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 A very big thanks to member Paul Thompson for this report. It sounds like a great one for the Dragons!
Looking through the results, I counted at least 24 Dragons/SIRs at the
race over the weekend, and an all-round excellent performance from the guys and
girls. I worked out that the Dragons won 4/6 categories that we had
participants in, and second in one other, and if MM (see below) had
of held on for another 300m, we would of had 5 champions and a second out of 6
races plus plenty of top 10 placings - brilliant effort by
everyone.
I
don't profess to knowing anywhere near all the Dragons or SIRs so that number of
24 may even be a bit on the low side. Apologies if I have overlooked anyone -
Paul Mc - pls edit this summary where appropriate if you intend to publish on
the Dragons site!
Here
are the results link:
Some
highlights:
Female: 30-39
2nd -
Catherine Rayne
3rd -
Tash McCarroll
Female 40+
1st -
Anne Knecht Boyer
2nd -
Sian Abate
Male 25-29
1st -
Dane Cantwell (overall winner as well)
2nd -
Michael Bucek (3rd overall)
Great
effort by Dragons filling 2 of the top 3 spots in the overall category as
well
Male 30-34
6th
Mark Jones
I
believe Mike Maiers was on target to do a sub 2.18 at least (and win the age
group and outright title as well) but with about 300m to go the heat took its
toll on him and unfortunately he didn't make it - hope your back on board soon
Mike. Nick and I were watching from around the corner on the finish straight
thinking "where the hell is Mike" as when I last saw him at the 5.25 km mark he
had just overtaken Michael Bucek and Richard Hall and looking as strong as an
ox! .Then as Dane, Michael, Richard, Warren started coming thru we knew
something was wrong.
Male 35-39
This
was the big guns group and plenty of depth and talent here (we filled 9 of the
top 14 places in this category)
1st -
Richard hall
2nd -
Warren Squires
3rd -
JC Paquet
5th -
Kevin Claus
6th -
Chris Pollard
8th -
Mike Church
10th -
Christophe Lee
13th
- Colin Hill - aka Adam (sorry Adam, don't know your
SIRname)
14th -
Bruno Lobed (on the comeback from stress fracture in his foot - good effort
mate)
Think
Steve Riley had at least 2 punctures so that was the end of his race
unfortunately.
All
the guys from 20-39 went in wave 2 and all the ladies and old blokes (40+) went
in wave 1.
After the oldies race I went up to the drink station at the 0.25 km
marker to cheer on the guys in wave 2 as I knew it would be a hotly contested
race. At the 4.75 km marker it was tight at the front with about 2 min
separating the top 5 Dragons - Bucek, Hall, Maiers, Cantwell and Squires. By the
5.25km mark things had changed up front - Mike Maiers made his move and now it
was Maiers, Bucek, Hall Cantwell and Squires. I went back to the finish line
waiting for the big guns to come in.. Dane obviously had a massive kick in the
2nd half of the run to record the fastest run of the day (40.11) and overtake
the 3 guys in front of him. Well done Dane! He was closely followed in my
Michael, Richard and Warren.
Male
40-44
This category had some fine pedigree and perhaps some
former age group winners amongst it - Bemet and
Langford?
1st - Paul Thompson
5th - Nick Langford
14th - Keith Irvine
21st - John Crowley
Unfortunately for Mr B, he broke down after 3km on the
run so was a DNF. Just prior to the 2.5km mark at the run turnaround I was about
300m in front of Steve and we had the following little
chat..
Paul to Steve "c'mon Steve, get Ip and then me" knowing
my time at the front was numbered with Bemet bearing down on me, and me being a
pretty average runner.
Steve to Paul "dont worry - Ive got him
covered"
I want to thank Steve for his help during the race..
as I neared the top of that god damn hill on the first lap this massive TARGET
appeared in front of me by the name of Steve Bemet so that spurred me on as it
would most people! After I eventually caught him we rode together for most of
the rest of the bike (no drafting off course!) and he eventually told me that I
was 1st, but Mr Ip was only 200m behind so get a move on.. Ip caught me on the
last lap at the top of the hill and I thought that was it for me, but I gave it
a bit more on the last half lap (as I tried to chase down Mr Church to no avail)
and managed to get a lead of about 200m on him by the start of the run which I
somehow I managed to hold onto for 10km. I dared not look over my shoulder and
look like I was panicking but I had Steve, Nick and Keith out there on the run
course giving me plenty of words encouragement and a constant update of the
distance between the 2 of us - thanks guys.
Nick was on the comeback after a bout of illness and a
brush with the tarmac at pace going down Nan Fung Rd recently so a good effort
to get thru and amongst the trophies. Nick may have finished higher had he not
hit the curb and fallen off going UP hill.. (how do you explain that SIR Nick?),
but he did bash his already bad elbow up a bit more for good
measure!
Dragons in Top 10 Overall
results
1st -
Dane Cantwell - 2.18.35
3rd
- Michael Bucek - 2.19.12
4th -
Richard Hall - 2.19.35
5th -
Warren Squires - 2.22.51
8th -
Paul Thompson - 2.26.07
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