for our grand reopening event. 

When: Thursday 29th of September from 6pm – 9pm.

Where: Tom Kelly Athletics Track, 125a George St, Doncaster East VIC 3109

Entries are open via the web link:                             

https://athsvic.org.au/events/2022-doncaster-athletic-club-mile/

The program includes;

  • The DAC Mile for men, racing for the perpetual, Sean Quilty memorial trophy and generous prize money. 
  • The DAC Mile for Women, racing for the perpetual trophy and equal prize money as for the men.
  • Support program of seeded mixed Mile races.
  • 200m Open seeded races. (Open to Juniors and Masters)
  • 150m Masters races for Men and Women. (Limited fields in each ten year age bracket)
  • Invitational Pole Vault, Long Jump, and junior 70m.
  • Demonstration multi-generational Sprint Hurdle.

BBQ, Pizza, Canteen and Coffee will be available on the night. Friends, family and children welcome at no cost, but please consider supporting our fundraising food and drink offerings. 

The Sixty Minutes – Doncaster Masters Athletics event – Monday 3rd October

Athletes, both walkers and runners, of all ages are invited to pit themselves against the clock!  Complete as many laps (and part thereof) in 60 minutes.  Prizes on offer for those registered with VMA and for both walkers and runners.  Event starts 7.30pm.  A great challenge for those who aren’t quite ready for the Marathon on October 2nd.  Please bring own lap-scorer, supper provided afterwards.  Cost $10.  For further information, please contact Graham Ford on 0419 361 487 gford@bigpond.net.au

Summer season about to start!  Woo Hoo!  Saturday October 8th

Track and field athletes have been itching for get back into action!  Well, they won’t have to wait much longer.  The AVSL season starts on October 8, and a draft timetable has been released on the AV website.  Athletes are encouraged to complete their registration ASAP, including purchase of the AVSL season package (via AV portal).  Please contact registrar David Mitchell registrar@doncasterac.org.au with any enquires and Alessia Wynne (0473359747) or uniforms@doncasterac.org.au in advance to organise uniform purchase.