The Gong Run
15 March 1998Lake Illawarra, Wollongong, NSW 26.5km and 32km
Endure the ides of march?
35 runners met in the pre-dawn gloom at Darcy Dunster reserve, Albion Park, for the first running of the Kembla Joggers Gong Run. Spirits were high at the start line as the mob set off on the longest run in the Illawarra calendar, timed as a warm up for the Canberra Marathon just 5 weeks away.
A lead group of some 10 runners was quickly established before the gravel track gave way to back streets 2km into the course. 4km later we were onto the concrete cycleway which comprised most of the course. Conditions were cool with mainly light drizzle and overcast conditions, which unfortunately gave way to heavy rain on a couple of occasions.
The hard surface and lack of hills made the running steady, at least until the last 2km where the surface gave way to rough grass! Runners in the 32km option had the fun of reaching the finish line then backtracking across the grass again to a turnaround 3km back. The event finished up with a sausage sizzle and presentation at Fred Finch Park, Berkeley.
A fast, traffic free course, scenic (would have been more scenic without the rain!) and a very worthwhile addition to the Illawarra running calendar.
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Results 26.5km * = split time for 32k runners 1. Chris Stocker 1:36:41 2. Phil Parle 1:40:05 3. Graham Hammell 1:42:06 4. Kevin Robertson 1:43:46 5. Steve Van Gils 1:44:53 * 6. Chris Richards 1:45:22 * 7. Andrew Godsman 1:46:58 8. Raf Moriana 1:47:31 * 9. Neil Barnett 1:49:02 10. Brett Davidson 1:50:12 11. Jeff Stalker 1:50:52 12. Andrew Krajewski 1:52:34 * 13. Phil Leishman 1:53:38 14. Gareth Buckley 1:56:45 * 15. Doug Reed 1:59:05 * 16. Ian Kemp 2:00:48 * 17. Andrew Dunlop 2:04:18 * 18. Peter Henry 2:05:16 19. Paula Crinnion 2:08:53 F1 20. Suzanne O'Brien 2:08:53 F2 21. Hans Lambert 2:11:18 22. Ray McCauley 2:15:26 23. Peter Asher 2:17:48 * 24. Klara Favaloro 2:18:15 F3 25. Ian Dodsworth 2:18:20 26. Chris Rutty 2:20:48 * 27. Louise Samuel 2:20:50 * F4 28. Kym Batten 2:21:37 F5 29. Dave Barnett 2:21:37 30. Peter Buckman 2:25:38 31. Janelle McBarron 2:30:44 F6 32. Jill Hayman 2:30:59 F7 33. Michael Hickman 2:33:18 34. Angie McGinnis 2:38:22 Results 32km 1. Steve Van Gils 2:06:00 2. Chris Richards 2:07:26 3. Raf Moriana 2:10:38 4. Andrew Krajewski 2:16:58 5. Gareth Buckley 2:21:02 6. Ian Kemp 2:25:32 7. Doug Reed 2:26:40 8. Andrew Dunlop 2:28:11 9. Peter Asher 2:47:36 10. Louise Samuel 2:52:34 F1 11. Chris Rutty 2:52:34 Results supplied by: Robyn Henry. 32km winners Steve Van Gils and Louise Samuel were awarded the Cool Running Australia lap of the lake trophy. 26.5km winners Chris Stocker and Paula Crinnion were presented with the Lambert Kitchens Gong Run trophy. |
 From left: Race director Hans Lambert (rear), Louise Samuel, Chris Stocker, Paula Crinnion and Steve Van Gils after the presentations.  Paula and Suzanne  Chris Stocker  Steve Van Gils |
Ian Kemp
co-owner CoolRunning Australia, owner of CoolRunning New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand (but previously Wollongong, NSW)
email: ian@coolrunning.co.nz, personal webpage http://www.coolrunning.co.nz/people/iankemp/
