First timers, new starting time and sunshine give Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club a boost for The Rhymney Reef 5km Handicap.

​The Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club opened its 2023 season on Sunday, being warmly welcomed by several first time runners and sunshine for The Rhymney Reef 5km Handicap, providing a setting for an exciting and positive start to the clubs competition calendar.

With daylight savings time changing overnight, the new start time of 9am was also received well, with most runners not having to work too hard to get to the start line, as they had just enjoyed a little more sleep from clocks rolling back an hour overnight. The club was excited for the new start time “... as it was decided by the clubs committee in our most recent meeting with the intention to attract more people to the club who have competing commitments.” explained the club's Vice President (Peter Gibson). 

“The most difficult thing about the new start time is that our track markers have to get up and organised an hour earlier. There is a silver lining to it, as we all get more of the remaining part of Sunday for our families and the other things we are committed to on a weekend.” Gibson added.

Runners started the first race for the season under ‘Sealed Handicap’ conditions (basically all off at the same time). This allowed first timers to negotiate the course that started on the old Rhymney Cricket Ground, with plenty of runners around them, ensuring groups of the runners were able to run together and encourage each other along.

Early race leaders Mark Thompson and returning SACCC club legend Paul Fenn, worked well together up the front with Stephen Maddex setting a strong pace, not far behind. By the time runners had negotiated the Moyston-Great Western Road and headed up Rhymney Road, the field had settled into its rhythm presenting a fantastic sight of runners pushing along the country roads of Rhymney.

Matt Haddow was setting a great pace up the front of the field, closely followed by Annie Brown. Hunting down these runners and working superbly together were Maddi Fox and Leah Seebohm. Next in the group, working hard to maintain an honest pace for each other was Moyston local John Peacock, who was keeping SACCC legend Peter Gibson and Michelle Dunn honest throughout the mid stages of the race.

After the one last difficult hill and the mental challenge of running past the finish line turn off to complete it, runners were relieved to cross the finish line with the fastest times coming from Mark Thompson (20’03”), Paul Fenn and Stephen Maddex for the men and Annie Brown (24’47”), Maddi Fox and Leah Seebohm for the women.

After runners caught their breath, the winners of the Handicap were revealed with the evergreen Adrian Van Raaphorst finishing in 3rd place, Matt Haddow taking out 2nd place just 40 seconds behind the adjusted handicap time winner, Mark Thompson.

The club was very pleased not only for the pleasant day that greeted the 19 runners competing but also that 12 of those runners finished within 1 minute and 50 seconds of each other in the handicap race. 

“Our Handicappers have done a superb job in keeping our runners close together at the finish!” SACCC President Mark Thompson added. 

“This will give all of those runners quite a bit of hope in continuing to be competitive in our next series of races.” He said.

The club secretary Shev Healy was excited for the great start to the season and the upcoming races on offer in the coming weeks. Importantly, she was quick to promote next weekend's L.W. Kent Memorial Fun Run on Easter Sunday (9th April). 

“It’s the 40th running of this very special event for our club and the Kent family,” Healy said.

“The SACCC are so proud to be running it again and invite all to be a part of this really ‘Fun’ run.” Mark Thompson added.