Vics Have Easter Success

PROLOGUE – HEATHFIELD HS

The Australian Easter 3 Day got underway at Heathfield High School, near Mt Barker on the outskirts of Adelaide, and Victoria had its share of successes in the Elite Prologue.  The Easter competition is a major selection for JWOC, and the M/W20 fields in particular were very strong.  It is also a big part of the National League competition, with our Vikings out to earn maximum points.

Milla Key had a convincing win on W20, 49 seconds clear of second placed Nea Shingler (NSW).  Sophie Taverna also had a great run to finish in 6th place, and Maya Bennette also stepped up very well to be 15th.

Callum White was a sizzling 2nd place on M20, only 11 seconds behind Sam Woolford.  Torren Arthur also had a strong result with 7th place, just 90 seconds behind the winner.

Our best performer on W21E was Tash Key in 6th, only 1.08 behind winner Grace Crane.  Aislinn Prendergast also made it into the top 10. On M21E, Jensen Key was the highest placed Victorian in 14th, with Bruce Arthur not far behind in 18th.

On W18, Sophie Arthur finished in third place.

In the public races, we saw huge fields contesting each class.  Course 1 was won by Ricky Thackray (yes OK he’s running for WA but we all know his heart lies with Victoria).  Tim Hatley was 9th, Gavin Bennette was 10th, and Simon Rouse was 14th.

On Course 2, with 176 competitors(!) Keely Williams placed 6th, Moir Kuffer was 12th, and Cormac McCarthy was 14th.  Course 3 saw Joshua Layton finishing 10th, and Neo Kozma in 16th – great to see our juniors doing so well.

The action now shifts to the forest near Murray Bridge for the next 3 days.  Good luck – and Go Vics!

Full Prologue Results

DAY 1 – PYMPTON

Victoria continued its success on the first day of the 3 day competition, which was held at Pympton, near Rockleigh.  The terrain was open farmland and scrub, with rocky, vegetated outcrops – fast going, but requiring accuracy, and hard work in the 34 degree heat, particularly for later starters.

Milla Key backed up her Prologue win with another victory, albeit by the small margin of 9 seconds.  Sophie Taverna was well in the mix with 6th place.  On 21E, Aislinn Prendergast was 2nd, holding a 2 second lead over Vanessa Round.  Callum White also followed up his great Prologue with a 5th place in the forest, with Torren Arthur in 10th.  Our best placed M21E was Bruce Arthur in 15th. Jensen Key took out the hotly contested Sledge class, earning himself the yellow boxer shorts, while Maya Bennette was 3rd in the Sport class.

There was plenty to cheer about in the age group classes too. First placegetters today were Helen Alexander, Sue Key, Natasha Key, Cormac McCarthy, Alex Tarr, Glen White, Alan Kuffer, Ted van Geldermalsen, and Libby Meeking.

Second placegetters -Nicholas Mousley, Peter Searle, Dianne Searle, Tim Hatley, Simon Rouse, Xander Greenhalgh.

Third placegetters – Charlie Richardson, Neo Kozma, Angelina Kozma, Liz Hatley, Adisa Kozma, Mark Besley, Roch Prendergast, Warwick Davis.

DAY 2 – NGARALTA

The terrain and weather were very similar to day 1, but with courses testing our mettle over long distances.  Temperatures were again in the mid 30s by the time the first starters took to the field.  Some results were a repeat of day 1, while others turned the results on their head.

On a punishing M21E course of almost 16 km, Bruce Arthur was the highest placed Victorian in 15th.  Callum White continued his excellent form with second place in M20E, with Torren Arthur again featuring in the top 10.  Jensen Key again dominated the Sledge competition, with Sledge veteran Bruce Paterson in 6th.

In the Womens 21E class, best of the Vics was Aislinn Prendergast in 13th.  Milla Key took second place in W20E, with Sophie Taverna not far behind in 7th.  Sophie Arthur was third in W2oSport.

Age class results:

First place – Mattias Preston, Simon Rouse, Amber Riddle, Natasha Key, Glen White, Ted van Geldermalsen, Ruth Goddard, Alex Tarr, Alan Kuffer,

Second place – Tony Radford, Elizabeth Hatley, Helen Alexander, Ian Davies, Dale Ann Gordon, Warren Key, Emily Wardrop, Gavin Bennette,

Third place – Thea Richardson, Angelina Kozma, Neo Kozma, Tim Hatley, Xander Greenhalgh

DAY 3 – NARRINYERI HILLS

Although the distances were shorter and the temperatures lower (very warm rather than blazingly hot), today’s navigation was the toughest, due to the vagueness of some of the terrain.  Features were less distinct, vegetation boundaries less obvious, and accurate bearings were required on many legs.  The cumulative effects of three days of tough, physical racing were taking their toll.

In the Elite classes, Victorians rose to the fore, with Aislinn Prendergast backing up her 2nd place on day 1, with another 2nd place today.  Callum White also backed up well from yesterday with 4th place; we will have to wait to see where he finished overall.  Torren Arthur had his best run today with 5th place, just behind Callum.  In W20E, Milla Key placed 7th, and Sophie Taverna was 11th – again, we await the overall results to see how the girls fared in the final standings.  In the Sledge class, Jensen Key was placed 4th today, but his two victories should secure him the overall win.

Age classes – first places: Alan Kuffer, Cormac McCarthy, Warren Key, Ted van Geldermalsen, Tony Radford, Alex Tarr, Neo Kozma, Natasha Key, Kathryn Tarr, Sue Key

Second places: Simon Rouse, Angelina Kozma, Ruth Goddard, Helen Alexander

Third places: Charlie Richardson, Ricky Thackray, Tim Hatley, Chris Norwood, Adisa Kozma, Nicola Dalheim, Dale Ann Gordon

OVERALL RESULTS FOR VICTORIA

1st Place: Sue Key, Ted van Geldermalsen, Alex Tarr, Jensen Key, Cormac McCarthy, Alan Kuffer, Natasha Key, Helen Alexander

2nd Place: Angelina Kozma, Kathryn Tarr, Neo Kozma, Warren Key, Chris Norwood, Callum White, Dale Ann Gordon, Simon Rouse, Elizabeth Hatley

3rd Place: Sophie Arthur, Thea Richardson, Xander Greenhalgh, Tim Hatley, Blake Gordon, Nicholas Mousley, Adisa Kozma

Full Overall Results