Mighty Muir Returns With His Good Guys

By Brian Marantelli 5 June 2012

The third annual Victorian Cross Country League relay was conducted at Norton’s Park on Sunday and last year’s winning team, led by Gordon Muir, returned to claim fastest time honours once again. Muir’s team, consisting of Gordon, Indiana Cooper, Amy Cashin and Rochelle Kennedy clocked a handy 55:07 over the fifteen kilometre course. They defeated the Zac Newman team by three minutes with David Spence’s team a further thirty seconds away in third place.

In the handicap section Sean Quilty’s team was able to defeat Marcus Boxall’s team by fifty four seconds with Jim Berrington’s team in third place, three seconds behind the runners up. Quilty’s team consisting of himself, Craig Harris, David Haigh, Tony Parsons and Irene James clocked 59:24, their total team handicap allowance was 12:18. The Muir team generously donated their prizemoney to the Kyneton Ridges Estate event on August 12^th. Gordon, a Kyneton resident operates Flying Start Fitness in Woodend.

Individually, Zac Newman ran the fastest leg with a time of 10:05, marginally ahead of Andrew Patton (10:07) and Anthony Aloisi (10:14). The fastest times recorded by the girls were Rochelle Kennedy (11:17), Amy Cashin (11:27) and Corina Kapusta (11:31). James Collier was the surprise runner in the event by running the individual fastest time on handicap from Marcus Boxall and Irene James. James, more accustomed to the shorter track events, showed that a cross country career may be a possibility in the future.

Many thanks must go to Mark O’Brien who organised the teams and calculated the results.

Next week’s event is a 5km sealed handicap at Birds Land on Saturday and includes the family feud award. The family feud shield goes to the family/partners that have the best combined handicap finish in the event.

Long time VCCL competitor Richie Polkinghorne may not have been in attendance for the relay but his nephew James Polkinghorne carried the family name by kicking the winning goal on Sunday afternoon for the Brisbane Lions with a sixty metre torpedo.

There are still a few vacancies on the Murchison bus. Please contact Lyn to book a seat.

The 80^th anniversary race at Greenvale on 24th June is approaching. Please contact any past members who may be interested in attending.

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