After a very good winter season for DVAC we come to the final XCR10 event, the Tan Relays on Saturday morning, 18 September 2010. What better way to finish off the season that a short, sharp lap of the famous Tan Track.
The races start at 9am and are one lap (3.8k) for all runners. Bring along a picnic morning tea to have on the lawns overlooking the Yarra after your run. Give encouraging words to the Collingwood supporters filing into the MCG for another Preliminary Final against Geelong on the way to the Magpie premiership. What could be better than to be at the Tan running for Diamond Valley at the Tan Relays in springtime.
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 13 September when team entries are due. This event is not part of your season’s ticket or individual entry so you need to bring along $11 to give to Gary on the morning. You do not have to enter with AV as this is done by the Club on a team basis.
Officials: DVAC is required to provide 3 officials for this event. If you are not running or have friends who can come along and help out please arrive early (by 8:30 am) to sign up as one of our required officials. Let me know beforehand if you can do this.
Let’s have a super Diamond Valley turnout to finish the season in style.
Robin Broberg (Winter Captain) 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H),The next event in the AV winter season calendar is the Burnley Half Marathon on Yarra Boulevard, Burnley on Sunday 5 September 2010. 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. Both our Women's Div 2 and Div 4 teams are currently in second position on the AV season ladders and a good result in this and the final season event (Tan Relays on 18 September) will ensure they maintain these positions and earn promotion to the next higher Division (Divs 1 & 3) for next year. We therefore need all capable runners on deck for this event.
The Mens teams require 4 runners for each of Div 2 and Div 4. The Women need 3 runners for each of Div 2 and Div 4.
Let's finish off the season in style.
Races start at 1:30 pm for the Open teams and 2pm for the juniors. DVAC proposes to enter teams in Women's Divs 2 & 4, Men's Div 3 & 5, and a variety of junior teams. Preliminary proposed teams can be accessed here. Please note these are only first drafts and may change considerably by the time of the event depending on availability of runners.
If you are on the team lists please confirm your availability to me on rbroberg@melbpc.org.au Importantly, if you do not expect to be there by the start time of your event and would like to run a later leg you must advise me of this.
If you are not on the teams lists and would like to run also let me know as soon as possible. I must enter the team categories with AV by this coming Friday 20 August 2010.
The relay is not part of your season's ticket with AV so the cost must be paid to Gary Hammett on the day. $11/person for senior athletes and U20 & U18, and $8 for U16/14.
Note the new entrance to Sandown Park from the Princes Highway.
WESTERFOLDS PARK CLUB RACE -14 AUGUST 2010What a great turnout at Brimbank Park on Saturday. We had good representation from our juniors and 8 + 1 invite in open men, but the stars of the day were surely our women with 13 taking the field for the Open 6k event. What a fantastic sight on the start line with a sea of green DVAC singlets waiting for the gun eager to tackle the "Volcano hill. And what great results with Lauren Crowe finishing 7th, Maryann Murray 12th (and first in her age group) and DVAC easily filling its Div 2 and Div 4 teams to keep up the 2nd season's placings.
The next AV event is Saturday 28 August 2010 for the Sandown Relays. I sounded out many of you at Brimbank but over the next 2 weeks would appreciate confirmation of availability so that I can plan the teams.
Over the next 3 weeks we will have club training runs and events. Planned are the following:
Come along for a great morning at one of our close by parks. The club championships are getting very interesting so remember that participation in this club event will earn you points.
BRIMBANK PARK XC - 31 JULY 2010The Valley juggernaut rolled on at Bundoora with some excellent results. We had two Mens and two Womens Teams on the park with two 2nd places (Womens Divs 2 & 4) and a 5th (Mens Div 3) and 4th (Mens Div 5) together with a 3rd place for our Mens 50+ team). In addition we had some great individual runs and a good showing by our juniors. These results are keeping our teams well up in their respective competitions and show how important it is to put a team on the field every competition day.
Our next AV event is Saturday 31 July 2010 when the competition returns to Brimbank Park after an absence of many years. Many of our athletes will no doubt be looking forward to again challenging the hill in the middle of the circuit.
The events are 16k for open men, 6k for open women and between 4k and 8k for juniors athletes. The Open Mens event is the Victorian 10 mile Cross Country Championship run continuously since the 1890s (none of our athletes have run them all although some of us have probably clocked up 20 or more).
The program gets under way at 1 pm starting with the junior events and moving through to the Womens Open 6k at 1:30 pm and the last event, Men's Open 16k at 2.45 pm.
Remember to bring your timing chip which you must wear on your shoe to score points and record your result. You must bring this chip to every event you compete in during the winter season.
Keep the attendance numbers up to get maximum points for our teams and continue the great season we have had so far. Remember that no matter where you finish in the field you score points for your team. We need at least 7 athletes to complete our two Womens Open teams and at least 9 to complete our two Mens Open teams.
If you have not yet submitted your entry for this event to AV (or taken out a season ticket) do this immediately (entries for the event officially close Monday 26 July.
Robin Broberg (Winter Captain) 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H),Well done Valley on a great turnout for the Coliban Relays on Saturday. In atrocious conditions we had four completed teams (Women Div 2 & 4, and Men Div 3 & 5) and one partial invitational team. Thank you to all who attended and those who helped with the organisation, particularly the car transport arrangements during the race. Thank you to Linda for braving the elements to encourage the athletes as they came through the changeover points and wave the club colours at them.
We back up again next Saturday 17 July 2010 at Bundoora Park for the cross country events. The events are 12k for senior men, 8k for senior women and between 3k and 8k for juniors athletes..
The program gets under way at 10 am starting with the U14 events and moving through to the last event, Men's Open 12k at 2.30 pm. This is a big cross country festival incorporating the Victorian Schools Cross Country Championships and the event is the selection trials for the Australian Cross Country Championships. See your handbook or the Athletics Victoria web site for further details.
Remember to bring your timing chip which you must wear on your shoe to score points and record your result. You must bring this chip to every event you compete in during the winter season.
Keep the attendance numbers up to get maximum points for our teams and continue the great season we have had so far. Remember that no matter where you finish in the field you score points for your team.
If you have not yet submitted your entry for this event to AV (or taken out a season ticket) do this immediately (entries for the event officially close Monday 12 July.
Robin Broberg (Winter Captain) 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H),Here is the July Training Program for the DVAC Distance Group. This program has been compiled by experienced long distance campaigners and is perhaps not for everyone. Check with distance coaches Max and Lyn to see whether this is appropriate for you!
The next AV event is the Coliban Relays from Harcourt to Bendigo on Saturday 10 July 2010. [course guide]
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 (5 members each) and 1 Women's team (5 members) so need to know who is available as teams must be entered by me by 5 July 2010 with AV. I would like to enter a second Women's team as well and will do so if I have sufficient numbers.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY NO LATER THAN SATURDAY 3 JULY 2010 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.
Club Training Run Ferny CreekCar pool leaves 8am from Willinda Aprk. Run starts at 9am. 4k & 12k options. Meet at Tremont Picnic Area: Melway 74 H4. [more]
The next event in the AV winter season calendar is the 15k Road Race at picturesque 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.
Contact me if any queries on this event as follows: Robin Broberg, 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H), rbroberg@melbpc.org.au
Here is the June Training Program for the DVAC Distance Group. This program has been compiled by experienced long distance campaigners and is perhaps not for everyone. Check with distance coaches Max and Lyn to see whether this is appropriate for you!
The next event in the AV winter season is the Sandown Skins Classic over 10k for Open Men & Woman and U18 & U20 Men (starting at 2:30 pm) and 3k for all other juniors (starting at 1:45 pm). The event is open to both members of the public and AV athletes and attracts a quality field as one of the premier 10k races in Australia.
Sandown is a fast course and a great opportunity to set a PB. Prizes are on offer in all categories. The race doubles as the Victorian 10K Road Championship and the Victorian Junior Championship. Medals will be awarded by AV in the championship categories.
Access to the course is from the Princes Highway onto Racecourse Drive at the north of the course. Please note that you cannot enter by the Sandown Road gate at the south as used to be the case in past years.
Come along for a great afternoon's running. Join your fellow DVAC athletes and friends in the traditional Diamond Valley location at the northern end of the grandstand.
Contact me if any queries on this event as follows: Robin Broberg, 9670 5431 (B), 9712 0358 (H), rbroberg@melbpc.org.au
This week's DVAC club run moves to another local park - Bundoora Park - where we join up with our friends from Diamond Valley Little Athletics Centre. DVLAC Cross Country coordinator, Rae Mills, has invited DVAC athletes to join in with the DVLAC juniors for the 3km run on the slopes of Mt Cooper. The DVAC program commences at 9:30am sharp, so arrive in plenty of time to warm up and be ready to run on time. The DVLAC program incorporates 500m, 1km, 2km and 3km distances, so bring along younger members of the family who may wish to try one of the shorter distances.
The course at Bundoora Park is devised by DVAC member, Luke De Bias, and it is a very tough Cross Country challenge that climbs up to the top of Mt Cooper and loops behind it before heading back to the finish. It is very different to any run you may have done at Bundoora Park in the past.
Senior DVAC athletes looking for extra distance after the 3km event will find plenty of pathways and trails radiating from the Cross Country centre.
The DVLAC welcomes people that volunteer to help with officiating. There is a need for marshals out on the course to direct the runners. Also, DVAC will need its own timekeepers on the day.
The facilities at Bundoora Park include Toilets, Barbecues, Shelter and an attractive Visitor Centre where you can enjoy a coffee and meal.
ADDRESS: Bundoora Park, 1069 Plenty Road, Bundoora VIC 3083 (Melways Ref: 19 F4
The annual Binnak Bowl club handicap event is on again this coming Saturday 15 May 2010. Open to all Diamond Valley athletes and friends the event will take place commencing at 9 a.m. at the Binnak Park in Greensborough (Melway Map 10, D12, enter off Anderson Parade).
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. A great event with an overlook of the entire course available from the start/finish area. A 3k (guess your time) event is available as well.
Be there early so that handicaps can be sorted out. These races count towards the club championship and handicap competitions. And if you wear full club uniform, two bonus points in the club handicap competition.
Will you be the first winner of the actual Binnak Bowl to be awarded for this run?
Well done Valley on a great turnout for the opening event at Jells Park on Saturday. 38 athletes in total with 10 completed teams and 2 other partial teams. Let's keep the momentum going throughout the season.
We back up again next Saturday 8 May 2010 at Lardner's Park for the shorter XC runs. Take the Princes Freeway east from Melbourne and approach through either Warragul or Drouin. Melway Ref 612 U7. Lardner's Park is on Burnt Store Road. Allow 2 hours to get there. The AV site has a course map and event information (Click on Competitions and then go the event).
The events are 8k for senior men, 4k for senior women and between 2k and 4k for juniors. This is a true cross country course with creeks and fences to jump, paddocks and woods to run through and even some muddy creeks if it rains.
The events start at 1.20 pm with the last event, Women's Open, at 2.50 pm. If you want to car pool contact Max at training.
Make sure you arrive early as each athlete's timing chip will be distributed prior to the races and you must wear this chip on your shoe to score points and record your result. You must then bring this chip to every other event you compete in during the winter season.
Keep the attendance numbers up to get maximum points for our teams and continue the great start we had at Jells Park. Remember that no matter where you finish in the field you score points for your team.
If you have not yet submitted your entry for this event to AV do this immediately (entries for the event officially close Monday 3 May but you may be able to enter late if you contact AV immediately). Consider a season's ticket which gives you entry to all 6 individual events during the season and saves you having to remember to enter each event individually.
Here is the May Training Program for the DVAC Distance Group. This program has been compiled by experienced long distance campaigners and is perhaps not for everyone. Check with distance coaches Max and Lyn to see whether this is appropriate for you!
The XC10 season gets under way with the first event at Jells Park, Wheelers Hill, on Saturday 1 May 2010 (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 23 April 2010.
This winter the club will have somewhere to run every Saturday between Easter and the Melbourne Marathon. There will one of an AV race, a club race or a club training run (exception is Schools Road Relays on June 5 as this is our club duty).
Each run will be different so there will be plenty of variety. Details of each run will be published here on the web, and also in the club email newsletter. For all club runs and races aim to arrive by 8:45am for a 9am departure.
Here is the April Training Program for the DVAC Distance Group.
Meet at the front of Lower Eltham Park at 8:45am, ready for a 9:00am start. The run (or walk) will head around Lower Eltham Park, over the Yarra River and along the river towards Beazley's Nursery, Warrandyte. Estimated distance for the out and back journey - close to 14km. Remember, you can turn at any point along the way - say 15 minutes out and turn back for home. Bring something to share with the pack at the end of the run. [Run details]