Wallaroo Fun Run
5 April 1998Wallaroo State Forest, Raymond Terrace - 2, 6 & 10km
The annual Wallaroo Fun Run was held in perfect conditions on Sunday April 5, 1998. Despite its popularity for the challenging courses through the Wallaroo State Forest, the number of competitors this year was very disappointing, with a total of 74 runners for the 3 runs. The host of the Fun Run, Raymond Terrace Athletics Centre, has decided to move next year's run to mid or late May in the hope of encouraging more competitors. Holding the run in April, especially the same weekend as the Foster triathlon, was noted by some competitors as being a contributing factor for poor numbers. However, the runners who attended this year were full of praise for the organisation and running of the day.
A questionnaire was also distributed regarding the advertising of Wallaroo. Considerable publicity is put in place through schools, newspapers, radio and television stations well prior to the event, but the Centre wants to ensure that all pertinent locations are being covered each year. They have also been approached about introducing a race walk and / or introducing additional distance runs. They will look at the possibility of these, but may be limited by the length of the available trails and conditions.
If you have any suggestions on how the Centre can better cater for the many Fun Runners, with advertising, the date of the run or organisation on the day, please contact Deidre 02.4987.2695, Barbara 02.4987.4136, or write to P.O. Box 91 Raymond Terrace 2324. Because of the work and planning that goes into such an event, it is very disappointing to have so few competitors. If next year's run is still poorly attended, the Centre is seriously, but reluctantly, considering cancelling any further Wallaroo Fun Runs.
Prize Winners (Full results appear below)
Results for 10km: First male: Greg Starkey 39.14 First female: Wendy Follett 47.31 Age winners: 20-30 year male Carl Lennord 44.47 31-40 " male Kevin Frazer 39.42 41-50 " male Peter Malinowski 39.46 Over 50 male George Freeman 50.50 Over 50 female Judith Joyce 51.38 Results for 6km: First male: Peter Malinowski 21.21 First female: Karen Giles 24.58 Age winners: 11-12 year male Daniel Leigh 25.46 13-15 " male Brett Starkey 21.22 13-15 " female Amy Wallace 29.29 16-20 " male Andrew Rowbottom 31.09 16-20 " female Karen White 31.07 21-30 " male Greg Starkey 21.22 31-40 " male Kevin Frazer 22.10 31-40 " female Wendy Follett 25.25 41-50 " male Steve O'Connor 23.45 Over 50 female Judith Joyce 30.03 13-15 male "A" team Matthew Needham, Brett Starkey, Mitchell Turner 65.86 Open female "A" team Deborah McDonald, Wendy Follett, Judith Joyce 87.47 Parent & Child "B" team Steve O'Connor and Kieran O'Connor 45.66 Results for 2km: First male: Shaun Frazer 8.52 First female: Melanie Dickson 7.46 Age winners: Under 7 female Kirsty Wright 15.26 7-8 year male Jordan Fuessel 9.33 7-8 " female Hannah Wallace 10.51 9-10 " male Mitchell Powell 9.31 9-10 " female Brooke Giles 9.06 11-12 " male Simon Crowfoot 9.32 11-12 " female Adrianna Fuessel 9.00 Open male Mitchell Turner 7.34 Open female Karen Giles 9.06 Under 13 male "A" team Jeremy Willis, Brett Inglis, Simon Crowfoot Parent & Under 13 Child "B" team Kevin Frazer and Shaun Frazer
Report and results supplied by: Lorraine O'Connor.
