Matt Takes Westgate Win For Granted

By Brian Marantelli 27 August 2013

Matt “Tiger” Grant, voted the 2012/13 Victorian Athletic League’s Most Eligible Bachelor, won his first Victorian Cross Country League event when he strolled away with the Westgate 5km Sealed Handicap on Sunday. Grant who has single handed rocketed the term “drink card” up the list of the Oxford English Corpus won the race by twenty eight seconds, destroying the recent run of close finishes, from Alan McCullen and Sean Quilty. Grant’s form has been very good this season with many placings including a close up second at Churchill Park. With Matt winning and now a “compulsory” attendee at the presentation night, the Callaghan and Quilty tables are under extreme pressure to maintain their positions at the back of the room.

Alan McCullen, relishing the shorter distance, was the surprise packet of the event with his first placing since 2010. Sean Quilty, for so many years the “scratchman”, has returned to form and must come into contention for the Norm Charles 10km Classic in two weeks. By finishing fourth the improving Kylie Donnar has shown that the novice prize may be an award of the past for her. The novice award at Westgate was taken out by first year member Brigitte Seeley. The fastest times went to Michael Marantelli (16:31) and Corina Kapusta (19:30). Michael, who lives in Southbank, still managed to get lost on his way to Westgate Park, a distance shorter than the actual event. His co-pilot “Buzz” was unable to help due to the lack of a white chalk line to guide them to their destination.

Next Sunday, Fathers Day, is a rest day for the VCCL. The following Sunday, September 8^th, is the 48^th Norm Charles Classic at Lysterfield Park, 10am start.

As the season winds down the VCCL advises that nominations for the 2014 committee positions are open and invite anyone interested to think seriously about placing an nomination with Lyn McKenzie. The Annual General Meeting is to be held on October 20^th at the McKinnon Hotel with a 10am start.

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