With summer deciding to extend it’s stay here in Australia as we inevitably move towards ‘winter’, conditions were near damned perfect for our three highlight races this weekend just gone.
Down Under 135 (217kms)
Down in Victoria, the Down Under 135 lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest races in the Souther Hemisphere with just four finishers (I believe). A few of the race favourites couldn’t quite seal the deal on the day, and it was left to David Giles from Western Australia to pick up the pieces and win in a time of 49 hours and 5 minutes. We picked David out as a man to watch having completed three of the big US 200 milers last year. He certainly knows how to suffer it seems. Second place went to Ross McPhee in 49 hours 13 minutes, third was Ben Hirst in 51 hours 13 minutes, fourth was Simon Austin in 52:46 and fifth was Guy Schweitzer in 53:34. Unfortunately no woman finished.
Mount Buller Skyrun (45kms)
Over at Mount Buller it was the Lucy Bartholomew show, as she won the ladies race, beating the course record in the process by 12 minutes, finishing in a time of 4:26. She also ran the fastest time of the day across both male and female events, setting herself up very well for the big dance in a few months time where she will be a real contender. In the men’s event, it was Kieran Funk 1st in 4:55, Stuart Cox 2nd in 5:07 and Ben Clark 3rd in 5:14. In the ladies podium, Anna Petrakos was 2nd in 5:57 and Lucy Carter 3rd in 6:44
Mount Solitary Ultra (45kms)
And then back over in NSW, the Mount Solitary ultra saw Brendan Davies take out the win in 4:35 for the men and Robyn Bruins in 5:46 for the ladies. Mark Green and Scott Hawker holding hands for equal second in a time of 4:44 and Gill Fowler second in the ladies in 5.58 and Anastasia Di Carlo third in 6.20.
