Doncaster Newsletter 40+
Edition 91
XCR ROUND 1 & Australian Masters Champs
In this edition
- XCR Round 1 Round-up
- Australian Masters Track and Field Championships (Hobart)
- XCR Round 2 – Saturday May 11
- New Short course distances for XCR
- New Season Registrations now Open!
- AGM and Annual Awards Night May 17 – Save the Date!
XCR Round 1 – Masters Shine at Jells Park!
Saturday April 27 Saw 5 Masters teams (15 athletes) take on the cross-country relays at Jells Park, Waverley. With brilliant sunshine, it was a day ‘out of the box’, and together with a firm course, made for perfect cross-country conditions. Athletes ran two 3km laps, over hilly terrain. A club tent village was situated for excellent viewing, and the coffee van and free massage tent were kept busy all day. Our Team Manager, Cambell McLennan, did a stellar job at organising the athletes and teams, including newcomers to 40+ : Tim Denny, and Bradley Sala. Invitees were Shane Scott, Emma Schuette, and Roberto Chavez & Neetha Pai from Ruffey Runners! A huge welcome to them all!
Our teams were a little way off the placings; however, it was a very encouraging start to the season with so many athletes back and running near to their best!
Some other notable performances were:
- Colleen Kelly in her first AV race since a leg fracture.
- Papa Jim Finch was in fine running form, cheered on by little 4-month-old Tommy (his Grandson).
- Emily Allen is a retuning member, back after some years off, and the fastest member of Saturday’s Women’s 40+ team.
- DAC Legend Rod De Highden ran a very solid 6km in Men’s 50+, and another Legend in Natalie Harvey came along to cheer us on!
- Fastest females: Lydia Rinaudo (24.23) and Emma Schuette (26:46).
- Fastest males: Tim Denny (22:49) and Campbell McLennan (24:48).
Thank you to a number of people who assisted with Club Volunteer duty – Crystal Xie, Damian Maddocks and Shaun Onley. There were a number of amazing shots taken of DAC athletes in action, thanks to Laura McLennan! These are available on Facebook ((2) Facebook).
Members may be interested in reading XCR rules, with some changes for season 2024: XCR Rules
All results are presented below. Further details are available from Resultshub (Results Hub)
| F40 | 3x6km | Kathryn Gawthorn: 30:44 | Emily Allen: 27:29 | Sue Kilmartin: 30:11 | 1:28:24 | 5th |
| F40 | 3x6km | Neetha Pai: 32:52 | Colleen Kelly: 33:12 | Emma Schuette: 26:46 | 1:32:50 | INV 7th |
| M40 | 3x6km | Tim Denny: 22:49 | Bradley Sala: 32:19 | Shane Scott: 38:15 | 1:33:23 | INV – 13th |
| M50 | 3x6km | Roderic De Highden: 25:21 | Jason Merrett: 27:33 | Campbell McLennan: 24:48 | 1:17:42 | 10th |
| M50 | 3x6km | Darryl Kilmartin: 32:47 | James Finch: 34:32 | Roberto Chavez: 31:51 | 1:39:10 | INV – 15th |
| FOpen | 4x6km | Abbey Caldwell: 19:55 | Connor Gist: 23:34 | Alissa Ramsdale: 26:15 | 1:34:07 | 2nd |
| Lydia Rinaudo: 24:23 |
Australian Masters Track and Field Championships March 29-April 1 (Hobart)
Eight of DAC’s 40+ athletes travelled to Hobart to represent both the Club and Victoria! Between them, they achieved a 10 medal haul, including 1 Gold, 3 Silver and some 6 Bronze medals! The event was very well organised, right down to a bell that athletes could ring when they achieved a PB! How quaint! Hobart turned on some of its best Autumn weather, and a very positive experience was had by All!
It was a busy 4 days, and Easter eggs were worked into the pre- and post-event meal plan! Pole vaulter, Darryl Kilmartin had an interesting time getting his favourite pole to and from Hobart – Box Hill athletes and McLennan lads travelling on ‘The Spirit’ with their car saved the day! It all paid off – Darryl achieved Gold, a Club Record and a PB in M55-59. Darryl also achieved Silver in his Triple Jump! Two more Silver medals were achieved by Kim Peak and Paul Mierisch. Kim had events across all 4 days of the Championships, but it was Day 1 and the 1500m walk which yielded her best result. She also achieved a Club Record in her discus on Day 2. Paul ran his pet event – the 400m, now M45-49, he ran a very respectable 55.96 seconds! Deb Garden achieved a Bronze medal in her 800m – the past 12 months has seen her focus attention on this event. Over that time, she has gone from strength to strength, also achieving an extraordinary Club record of 2:27.3. Deb also ran a gutsy 400m, leaving nothing on the track, and followed this with a 4 x 400m relay, taking her medal tally to 2 Bronze!
DAC newcomer, Lakmarli Anthony (W35-39) had a remarkable first ever Championships – taking Bronze in both the 1500m and 5000m. Relays yielded yet more medals for DAC athletes – Wendy Smith and Melinda Davey-Uecker combined in the 4 x 100m relay to win Bronze. Wendy followed this up with a hit out in the 4 x 400m relay. She finished a very successful Championships, in which she ran the 60m, 100m and 200m, the 200m good enough to gain Bronze! Melinda featured in the 60m, 100m and Long Jump, achieving a Club Record in her 100m! The other Club Record was that of Campbell McLennan in his M50-55 800m – 2:13.9 an outstanding effort!
What a fantastic set of results for DAC Masters Athletes! Full details, including records, are provided below. With thanks to Graham Ford for his summary.
| Friday | |||||
| W50 | 60 metres | Wendy Smith | 9.69 | ||
| W45 | 60 metres | Melinda Davey-Uecker | 9.19 | ||
| W55 | Javelin | Kim Peak | 13.61 | ||
| W50 | 100 metres | Wendy Smith | 15.67 | ||
| W45 | 100 metres | Melinda Davey-Uecker | 14.61 | (Record) | |
| W40 | 800 metres | Deb Garden | 02:27.3 | Bronze | (Record) |
| W55 | Hammer | Kim Peak | 20.48 | ||
| M50 | 800 metres | Campbell McLennan | 02:13.9 | (Record) | |
| W55 | 1500 walk | Kim Peak | 10:19.7 | Silver | |
| W45 | Long Jump | Melinda Davey-Uecker | 4.31 | ||
| Saturday | |||||
| W35 | 1500 metres | Lakmali Anthony | 06:28.6 | Bronze | |
| W40 | 1500 metres | Deb Garden | 05:17.5 | ||
| W55 | Shot Put | Kim Peak | 6.28 | ||
| W50 | 200 metres | Wendy Smith | 32.72 | Bronze | |
| W55 | Discus | Kim Peak | 17.64 | (Record) | |
| W180+ | 4×100 relay | Wendy Smith | 57.25 | Bronze | |
| Melinda Davey-Uecker | |||||
| Sunday | |||||
| M35 | 5000 metres | Lakmali Anthony | 23:57.2 | Bronze | |
| M55 | Triple Jump | Darryl Kilmartin | 8.67 | Silver | |
| W55 | Weight Throw | Kim Peak | 7.07 | ||
| W40 | 400 metres | Deb Garden | 01:03.4 | ||
| M55 | Pole Vault | Darryl Kilmartin | 2.70 | Gold | (Eq Record) |
| M45 | 400 metres | Paul Mierisch | 55.94 | Silver | |
| W120+ | 4×400 relay | Deb Garden | 04:22.5 | Bronze | |
| W180+ | 4×400 relay | Wendy Smith | 05:23.0 | ||
| Monday | |||||
| W55 | Hammer Pent | Kim Peak | 22.63 | ||
| W55 | Shot Pent | Kim Peak | 5.49 | ||
| W55 | Discus Pent | Kim Peak | 16.81 | ||
| W55 | Javelin Pent | Kim Peak | 10.15 | ||
| W55 | Weight Pent | Kim Peak | 7.32 | ||
| W55 | Throws Pentathlon | Kim Peak | 1740 | ||
| Date | Event | Name | Perf | Previous | |||
| 3/29/2024 | Aussie Champs | W45 | 100 metres | Melinda Davey-Uecker | 14.61 | Melinda Davey-Uecker | 14.72 |
| 3/29/2024 | Aussie Champs | W40 | 800 metres | Deb Garden | 02:27.3 | Deb Garden | 02:35.2 |
| 3/29/2024 | Aussie Champs | M50 | 800 metres | Campbell McLennan | 02:13.9 | Campbell McLennan | 02:16.2 |
| 3/30/2024 | Aussie Champs | W55 | Discus Throw | Kim Peak | 17.64 | Kim Peak | 16.94 |
| 3/31/2024 | Aussie Champs | M55 | Pole Vault | Darryl Kilmartin | 2.70 | Darryl Kilmartin | 2.70 |
XCR Round 2 – Saturday May 11
The next round will take us to the Iconic Hanging Rock in Northwest Victoria! Bring your picnics!! This will be the first round of individual cross country running over distances of 7km or 12km! Short and long course options are available for some age groups. Please ensure you complete your entry via the member’s portal by midday on Wednesday 8th May. If you need assistance with entry or transport, please contact Campbell McLennan (registrar@doncasterac.org.au). Those with uniform requirements, please contact Alessia Wynne (uniforms@doncasterac.org.au) before the day.
New Short course distances are on offer for all the individual XCR races this season. Check it out here: (XCR Events 2024)
The short course is scored as a separate competition.
Athletes competing in the Long Course championships will contribute points to their Club in their relevant Long Course teams.
Athletes competing in the Short Course championships will only contribute points to their Club in their relevant Short Course teams.
All athletes (even those with XCR or MAX package) need to complete online entries for Round 2. From the member’s portal Events – Athletics Victoria (revolutionise.com.au), login with your athlete ID number of password, and select XCR Round 2, and your chosen distance.
Commencement of 2024/2025 Season – Registrations Open!
Registrations for the season commencing April 1 are now open! Please refer to (link) to complete this. If you have any questions, please direct these to Campbell McLennan (registrar@doncasterac.org.au). Alessia Wynne is poised to assist with uniforms – uniforms@doncasterac.org.au). Please contact her well before winter events (not on the day)!
AGM and Annual Awards Night May 17 – Save the Date!
This exciting night is scheduled for May 17 from 7pm in the cricket pavilion (Corner George and Victoria Streets). It will comprise the AGM, drinks and pizza, and presentation of annual awards for excellence across many areas of competition and Club life. We look forward to seeing you there!
Thanks to Kath Gawthorn and Graham Ford for the newsletter.
Stay fit & stay safe.
40+ Team Manager
Campbell McLennan
0414 533 677
Doncaster Athletic Club
Website: www.doncasterac.org.au
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Twitter: @DACAthsClub
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