WINSBURY TAKES OUT LIGHTNING STRIKE – STROMLO RUN UP DOUBLE
John Winsbury took out the inaugural Stromlo Running Festival 30 km Lightning Strike race on Saturday 28 February then backed up the next day to show a clean pair of heels to the field in the 3.5 km Mt Stromlo Run Up. Nicole Butterfield was fastest female in the Lightning Strike and came third the next day in the mountain run.
The Lightning Strike 30kms started at Blue Range Hut in the Brindabella Range as a memorial race championed by Robert De Castella to remember Canberra’s disastrous 2003 bushfires in which over 500 homes were destroyed and 4 people perished. The fires started after lightning strikes several days earlier in the mountains. The Lightning Strike run had a number of tough climbs but overall had 690 metres of descent and 430 metres of climb. John Winsbury clapped on the pace from the first uphill at the start and clocked an outstanding 1:53:34. Martin Fryer was running strongly in second place after 15 kms when he went off course, as did Trevor Jacobs, both turning onto the traditional Brindabella Classic course to the Cotter reserve instead of a new route. Fryer regained second place but was overhauled by Peter Johnson on the hills behind Mt Stromlo, Johnson running 2:03:39 and Fryer 2:04:13.
Nicole Butterfield ran 2:32:10 to win the women’s race, with Symeko Jochinke second in 2:35:21 and Cathy Crompton third in 2:37:42.
There were 54 runners in the 30 kms and about 50 more in the 10.5 km run from the Winslade proprty on the Cotter Road to the finish. This was won by Michael Roeger in 41:50 by 3 seconds from Dennis Fitzgerald, with Geoff Hawke third in 45:02. Jenelle Weatherstone was fastest female in 47:56, with Tara Biltoft second in 51:22 and Lea Medhurst third in 55:41.
John Winsbury ran 13:41 in winning the Mt Stromlo Run Up from the Stromlo Forest Park cross country track to the trig point on the summit of Mt Stromlo, an elevation gain of 190 metres. Michael Roeger ran 14:21 for second and Dennis Fitzgerald 15:00 for third. With only 2 weeks to go to Six Foot Track, Vanessa Haverd bypassed the Lightning Strike run and had a solid hitout in the Run Up instead in 16:16, with top international orienteer Kathryn Ewels second in 16:33 and a tired Nicole Butterfield, backing up from the previous day’s 30 kms, third in 16:57.
Lightning Strike 30kms:
Males: 1 John Winsbury 1.53.34, 2 Peter Johnson 2.03.39, 3 Martin Fryer 2.04.13, 4 Benjamin Webster 2.07.37, 5 Stephen Gurr 2.12.19, 6 Damian Smith 2.16.24, 7 Unknown 2.17.11, 8 Trevor Jacobs 2.19.31, 9 Anthony Kennedy 2.21.02, 10 Richard Faulkes 2.22.11.
Females: 1 Nicole Butterfield 2.32.10, 2 Symeko Jochinke 2.35.21, 3 Cathy Crompton 2.37.42, 4 Pam Muston 2.44.42, 5 Sue Archer 2.46.41, 6 Adrienne Torda 2.46.56, 7 Narelle Grayson 2.50.10, 8 Kristy Clarke 2.52.42, 9 Catherine McKersie 2.53.20, 10 Renee Hiskins 2.53.38.
For full results see www.stromlorunningfestival.com.au