Snowy Arrives Before Spring

By Brian Marantelli 27 August 2014

After a close second at Westgate Park last week, Ashley Snowden produced his second Lilydale victory in the Ray O’Connor Legend Handicap after previously winning the Yvonne Callaghan Legend Handicap in 2012. The race, two laps of Lillydale Lake, named in honour of one of the Victorian Cross Country Leagues staunchest supporters was Snowden’s third win in ninety VCCL runs. Ashley had a winning margin of seventeen seconds over Hamish Adams with Sean Quilty in third place. Showing a distinct liking for the shorter events, Ashley’s wins have all been over the 5km distance.

Hamish continues to improve with each run and is quickly developing into a 5km specialist, his last three runs resulting in three placings. Sean, a winner of the Norm Charles Classic in 2009, looks one of the main chances for this Sunday’s Charles Classic, the 49th running. The previous week’s winner, Leon Brooks, was fourth and continues to build on his tally of club aggregate award points. Brigette Seeley, who started the season extremely well, has regained her best form to finish fifth. Gavan Muir was sixth across the line with only small margins to Mark Andrews, Ian Cayzer, Mark Howard and Wayne James completing the top ten. Gary Hall in eleventh place was the top novice and Phil O’Brien, back from an extended break through injury was the fastest overall with a run of 16:39. Corina Kapusta (18:46) was the fastest of the females with Brigette Seeley not far behind with her run of 19:16.

Each season the Victorian Cross Country League names a race in honour of a past or present competitor for their achievements and service to the club. This year the legend was Ray O’Connor, a winner of ten VCCL events with over four hundred runs in a long career, also competing with the VAL and Masters competitions.

This Sunday the VCCL returns to Lysterfield Park for the forty ninth running of the Norm Charles 10km Classic. It’s the club’s major event with a prize pool of $2,500, sash and a sizeable trophy for the winner. The event has been re-programmed for a 10:15am start as once again the VCCL is hosting a fun run for Caulfield Grammar which will commence at 10am.

The following week is the 3^rd Kyneton Estate Ridge Winery 6.5km, starting and finishing outside the winery cafe. The Winery is providing a pizza and soup lunch for all those wishing to stay behind to enjoy the magnificent setting. The cost for the lunch is $20 per person.

Runners and those wishing to attend the annual presentation night can purchase tickets or notify an expression of interest to the social committee. This year the function is at The Bentleigh Club on Saturday 4^th of October.

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Photos courtesy of Leanne Baxter.

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