With Mother’s Day one of the most important days of the year, the Mackay Road Runners held their annual Casu Jacks Pre-Mother’s Day run last Saturday, keeping the Sunday free for all mothers to enjoy their spoils.
The annual club handicap run saw approximately 40 runners take on 5km and 12km routes.
The course included a couple of ascents and descents of Mt Basset for the 12km and one for the 5km runners, with everyone racing to beat the threatening rain, making for a very challenging run.
Timekeeper and race starter Julie Whibley ran an extremely efficient race start with assistance from Tim Magoffin.
Rodney Elworthy, Paul Mackenzie, Joe Grech, and Alex Couldrey all started with the heaviest handicap.
Rodney, the runner with the highest handicap, started his race after some of the 5km runners had already finished and still finished in front of other runners.
The quality field also included George Hannaford, Greg Dawes, Jose Short, Glynis Forse, Michael Feenaghty, Carmel Grech, Greame Harris, Lisa Burns, Vicki Vickers, Carole Dawes, Brenda Windsor, Judy Zahn, Emily Dalglish, and talented junior runners, Lily and Luke Leven.
Tahnee Malageuno also had a sensational run in the female 12km event.
Runners and supporters enjoyed the magnificent post-race breakfast available from hosts Casu Jacks while the much-anticipated pre-Mother’s Day themed prizes were drawn.
Marie Muscat and Alex Anderson both won a random draw prize on the day coinciding exactly with their 10th wedding anniversary and Tim Magoffin also walked away with a prize.
This Sunday morning’s Forsyth Accounting Services Shawn Claydon Memorial Shield and 10km Club Championship event will commence at 7am sharp and runners are asked to be registered with the timekeeper 15 minutes prior to gun time for a scratch start.
The Memorial Shield is held in honour of the club’s past Treasurer and champion runner Shawn Claydon who passed away in 2018.
L-R Lisa Burns, Kim Saron, Stuart Sprott, and Leanne Connor bolt from their handicap start in the 5/12km Casu Jacks Pre-Mother’s Day 5/12km run
Michael Feenaghty sent off on his handicap start by Timekeeper, Julie Whibley (right)
Carmel Grech finishes mere seconds ahead of fast finishing Paul Mackenzie from their handicapped start in the 12km event
Judy Zahn and Daniel Stampa ease down in the final metres of the 12km race. Photos: Janelle Tilse (Road Runners Publicity Officer)
