Doncaster Newsletter
Round 4 XCR – 16/06/2025
Twenty DAC athletes got up with the birds, and made their way into Lakeside Stadium for the first 5km road race conducted there by AV. It was a pleasing turnout of DAC male athletes, especially those in Open and Masters age groups – 14 total in these divisions. Three women (2 Masters, and one U18), and a few junior boys also took on the challenge. Special mention to newcomer, Grace Clarke (U18), who was welcomed into the DAC team. The weather was very kind – almost perfect conditions for a hard and fast slog over the pavement.
Podium placings were out of reach for all the DAC team this round. In Open/Masters divisions, possibly this was because of the numbers competing over the same distance (no short course and long course options). David Vaughan fared best placing 4th in the M55-59 division, and Harry Maddocks was also exceptional, 8th in MU18. Harry’s 15:12 over 5km was very quick, not far behind John Portwood. John was fastest DAC male athlete – 14:46, 29th in a large men’s open field of 571 athletes. Tim Denny was 10th in the M40-44 division, mixing it with the youngsters and achieving 17:29. It was fantastic to see John Portwood and fellow Open athlete Nick Finch back to XCR for their fit hit-out of the season. Grace Clarke was the fastest DAC female – 22:37; this was her first race over 5km, and she looks to be a promising young athlete. Congratulations to Lewis McLennan (U16) on his 5km PB – 17:25, ahead of Hamish and Dad, Campbell.
All teams finished down the ladders this round, U18 males best, achieving 8th place. We need some good athlete turnouts at following rounds and will welcome you along. Please contact Team Managers if assistance is required (see their details below).
A big thanks to Matt Christy for bringing along the post-run snacks, and to Laura McLennan for taking some amazing action shots, available on the DAC Facebook page.
All results are provided below, with more detail available at Resultshub (Results Hub)
|
Grade |
Distance |
Name |
Performance |
Net Time |
Notes |
|
FOpen |
5km |
Kath Gawthorn |
23:34 |
23:30 |
F50 |
|
FOpen |
5km |
Elizabeth Dunne |
23:56 |
23:52 |
F50 |
|
F18 |
5km |
Grace Clarke |
22:41 |
22:37 |
new |
|
MOpen |
5km |
John Portwood |
14:47 |
14:46 |
29th |
|
MOpen |
5km |
Nick Finch |
16:07 |
16:04 |
|
|
MOpen |
5km |
Nathan Down |
16:58 |
16:55 |
|
|
MOpen |
5km |
Matthew Christy |
17:08 |
17:04 |
|
|
MOpen |
5km |
Tim Denny |
17:34 |
17:29 |
M45, 10th |
|
MOpen |
5km |
David Vaughan |
18:27 |
18:19 |
M55, 4th |
|
MOpen |
5km |
Campbell McLennan |
19:00 |
18:52 |
M50 |
|
MOpen |
5km |
Brock Goodings |
20:39 |
20:26 |
|
|
MOpen |
5km |
Jason Merrett |
21:01 |
20:55 |
M50 |
|
MOpen |
5km |
John Curry |
21:19 |
21:19 |
M55 |
|
MOpen |
5km |
Erich Fangmeier |
21:25 |
21:16 |
M55 |
|
MOpen |
5km |
Shawn Ko |
22:16 |
22:01 |
M45 |
|
MOpen |
5km |
Darryl Kilmartin |
24:15 |
23:57 |
M55 |
|
MOpen |
5km |
James Finch |
27:40 |
27:21 |
M60 |
|
M18 |
5km |
Harry Maddocks |
15:14 |
15:12 |
8th |
|
M18 |
5km |
Hamish McLennan |
18:21 |
18:16 |
|
|
M16 |
5km |
Lewis McLennan |
17:26 |
17:25 |
All Schools Cross Country Championships, Bundoora Park – Saturday 21st June
DAC use this event as our major annual fundraiser; running a BBQ to feed the hungry masses. Unlike previous years, there will be no AV Open or Overage events scheduled in the afternoon. However, many of our Junior athletes will be representing their school, and some vying for selection at the National level. We are reaching out to all DAC members and their families for their assistance with the BBQ, and cake stall. We’d love to have volunteers serve our customers, cook the BBQ, assist with set up/pack up, bake sweet items for sale alongside the BBQ items, and assist with preparing the coleslaw. Please put this date in your diary and we’d be extremely grateful for your help! Those who bake items and cannot attend Bundoora Park – details TBC option to drop those items off the day prior and closer to home. Please contact Darryl Kilmartin to register your interest in volunteering and/or baking goods for sale (secretary@doncasterac.org.au, 0433 075 400).
Best of luck to all our Junior athletes who will be competing for their schools.
XCR Round 5 – Sandown Road Relays – Saturday 28 June
The next round will take us to Sandown raceway where Junior athletes will complete 1 lap (3.1km) and Open/Masters athletes 2 laps and 6.2km. Our Team Mangers will soon make a call-out for athletes available to compete and need to finalise and enter teams early directly with AV. No individual entry. We look forward to seeing you there!
XCR Other Helpful information
Team Managers are here to help:
Matt Christy – winter.coordinator@doncasterac.org.au
Campbell McLennan (for those 40+) – registrar@doncasterac.org.au
Uniforms – please organise your uniform before coming to events. Contact Alessia Wynne (uniforms@doncasterac.org,au) and refer to the DAC website for uniform styles and prices (Link) Doncaster Athletic Club |
Other DAC Club News – Athletes in Action
Abbey Caldwell is currently working hard to gain elite race experience in Europe. Most recently she competed in the Rome Diamond League and achieved a new 1500m PB and Club Record of 3:59.32! It was a sensational run and can be viewed on the DAC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/179sSnMex3/