Accumulated 3 Day Results

	Males					Females
1	Ray McNamara	16:57:50 	 1	Lyn Lewis	16:21:46
2	Arthur Cox	17:51:29 	 2	Vicki Tanner	18:03:00
3	Bob Hill	17:59:16 	 3	Kerrie Hall	19:18:26
4	Sandy Buchan	20:30:00 	 4	Cheryl Middis	20:16:14
5	Les Skiller	20:58:00 	 5	Heidi Mills	22:45:18
6	Graeme Paterson	22:45:18 	 6	Gwen Jonkers	23:33:00
=	Bob Knight	22:45:18
8	Steve McNally	28:03:00

Handicapping Total Place

1	Kerrie Hall 	  	  8	Bob Hill
2	Vicki Tanner 	  	  9	Ray McNamara
3	Lyn Lewis 	  	 10	Arthur Cox
4	Cheryl Middis 	  	 11	Sandy Buchan
5	Heidi Mills 	  	 12	Gwen Jonkers
6	Bob Knight 	  	 13	Les Skiller
7	Graeme Paterson  	 14	Steve McNally

27.02.99 DAY 1 - 45 kilometres

What a fantastic start to the first multi-day walk in Australia. All fourteen entrants made it to the start line fit and well. Ron had divided them into four groups to let the slower walkers get ahead of the faster ones at least for a little while. After an early breakfast at the Tarong Community Park overlooking the dam and power station complex and pre-race briefing, the first to go off, at 6.15 a.m. were Gwen Jonkers and Steve McNally. Next, half an hour later were the three police officers - Heidi Mills, Graeme Paterson and Bob Knight along with Les Skiller. At 7.15 a.m. Kerrie Hall, Cheryl Middis, Sandy Buchan and Vicki Tanner made their start followed at 7.45 a.m. by the last group made up of Bob Hill, Ray McNamara, Lyn Lewis and Arthur Cox. After the preceding week being stinking hot, the day commenced overcast with a cold wind blowing - our first touch of winter weather, but excellent for walking. The front walkers Gwen and Steve stuck together and chatted enjoying the atmosphere, birds and cattle trailing them along the fence line but at the back it was a different story. Bob Hill admitted Ray McNamara took him by surprise as he latched on to Ray's heels endeavouring to stay in touch. Lyn Lewis, an experienced race walker pulled away from them immediately but after two hours could not widen the gap. Arthur Cox maintained a cool head and let the faster ones go but set poised to tackle them if they ran into trouble. Kerrie Hall and Cheryl Middis stuck together all morning, but Vicki Tanner an unknown quantity as far as walking is concerned pulled ahead a little and was cool and relaxed. Sandy Buchan set out to enjoy himself admiring the scenery - was he saving himself for the King of the Bunyas starting at 34 kilometres? Quote of the morning came from Steve, "They (Bob and Ray) might be King of the Bunyas, but I'm King of the Bunyips". Bob and Ray were still going at it like there was no tomorrow, but Lyn was in the overall lead looking far more relaxed than the two following her. The walkie talkies (police officers) were still talking non stop. Let's see how much they have to say this time tomorrow. By now crews were getting to know each other and stopping together at check points chatting. Saw Ray McNamara sporting the latest in trendy head gear - a blue face washer on top of his head.

Then for some the race really started - King of the Bunyas starting at the foot of the mountain at the 33.8 km mark and going to the finish at 45 km. Once she hit the grid at the start of the King of the Bunyas, Lyn Lewis just took off in top race walking style to complete the 11.2 km in 1 hour 29 minutes 17 seconds. She looked in control the whole way while trailing in her wake Bob and Ray wore grimaces on their faces. Thus we have a Queen instead of a King. Second fastest was another lady, Vicki Tanner 12 minutes behind followed by Arthur Cox. Overall Lyn was the fastest female and Ray McNamara fastest male for the entire day. All the field finished the day ahead of their expected times, in some part due to the cool conditions, but also the thrill of the crowd and the closing gap between each of them as the event neared its end.

	Males					Females
1	Ray McNamara	2:52:50 	 1	Lyn Lewis	5:33:17
2	Bob Hill	6:01:01 	 2	Vicki Tanner	6:13:00
3	Arthur Cox	6:09:41 	 3	Kerrie Hall	6:40:26
4	Sandy Buchan	7:08:00 	 4	Cheryl Middis	6:43:07
5	Graeme Paterson	7:28:00 	 5	Heidi Mills	7:28:00
=	Bob Knight	7:28:00 	 6	Gwen Jonkers	8:28:00
7	Les Skiller	7:52:00
8	Steve McNally	8:28:00

King (Kingess?) of the Bunyas 11.2 km

1	Lyn Lewis	1:29:17		=	Graeme Paterson	1:57:00
2	Vicki Tanner	1:41:00		=	Bob Knight	1:57:00
3	Arthur Cox	1:42:10 	11	Cheryl Middis	1:57:07
4	Bob Hill	1:44:56		12	Les Skiller	2:04:00
5	Sandy Buchan	1:45:00		13	Steve McNally	2:40:00
6	Ray McNamara	1:46:20			Gwen Jonkers	2:40:00
7	Kerrie Hall	1:53:00
8	Heidi Mills	1:57:00

28.02.99 DAY 2 - 44 kilometres

After presentations at the completion of Day 1, all joined in for a few relaxing drinks (some imbibed more than was wise), a meal at the bunkhouse and a lot of jokes and laughing followed. Next morning all were pleased with their recovery and were set for the next 44 kilometres. Gwen and Steve set off first and Steve soon found trouble with the soles of his feet being very sore. This slowed him down and by mid morning he was dropping back but still determined to carry on. Les Skiller and Sandy Buchan bounced back showing better form than on day one speeding along in good cheer. The police force again walked together full of jokes although Heidi's heels sported huge blisters. This didn't seem to slow her enough for Graeme and Bob to drop her. Kerrie Hall and Cheryl Middis again set their pace together. The later faster starters set off in order of finishing the previous day with Lyn Lewis and Ray McNamara leaving last together at 9.15 a.m., that being 2 hours 45 minutes after Gwen and Steve, the whole field aiming to reach Kumbia by 3 p.m. Lyn looked like a clear winner for the women with her race walking ability and previous endurance experience but the men's event was still up for grabs with less than 20 minutes between 1st and 3rd yesterday, with Arthur Cox looking extremely fresh in 3rd spot. The weather once again was kind with cloud cover and cool conditions.

NEWS FLASH Ray McNamara did not get to mass today! At 12.45 p.m. God must have been looking favourably on him as he passed Lyn Lewis at the 27.4 km mark, but must have had second thoughts later as Lyn overtook him at the finish line. The handicapping contest for the day proved to be a great success with walkers pouring over the line within half an hour of 3 p.m. However, standout improver of the day must be Les Skiller who did 1 hour 20 minutes better than his estimated time and also Gwen Jonkers with a 47 minutes improvement. The close finish created by the handicapping created some hard fought battles between walkers just wanting to get to the line ahead of another coming up from behind. It all added to the good fun and atmosphere as drinkers, competitors already finished and crew lined the verandah of the Kumbia Hotel to watch. Amid lots of backslapping and laughter walkers then collapsed on the steps with a beer pressed into their hands. Long after the second last walker to come in, Cheryl Middis, Steve McNally finally arrived just after 4.30 p.m., very foot sore but still cheerful and ready for tomorrow.

Handicap winner was Bob Hill, only 37 seconds outside his predicted time with Kerrie Hall second 1 minute 31 seconds out. With Kerrie and Bob both hitting the finish line together they had to wait for their crews to do their sums each hoping they had won. Once again Lyn proved undefeatable again being fastest overall doing the 44 km in 5 hours 20 minutes, next and fastest male was Ray McNamara with 5 hours 23 minutes. Ray at 58 years of age and this being his first walking event certainly shows some talent. Lyn had better put in her best effort on day 3. Arthur Cox followed 26 minutes later then to everybody's surprise Vicki Tanner only 8 minutes back. Bob Hill posted nearly the same time as Vicki then improver of the day, Les.

Day 2 Results

	Males					Females
1	Ray McNamara	5:23:00 	 1	Lyn Lewis	5:20:02
2	Arthur Cox	5:49:28 	 2	Vicki Tanner	5:57:00
3	Bob Hill	5:59:23 	 3	Kerrie Hall	6:31:00
4	Les Skiller	6:40:00 	 4	Cheryl Middis	6:45:22
5	Sandy Buchan	7:03:00 	 5	Heidi Mills	7:25:05
6	Graeme Paterson	7:25:05 	 6	Gwen Jonkers	7:43:00
=	Bob Knight	7:25:05
8	Steve McNally	10:00:00

Handicap Time and Place
1	Bob Hill	37 secs		 8	Vicki Tanner	18 mins
2	Kerrie Hall	1 min 31 secs	 9	Ray McNamara	22 mins
3	Heidi Mills	4 mins 55 secs	10	Lyn Lewis	24 mins 58 secs
 	Graeme Paterson	4 mins 55 secs	11	Arthur Cox	26 mins
 	Bob Knight	4 mins 55 secs	12	Gwen Jonkers	47 mins
6	Sandy Buchan	12 mins		13	Les Skiller	1 hr 20 mins
7	Cheryl Middis	15 mins 22 secs	14	Steve McNally	1 hr 30 mins

01.03.99 DAY 3 - 43 kilometres - (Total 132 km)

A wonderful meal was enjoyed by all at the Kumbia Hotel last night, with presentations of certificates for day 2 and lucky draws. Talking about draws - Sandy won the boxer shorts which he then insisted on wearing as shorts the next day into Nanango. Very trendy! A good sleep (well for some - Arthur had a chorus of five frogs outside his window all night) and most felt fit and able to make it to the finish line. Steve set off before light and pottered along at 4½ km per hour with very sore feet to the finish and Heidi was also suffering but kept at it with huge blisters in the base of her heels. The police still stuck together keeping her company although I could see Bob Knight chaffing at the bit. Through the morning Bob Hill and Kerrie tussled it out as did Lyn and Ray McNamara. Afternoon saw Lyn pull ahead of Ray. By the way, Ray has raised over $1,000 for Karinya Nursing Home with his effort. Most were only too pleased to call it quits after 3 days (a fourth would have been greedy!). The crews seemed a bit quieter today as well - tired and probably pleased to be rid of duties and hop into the afternoon tea at the finish. Steve managed to limp to the line ahead of the rest of the field holding a fast approaching Sandy Buchan. The rest of the field followed in quick succession nearer to 3 p.m. with Lyn Lewis taking out the handicapping for the day. A fair crowd had gathered in front of the Nanango Council Chambers to welcome them in. Just as the last approached the line a cloud burst beat them, but it didn't dampen their spirits. The finish then progressed on to afternoon tea and presentations and a few drinks and lots of reliving the most glorious moments.

Final Results - see top of page