From doggie dashes to cash splashes, magic miles and beaming smiles – Australia Day 2015 in Gunnedah offered it all for sports fans.
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As temperatures soared to daytime maximum of 37 degrees, competitors of all disciplines (man and pooch) kept their cool as best they could – be it by the pool, river or shade of the nearest gum tree.
But it was not just the sweltering heat competitors in the Australia Day sports program found fatiguing, with the wind proving equally troublesome for some.
A run-ready Kelly Moore ensured her Australia Day celebrations were off to a good start with a morning win in the women’s triathlon in Gunnedah.
Moore kept a close watch on the field in the 250-metre swim, 7km ride and 3km run distance event, before powering home in her favoured run leg to win in a time of 31.55 minutes.
It was also her maiden Australia Day triathlon victory after placing second behind Megan Isbester in last year’s race.
“I really love the run leg, the bike has always been pretty hard for me,” Moore said post-race yesterday.
“But it was tough out there, the wind was pretty strong.
“I just had to keep a good pace, stay as close to (second placed) Lauren (Robertson) as I could and hope for the best on the run.”
Robertson held the lead out of the pool into the bike leg but with a drop in training tempo over Christmas, found the back half of the race particularly hard going.
“I was in good form before Christmas,” Robertson said.
“But I knew it would be hard in the run; my training had lapsed.”
Running in just her second ever triathlon, Georgia Watson delivered a standout rookie performance to place sixth.
The Boggabri-Narrabri runner is training up for longer Olympic distance events but said the short races were good for practice her transition changeovers.
“We only have gravel roads were we are too, so it was good getting in some training on tar roads as well,” Watson said.
This year’s Men’s Magic Mile winner Jack Hickey couldn’t get to finish line quick enough.
Spurring him on to his 5.04-minute time was the searing Australia Day heat with every step he trod, one closer to a cool drink and nice sit down in the shade.
“I just wanted to start and finish as quickly as possible,” Hickey said, who finished nearly half a minute ahead of second-placed Pete Loveridge.
Hickey has been doing his best to rest up in recent months after suffering a moderate grade hamstring tear.
“It’s taken some time to come strong again,” he said.
“I was just happy to finish the race to be honest.”
The pair had good support from junior competitors in Raymond Smith, who picked up third, and Nate Harris not far behind.
Gunnedah sprinter Emma Kennedy found time in her busy competition calendar to run the Women’s Dash for Cash on her home track.
The rising star took out the top cash prize with a 13.7-second win in yesterday’s Australia Day sports program.
“It’s always good to run in front of your home crowd,” Kennedy said.
It was only Sunday the state 100m champion was competing at NSW Country Championships in the Hunter Valley before she backs up for the Tamworth regionals and representation in Sydney next week.
Marnie Harmse ran second in the women’s event ahead of Tarryn Heinrich in third.
In the Men’s Dash for Cash, Aaron Donnelly put it all on the line to defend his 2014 title.
The Gunnedah Bulldog fullback recovered from a bad start to post a narrow, half-a-head win in the final, coincidently against another fullback in Callum Hayne from the North Tamworth Bears.
“It was the worst start, I thought I was gone,” Donnelly said.
“I slipped and thought that was it.
“I had a pretty good run for the rest of it though.”
Donnelly posted a 12.04-second time yesterday, just two one hundreths in front of the second-running Hayne.
Jono Dunlop wasn’t far off the pace either and also finished inside 13 seconds to pick up third.
One runner who was thankful he didn’t make the cut for the final was veteran competitor, Darrell Jones.
“I’m knackered,” he gasped, arms interlocked above his head after his sprint heat.
“If they say I have to do it again, I’m gonna have to tell them no.
“100 is ok but not 200.”
It was back-to-back titles for Max in the Working Dog, Doggie Dash.
The two-year-old border collie was in great form again this year to win his second sprint for handler Lincoln Stewart.
Max was rewarded with some chow and dog bowl for his high energy efforts.
Meanwhile Sarge was best of the rest in the Mutts Race, despite a few false starts from other eager mutts in the field.
Pete Loveridge barely missed a beat for his win in one of the final events on Gunnedah’s Australia Day sports program, the Men’s Triathlon.
As afternoon storms threatened from above, the veteran triathlete led almost from start to finish to post a 33.34-minute finishing time.
“It was close to what I thought I’d do,” Loveridge said.
“That wind though made a real difference.
“You could really feel it.”
Running home in second over the 300-metre swim, 10km bike and 4km run was Brayden Ludlow.
He had been out of training for a while but said it felt good to be back in race mode.
Trailing a few hundred metres behind him was another veteran John Hickey who picked up third place.
“It’s a very difficult course,” Hickey said.
“The technical aspects of the course make it better for bike riders.”
Ross Durham, AJ Byrnes and Dave Fitzsimmonds also ran well to finish strongly in their own right.
