Patched Up Doona Wins Norm Charles Classic

By Brian Marantelli 2 September 2014

Sean “Doona” Quilty joined a select group of Victorian Cross Country League athletes on Sunday by winning his second Norm Charles Classic at Lysterfield Park. Sean joins David Milligan, Ken Barnhill and the Simondson brothers, Roger and Gary, as the only multiple winners in the forty nine editions of the 10km event. After a terrible run of injuries in recent years, Quilty has been able to put together his best season of races this year and Sunday’s win was his first since Woodlands in 2009. Sean, always suited to the longer events, showed a win was close at hand in recent weeks with a sixth at Woodlands and third at Lilydale both over 5km. Running from the same handicap as David Haigh, Quilty ran hard early and after 3km both Sean and David tacked onto Craig Harris. This group stayed together until the 5km mark where, upon leaving the forest the first time, Sean worked hard to drop the bunch and set out after the leaders. Kylie Harding, the leader leaving the forest the second time was joined by the winner before the turn and for the final 1200 metres Sean was the runner to catch.

Craig Harris, sticking to the task, ran his best race for the season and was twelve seconds behind, and finished fifteen seconds clear of Tony Moran in third place. Tony, a multiple top ten finisher in the classic, ran a great race to hold out David Haigh. “Haighy”, always a chance in big events, just failed to match Quilty in the concluding stages. Kylie Harding was the first of the women to cross the line, almost matching her third place from 2013. The ever reliable Leon Brooks was next in, in sixth place with Robert Eppinger capping off a great first season with the club to finish seventh. Mark Hipworth was eighth across the line, making it four “top tens” from four attempts in the club’s main event. Wayne James and Corina Kapusta completed the top ten with Corina also taking fastest time honours for the women with her run of 39:54. Fastest overall was Michael Marantelli running 33:52 to finish fifteenth. The novice award went to Olivia Findlay and the Leo Charles memorial was taken out by Craig Harris.

The race, carrying $2,500 in prize money with $1200 to the winner, is the richest cross country event in Victoria and has been generously sponsored by VCCL life member Norm Charles for nearly fifty years. The Victorian Cross Country League is extremely fortunate and honoured to have Norm Charles amongst its membership.

Next Sunday, Fathers Day, is a non race day but the following week the VCCL journey to Kyneton Estate Ridge Winery for the third running of the 6.5km event sponsored jointly by the “Hippo Stable” and VCCL. The winery sits atop a small rise and is an ideal spot for an enjoyable afternoon after the race. The winery will be providing a pizza and soup lunch for anyone wishing to enjoy the county hospitality, cost is $20 per person. We will be joined by the Bendigo Athletic Club for the day’s racing. Start time is 11am.

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Photos courtesy of Leanne Callaghan.

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