Results: Maroondah Dam Trail Run
21 March 1999Maroondah Dam, Victoria - 50km
Kevin Cassidy writes: The trip out to the dam was spectacular as I motored along the Maroondah Highway out of Melbourne, the hot air balloons were out in the Yarra Valley and a large dark cloud was wrapped menacingly around the summit of Mt.St.Leonard.
Arriving at the start at Fernshaw picnic ground, I met up with all the regular ultra nuts and the sarcasm was flying thick and fast. Before the race had even started I had managed to drop all my powerbars and squeezies in a pool of mud then slip over on the brick path while heading to the toilets. Eventually the 11 starters were sent on their way by Race Director, Geoff Hook. I had lent my car to the incomparable Peter Armistead who would be travelling to various aid stations [A risky move, I reckon !!!!] and he popped up in all sorts of unusual places. The race soon became somewhat of a solo run as the small field stretched out [I didn't see a soul after 10km]. As I reached the Black Spur aid station at 16km I was greeted by Clive Davie's lovely wife, Yoko. As I lent forward to get some food I bumped my head on Yoko's clip board while she was busily trying to note my time, with Geoff Hook as a witness I thought I may be able to make a few dollars with an out-of-court settlement but all Hookie could do was laugh and say "Hit him again" !!!!!!
A constant drizzle had set in and the weather was quite cool, what a contrast to last years event when we battled century plus heat. At 20km the course crosses the Maroondah Highway and the race instructions clearly state that you should only cross on the instructions of a "competent race official", so why then was this job left to Ross Shilston who tried his best to get me to run out in front of a 50 ton logging truck? Maybe he thinks he is in my will?
Running through the state forest was just magical as the mist nestled in the valleys and amongst the huge gum trees so it was a real shame to see a pile of used shotgun cartridges in this delicate and protected area. These morons must think they are war heroes as they blast away at our native creatures who couldn't possibly defend themselves, they truly are national heroes of whom we can all admire and be extremely proud !!!
Approaching half way, I was starting to pay the price of gross unfitness and my pace slowed. I passed Greg Wilson who was handing out drinks in the middle of nowhere and he said "I've got a piece of paper that says a bloke named Kevin Cassidy should have come passed here ages ago". I battled on up to the Mt.St.Leonard summit at 37km and started the steep drop down to the finish. Passing through Donnelly's Wier with 3km to go, I caught sight of both Peter and my car, "Lookin' good there, Dad" he said in his laconic drawl.
As I crossed the dam wall to the finish, I was glad that the cool weather had kept all the picnicers away because last year almost saw me have a head on crash with a group of elderly citizens on walking frames.
I had a long wait in the rain at the finish because Peter had my car and was out collecting the course markings and it was during this wait that Hookie realised that, for the first time, no one had got lost !!
With the race now over it was time to visit Brian Simmons at his nearby home where we relived some great moments in the history of football before I started giving the game of cricket a well deserved "bagging". Next stop was a visit to the Feldman's farm where the injured Liz was proudly showing the video of her knee operation [yuk]. The trip back home was slow in the pouring rain but I enjoyed my stop for a Vegieburger at "Hungry Jacks"
Results
Time min/km
1. Nigel Aylott 4:20.28 [course record]
2. Mark Phillips 4:41.41
3. Kelvin Marshall 4:54.09
4. Raymond Waschl 4:56.28
5. Andrew Hewitt 5:20.32
6. David Styles 5:31.33
7. Kevin Cassidy 5:38.40
8. John Harper 5:48.55
9. Ernie Hartley 6:42.25
10. George Christodoulou 6:58.15
11. Peter Nelson 7:09.35
Report & results supplied by: Kevin Cassidy.
