Springtime at the Tan, the Saturday morning lycra set out for their morning session, rowers on the Yarra, Collingwood supporters filing into the MCG once again for the Preliminary Final to watch their team take on Geelong for a berth in the Grand Final. What could be better than to be at the Tan running for Diamond Valley at the Tan Relays this year.
Yes, the last event of the Cross Country season is coming up on Saturday 19 September 2009 at 9:00 am at the famous Tan Track. Test your fitness level with a fast one lap (3.8k) of the Tan. How close to Craig Mottram's record (10:12) can you come?
The event starts and finishes adjacent to Alexandra Avenue across the river from Olympic Park (Swan Street Bridge). Car parking is available along Alexandra Avenue (check the parking restrictions and any parking fee requirement when you park).
To book your place in a team get in early by letting your Winter Captain know of your availability before Monday 14 September when team entries are due. If you have not paid for this relay with your registration this is not a problem. Just give your $9 to Robin or Gary on the morning.
Let's have a super Diamond Valley turnout to finish the season in style.
The next event in the AV winter season calendar is the Burnley Half Marathon on Yarra Boulevard, Burnley on Sunday 6 September 2009. The race commences at 8am. Parking is available at the start/finish area but it pays to get there early.
This event is for Open and Masters athletes although juniors are welcome to run if they want a long training run. As both our Mens Div 2 and Div 4 teams need a good result in this and the final season event (Tan Relays on 19 September) to maintain a spot in their divisions for next year we need all capable runners on deck for this event.
The Mens teams require 5 runners for Div 2 and 4 runners for Div 4. Diamond Valley traditionally does well at this event and has a good chance of a podium finish in all categories (Womens Div2, Mens Div 2 and 4).
Let's finish off the season in style.
Contact me if any queries on this event as follows:
Robin Broberg, 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H),
Winter Captain
rbroberg@melbpc.org.au
The next event on our club calendar is the Sandown Relays this coming Saturday 8 August 2009. The distance is 6.2k (2 laps) for senior teams and 3.1k for juniors.
Races start at 1:30 pm for the Open teams and 2pm for the juniors. DVAC has entered a team in Womens Div 2 & 4, U20 & U18 and Mens Div 2 & 50+. Be prepared to help out by sharing the time keeping for your team.
Note the new entrance to Sandown Park from the Princes Highway.
All athletes intending to compete at Sandown on Saturday are requested to let Robin Broberg know their availability so the team lists can be prepared.
Robin Broberg, 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H),
Winter Captain
rbroberg@melbpc.org.au
The next AV event is the Coliban Relays from Harcourt to Bendigo on Saturday 4 July 2009.
This event is one of the highlights of the year and an opportunity to get out of Melbourne and enjoy some lovely running through the countryside of Victoria's premier apple growing district. A variety of distances and terrains are available ranging from 5 k to 10 k.
I plan to have a least 2 Men's teams (6 & 5 members) and 1 Women's team (5 members) so need to know who is available as teams must be entered by me by 29 June 2009 with AV.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY NO LATER THAN FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2009 IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE TO RUN.
If you have a preference for a particular leg of the relay let me know this also and I will do what I can to accommodate requests. Be prepared however to fit in with whatever the team organisation requires.
Robin Broberg, 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H), rbroberg@melbpc.org.au
The next event in the AV winter season calendar is the 15k Road Race at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat. Allow 2 hours to get there.
The events are 15km for senior men and senior women and 5k for juniors. Come and run on the home course of Steve Moneghetti and the place where he devised his well known 'Mona fartlek' session.
The 5k event starts at 1:30pm with the 15k at 2:00 pm. If you want to car pool contact Max at training.
Keep the attendance numbers up to get maximum points for our teams. Remember that no matter where you finish in the field you score points for your team.
The next event in the AV cross country season is at Lardners Park near Warrugal in Gippsland. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours to get there. The events are 8km for senior men and 6k for senior women with distances between 2 and 4k for juniors.
This is a true cross country race over a varied course with paddocks, some tracks, fences to negotiate and if it is wet a muddy creek. Lots of fun to be had by all.
Lets keep the attendance numbers up to get maximum points for our teams. Remember that no matter where you finish in the field you score points for your team.
Contact me if any queries on this event as follows: Robin Broberg, 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H), rbroberg@melbpc.org.au
In a dramatic development Winter Captain Robin Broberg announced that Aston Wimpole's entry to the Binnak Bowl club handicap event for Saturday 2 May 2009 had been rejected. When asked about the matter Robin said "I have bent over backwards to accommodate Wimpole in previous years giving him favourable handicaps and other considerations but he never shows up on the day. I have therefore decided to exclude him from this year's event."
For all other Diamond Valley athletes and friends the event will take place commencing at 9 a.m. at the Binnak Park in Greensborough (Melways Map 10, D12, enter off Anderson Pde).
The event consists of five laps of a 1k course with the faster runners taking off last and attempting to run down the early starters.
Be there early so that handicaps can be sorted out.
The XC09 season gets under way with the first event at Jells Park, Wheelers Hill, (Melway 71, K6, enter off Waverley Road). The events are cross country relays with legs of 6km for Open men and Open women and 3k for juniors.
This is a delightful course over undulating terrain (which means some hills but not too steep) with views to the lake and the Dandenongs beyond.
The Club is expecting a good turnout to kick off the season on a positive note and gain some valuable points in the various divisions. A few of our teams have a realistic chance of finishing in the top portion of their division if we can get consistent numbers throughout the season.
Events start at 1pm so be there early to allow for team sheets and running order to be sorted out before the event starts.
The Club also needs to provide 3 officials on the day to undertake timekeeping or marshalling duties as directed by AV. Please bring along any non running friends or family who can assist in this task and see Robin Broberg at the Diamond Valley tent to indicate availability and to arrange to sign in with AV. This is an important step as the Club can have points deducted if we fail to supply officials.
If you are available to run it would be appreciated if you advise me by email or phone as soon as possible so that provisional teams can be allocated. I need to enter the teams (but not the individual names) with AV by no later than 9 April.
Please bring an afternoon tea to share with your fellow club members after the run. Let me know if you need or wish to share transport.
Contact me if any queries on this event as follows:
Robin Broberg, 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H),
rbroberg@melbpc.org.au