XCR 26 Round 4 - Cruden Farm

As rain clouds threatened in the morning, we were lucky with the ‘big rain dump’ waiting until after racing finished for the day. It was great to get back to Cruden Farm, it always a good course, and I think this course was the best cross-country course I’ve experienced. It had a bit of everything from hills to a creek jump and, unlike past Cruden courses, the distance was close to the 12km mark.

We struggled for numbers across all categories with only 30 athletes competing. Despite this there were plenty of highlights for the day with lots of seconds! Second place for the Premier Men’s team, Amy Cashin in the open women’s and a host of seconds in the juniors races.

Thanks to Nick Tavendale for bringing the marquees, Alistair McDonald for some photos, all those who brought the afternoon tea and of course all those who made the trek out to Cruden Farm and braved the weather.

Open Men 12km

It was a great result for the Premier team in second place, behind Sandringham, with three athletes in the top ten and Zayd Al Sayd third and on the podium for the first time in XCR racing. Zayd completed the 12km course in 38 minutes and 1 second. Next in was Ben Chamberlain in 6th and Liam Cashin 9th. Nathan Pearce was next in with Thomas Giallo and Dan Velardo rounding out the team. With the low numbers we suffered in the lower divisions with the Div 3 finishing 12th and the Div 5 13th. Good to keep the scoreboard ticking over, however. In the ladders our Premier team is well placed second and midfield in the other divisions, well away from relegation.

Ladders

Premier - 2nd

Div 3 - 9th

Div 5 - 9th

Div 6 - 10th

Open Women 12km

Low numbers in the open women only resulted in one full premier team and three in the Div 2. It was a good result from our Premier team in 5th place with Amy Cashin leading the way in 2nd overall in a time of 45 minutes and 10 seconds. Second in for the team was Ebony Dodemaide then Sophie McMinimee, Claire Hodgart and Jodie Dunstan rounding out the team. The Div 2, despite being incomplete, did well finishing in 6th.

In the 60+ short course, Janice Hodgart was 3rd.

In the ladders our Premier team is just ahead of South Melbourne in 3rd.

Ladders

Premier - 3rd

Div 2 - 5th

Div 4 - 7th

Div 5 - 12th

Juniors

In the juniors there were two races, 7km and 4km. and whilst there were no complete junior teams but there were some very fine individual results. In the 7km race Bon Martin was first in and second place in the U18 in a time of 23 minutes and 57 seconds, then Jackson Wright in the U20s and not far behind was Leanne Ellis also in second In the women’s U20 7km Leanne Ellis was second in U20 women in a time of 25 minutes and 23 seconds.

In the 4km race, Ryder Deans was also second in a time of 14 minutes and 1 second and Zac Salerno ran well to make the top ten also in 6th place. In the women’s U18 4km, Keely Williams was 18th and Shivika Dubey was 22nd. In the women’s U16 Abbey Bassos continued her return to XCR in 16th and Ella McDonald in 22nd. In the Men’s u14 Isaac French was 2nd in a time of 14 minutes and 13 seconds and Roman Jaszewski was 12th.