Welcome to the Diamond Valley Athletic Club. Based at Willinda Park in Greensborough, we are one of the largest senior athletic clubs in Victoria.

Our club caters for athletes in the age groups from Under 14 up to Open and Masters (contact the Diamond Valley Little Athletics Centre for Little Athletics).

Affiliated with Athletics Victoria, we compete in their sanctioned summer and winter competitions.

Video from Ballarat: 20 June 2009
John Allan Hcp
Ben Norman got home to win in a desperate finish to the DVAC 2009 John Allan Handicap. [Article]

XCR'09: Lake Wendouree
Chris Rancie not only notched up his first-time honour of best DVAC finisher at an open age event, but also achieved his set pace targets for the race. [Article, Video & Results]

Vic Masters Champs
Valley athletes score ten Gold, three Silver and two Bronze medals. [Article & Results]

DVAC Victorian Champions
We finally got around to updating the list of DVAC Victorian Champions, an important part of our history. It is unfortunately incomplete - please advise of any errors or omissions. Note: it does not include over over-age champions (yet). [More]

Willinda 10000
Fifteen year old Paul Townsend wins the 2009 Willinda 10000! His time of 35:49.2 breaks the club record for the U16 to U18 age groups. Second was David Murphy (36:56.5) and third was Didier Martin (41:12.5).

Australian Champs

Chris Armet scores a silver medal at the Australian Open Champs! He cleared 2.20m in the high jump, a new PB and club record by 1cm. We believe this is the first open medal at an Australian Championships. Well done Chris!

Anika Peachey and James Vine represeted Victoria in the U18 Challenge match. James ran a PB 14.44 in the 110m Hurdles, while Anika threw 30.89m in the hammer.

Peter Norman Classic

Monica Brennan, 15, competing in the Peter Norman Classic, won the bronze medal in the Victorian 100 yards Championship. She was timed at 11.33.

On the same program, Brennan finished in second place in the Women’s 200m in 24.88.
[athsvicTV Video]

World Athletics Tour, Melbourne

Chris Armet and Ashleigh Hamilton experienced the pressures of major league athletics when they took part in the 2009 World Athletics Tour at Olympic Park last Thursday.

Armet finished second in the Men’s High Jump, clearing 2.10m.

Hamilton finished in 6th place in the Women’s 100m Hurdles in a time of 15.09. Running against Australian Olympic medalist, Sally McLennan and internationals, Brigitte Foster of Jamacia and Jenny Adams of the USA, Hamilton maintained good form throughout the race and finished strongly.

Vic Junior Champs
Monica Brennan and Matthew Haynes dominated the Under 16 sprint events, both scoring the 100m/200m double. [Article, Results & photos]

Catherine

Videos of DV athletes at Champs
A number of videos have been posted athsvicTV containing DV athletes at the recent Vic Champs. For starters:
Ash Hamilton winning Open 100m Hurdles
Chris Armet winning Open High Jump
Matthew Haynes winning U16 100m
Monica Brennan winning U16 100m
[Vic Open/U20 Champ Videos] [Vic Youth Champ Videos] [athsvicTV]

Shield Final Update
With final results now declared, the F20 and M16 teams are formally Shield Premiers. The Valley was one of the most successful clubs on the day (only Preston with 3 winners topped us). Congratulations to all teams on the day. [Article, results & photos]

Shield Final

Vic Milers Club
PBs over 3000m to Matt Taylor (9:02.6) and Chris Rancie (9:06.3). Other results were Ben Norman (9:27.4 3000m) and Lauren Crowe (10:31.9 3000m).

Shield Round 12
Due to Region Final being cancelled, the Valley score 4 Region premierships. In addition three 2nd placed teams will accompany the premiers to the Shield Final. [Results & article]

DV athletes at HVC meet
Numerours Valley athletes at the High Velocity Club meet, and their performances can now be viewed on athsvicTV2. Ashleigh Hamilton in 100mH (1st woman) and Long Jump. Matthew Haynes 3rd in Long Jump. Monica Brennan, Catherine Brennan & Ashleigh in 200m. Aaron Smith and Martin Fruin in 400mH / 400m, Travis Pike in 200m. James Vine in 200m and 110m Hurdles. [Complete HVC meet playlist]

Pacific School Games
Twelve members of the Valley have produced a series of high quality performances under the pressure of a major championship. [Results and Article]

Melbourne Marathon
DVAC's Cross Country athlete, Maryann Murray, made her Marathon debut in the Melbourne Marathon. Murray finished in a time of 2:58:43 and she was the 5th female overall and was placed second in the Athletics Victoria Victorian Marathon Championship.

DVAC Athletes in the PSG Team
Congratulations to the following DVAC athletes on their inclusion in Victorian teams to compete at the Pacific Schools Games & Australian All Schools Championships to be held in Canberra between the 30th November & the 6th December.
(Athletics Victoria): Crista Ashby, Catherine Brennan, Monica Brennan, Kurt D’Lasselle, Matthew Haynes, Taylor Mills, Leah Phillips, Matthew Smith, Beau Romans Van Schiak, James Vine
(School Sport Australia): Sam Geers
(VPSSA): Dean Neofitou
All the Best! [Trials Article & Results]

Winter Handicap
The Club Championship and Club Winter Handicap competitions are now both updated to complete the season. Congratulations to all the winners. [handicap results] [championship results]

Australian Cross Country Champs

DVAC athletes Lauren Crowe and Stephen McCullough lined up in the Open age Australian XC Champs, and both handled the pressure of performing in a showcase event extremely well. Lauren finished the Open Women’s 8km race in 31st position in a time of 30:53. Stephen crossed the line in the Open Men’s 12km race in 59th place in 42:23.

DVAC junior, Dean Neofitou raced in the Boy’s 12 3000m and was just edged out of first place in an exciting finish. Dean was second in a time of 10:16. Dean was also given the honour of being named captain of the winning Victorian team.

Meg Russell, a member of DVAC for several seasons, was placed fourth in the Girl’s 17 4000m. Meg’s time was 13:58. Meg was also a member of the winning Victorian team.

Coliban Ekiden Relays
The next AV event is the Coliban Relays from Harcourt to Bendigo on Saturday 4 July 2009. Important to advise if you are running or not. [more]

Female Athlete Survey
Deakin University is conducting research about the health and behaviours of regularly exercising females and we would like you to be a part of it! Prizes to be won. [more]

La Trobe School Relays
A big thank you is extended to all DVAC people who helped out at Latrobe on Saturday 13 June 2009. This event (the AV School relays) is a major fund raiser for Diamond Valley with the running of the food stall and set up and marshalling on the course. [more]

Club AGM
Rob Wendel re-elected President. Chris Armet and Ashleigh Hamilton win top awards. [Annual Report]

Relay for Life
Last weekend's Diamond Valley Relay for Life event was a great success! The Cancer Council collected close to $20,000 which will be used in the fight against cancer. [more] Relay For Life

Working with Children Check
Committee Members, Officials, Coaches and regular helpers are all required to have the Working with Children Check performed by 30 June this year. [more]

Run 4 the Kids
Thanks to all the helpers who volunteered their time for the Run 4 Kids fun-run on Sunday 5 April.
Run 4 Kids

Trackside News
Edition for Round 12 now out. [Trackside News]

Martin Fruin on TV
Martin Furin was featured on Channel 9's Sudden Impact, on Tues 27 Jan. This program covers the lives of people after serious motor vehicle accidents. The feature piece also had Bernie Smith and Dale Lyons in it!

Athletes get a taste for Olympics
Two DVAC junior athletes have competed with success at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival 2009 held in Sydney. Catherine Brennan (U18) and James Vine (U18) both got amongst the medals at the fifth edition of the AYOF that is designed to provide future Olympic athletes with an environment reminiscent of an Olympic Games.

James Vine finished 3rd in the final of the 110m Hurdles in a time of 14.71. Vine was thankful to medal after getting away to a slow start after hesitating for what he sensed to be an obvious break by another athlete. The slow start, combined with running into a moderate headwind meant that his dream of running a second World Youth Games qualifying time of 13.95 or better was not a possibility. Vine won his second medal in the 4x100m relay where his Australia Green team finished in 2nd place in 42.87. In the 100m final, Vine ran 11.63 to finish in 4th place.

Catherine Brennan finished in 4th place of the final of the 100m in 12.49. In the 4x100m relay, Brennan’s Australia Gold team won the Gold medal in a time of 47.29.

Interview with Matthew Haynes
The Valley Voice caught up with Matthew Haynes after his return from the Pacific School Games in Canberra. [Interview]

Great Australian Run
The club provided 35 volunteers for the Great Australian Run on Sunday 30 Nov. Thanks to all - great fund-raiser for the club. Special thanks to Lyn for her hard yakka on this one.

Track Usage Guidelines
Please note the guidelines for use of the track. [draft guidelines]

Club Theatre Night: Kismet
An entertaining night at 'Kismet'. Graham Ford starred on stage in the lead role of the famous musical. Very talented our Graham - can sing, act and grow a beard. But his voice just held out for the last night (not as young as he used to be).

La Trobe School Relays
A big thank you is extended to all DVAC people who helped out on the day. This event (the AV School relays) is a major fund raiser for Diamond Valley with the running of the food stall and set up and marshalling on the course. [more]