1997 North Canberra Two Peaks Challenge

[Doug Fry]

1997 North Canberra Two Peaks Challenge
(a 26km cross country race over Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie)

Date; Sunday 19th October 1997
Weather; Fine with some high cloud and a N-W breeze; 10-16
Celsius
Entries; 43 individual and 2 relay teams.

Course description; Start at Australian Heritage village, up Mt Majura
then down the Mt Majura Rd into the pine forest on the east side,
followed by a long undulating run south along the full length of the
nature park. The climb up the south side of Mt Ainslie is followed by
a fairly rough descent and a long flat run back to the Heritage
village. (The course was unchanged from last year.)

Race Manager; Anthony Scott for Nth Canberra Athletics Club & the ACT
Cross Country Club.

Race officials; Nicki Taws, Ian Mackenzie, Andrew Fiddian, Alan Fien,
Graham Turner, John Harding, Natalie's Dad, Bruce Arthur, Sue
Johnston, Peter Plunkett-Cole.

Race Report; - Walter and Jorgensen win mountain run in record times.
At this year's Canberra Two Peaks Challenge, Rob Walter not only made
amends for his second placing at last year's race, but also broke the
previous course record. On the climb up Mt Majura, Walter was
challenged by Australian Orienteering Champion, Andy Hogg and also by
Bryan Graham (ANU). Walter made his move between 7 and 10km on the
fast downhill sections through Majura Pines and managed to take a
slender lead. As they raced south towards Mt Ainslie, he slowly
extended this lead and after the gruelling climb up Mt Ainslie was on
record pace. His final time of 102 minutes for the 26km mountain race
is almost 4 minutes faster than the previous record set by Trevor
Jacobs. Hogg took out second place in 106 minutes and Graham was
third in 107 minutes.

In the women's division, Fiona Jorgensen used her superior mountain
running skills to pull away from her main rivals on the first ascent.
She maintained this lead through the flatter sections of the course
and then powered up Mt Ainslie to smash the previous record by 6
minutes. Second place went to Sarah Fien (who also broke the previous
record) and in third place was last year's winner Michele Davis.

The women's relay team of Belinda Allison, Natalie Smith and Julia
Minty recorded a time of 147 minutes, 2 minutes faster than the
previous record for the women's relay category.

Other notable performances were David Baldwin who ran 10 minutes
faster than last year and John Dimitriou, 7 minutes faster. The prize
for the longest distance travelled to get to the event goes to Alice
Springs resident, Lee Tomren.

And finally, the contribution towards prizes from the Runners Shop is
gratefully acknowledged.

Race Results - 1997 Two Peaks race

place name final time category

1 Rob Walter 102-31
2 Andy Hogg 106-26
3 Bryan Graham 107-12
4 Tim Goulding 112-18
5 Colin Neave 112-20 1st vet - M
6 Michael Derlacki 116-17
7 Stephen Beaumont 116-46
8 Steve Blake 117-36
9 Jason McCrae 117-56
10 Tom Walter 119-01
11 Chris Graham 119-08
12 Adrian Sheppard 119-33
13 Roy Daniell 119-34
14 Stephen McNabb 119-58
15 Hugh Jorgensen 120-18
16 Ben Brikcius 120-33
17 David Baldwin 121-02
18 Peter Cullen 122-13
19 Fiona Jorgensen 127-08 1st F
20 Andrew Gardner 128-38
21 Sarah Fien 129-30 2nd F
22 David Seib 133-46
23 Michael Day 134-40
24 Ken White 136-58
25 Mick Charlton 138-53
26 Michele Davis 141-50 3rd F, 1st Vet - F
27 Ian Clout 143-35
28 Lee Tomren 145-52
29 Carol Harding 146-02 4th F
30 Grant Fleming 146-33
31 Thaene Siharath 150-13
32 Greg Norman 153-40
33 Wayne Shippley 153-54
34 Alan Lloyd 157-38
35 Laurence Robinson 163-06
35 Adam Robinson 163-06
37 Diane Merrick 169-20 5th F
38 Paul Goddon 177-35
38 Victor Hessell 177-35
40 John Dimitriou 186-01
41 Michael Smith 187-17

Relay teams

1 Belinda Allison Natalie Smith Julia Minty 147-11 1st F (ACT
Orienteers)
2 Monica Loheni Monica Loheni Anna Dyason 166-54

Results courtesy of Race Organiser, Anthony Scott