Date: Tuesday, 30 September 2014

From: Rod

Reebok Ultra Beast

Date: Saturday, 20 September 2014

Lagoon to Lake

Wagga Wagga produced a cracker of a day for the 2014 Lake to Lagoon, a crystal clear day with a top of 17 degrees for the run.

There were 15 Feral Joggers amongst more than 1200 runners plus another 900 or so cyclists and as usual we were well represented on the dais.

Jessie Wythes (45^th) finished 2^nd in her category while Aiden Fattore and David Heffer (36^th) were 3^rd in their respective categories.

Aiden finished in overall 8^th and Rodney Savage was not too far behind in 10^th. Janet Mazzarolo finished just outside the medals in 4^th and Julie Duncan smashed her target time of 50mins by almost 90 seconds to finish 10^th in her category.

After the presentation it was off to the Union Hotel where the parmies were above par and the beers even more so.

In more good news, Aiden and Heff also now hold the record for the most long-necks consumed between Wagga and Griffith, well done fellas.

Date: Saturday, 31 May 2014

From: Rodney, Adam, Janet, Wendy, Elizabeth, Aiden and Brendon.

Nail Can Hill

Another year, another set of victims for Nail Can Hill. This years travelling group joining Rodney and Adam included Janet Mazzarolo, Wendy Minato, Elizabeth Heffer, Aiden Fattore and Brendon Sinclair.

As we assembled at 5am news broke there was a late scratching from the team. Good news for those travelling in Rodney’s Prado. It meant their business class seats had been upgraded to first class. A quick head count later revealed the Prado had seven seats available for the seven bums that were present and the first class leg space was quickly reduced to economy.

We set off for Albury and true to form Rodney failed to negotiate the first set of traffic lights immediately striking out on a red. Half an hour later in Leeton later it was strike two.

The early morning conversation was patchy and a joke telling competition was agreed on to help pass the time. Elizabeth’s first effort threatened to collapse the contest but she managed to save it with her second attempt.

We reached Lockhart for a pit stop and the “Disabled/Women” sign on the facilities had Janet doing laps of the block searching for the “Women Only” sign not realising it was reserved for women AND the disabled.

We arrived in Albury and made our way to the finish area and reluctantly exited the vehicle to be greeted by 7 degrees which reduced to an icy 3 by the wind factor. We switched into our running gear and grabbed a bus back to the start line to collect our race bibs and then found a sunny sheltered area to prepare for the start. Before the race we caught up with the ferals who’d travelled separately. Anthony Salmon had arrived days earlier to test some new shirts on the course, he was with his brother (a really nice guy, not at all what you’d expect). Ex-Feral Paul Childs, Peter Pearson, Jeremy Woodhouse and Simon Bonny were there too. We all posed for the obligatory pre-race photos and made our way into the warmth of the 1290 strong starting pack.

If you have read Anthony’s Nail Can Hill postcards from previous years you’ll know just how brutal the 11.3km race is. It’s not until you reach the base of the climb and look up for the first time that you really understand just how steep these hills are and they just keep coming. The minute you think you’re at the top, you round the next bend only to find another hill. What you forget though is that you have to come back down and the descent is far harder to negotiate and way more dangerous.

Most were happy with their respective results which are listed below and include 7 PB’s and outright 3^rd in the team’s event. Adam was filthy about the team coming as low as third (he’s not used to being much less than second) claiming it was Aiden’s fault for not registering in the team.

With the “Nail” part over it was off to the Albion Hotel for some “Cans” and a parmy. Soon after, we all piled back into the Prado to begin the return journey. 60km into the trip Aiden couldn’t hang on any longer and Rodney pulled over near some dry looking trees. We’re not sure what caused Aiden’s “stage fright” maybe the 150 decibels of the Prado’s horn playing for all passing traffic to hear. His failed attempt forced another stop, this time at the Walbundrie Pub so Aiden could have some privacy. As we entered through the swinging doors the piano player stopped and the two locals looked us up and down.   The publican said the bathroom was for customers only so Brendon obliged by buying a round of soda waters. With his establishment rarely that full the publican hurriedly lit the fireplace in hope we may be in for a prolonged session. Rodney noted the pub menu would be a definite option for lunch next year with plenty of favourites to choose from at genuine 1982 prices.

We finished our “water’s”, dragged Wendy away from her new mates and hit the road for home with plenty of laughs and some great memories.

Teams event

Date: Wednesday, 30 April 2014

From: Ashleigh, Jennifer, Robyn & Brendon Sinclair.

Family friendly fun at Broulee with the Sinclairs

Within an hour of finishing Bacchus on the Lake the Sinclair family were in the car headed for ten days on the South Coast.   After enjoying the Easter festivities (a little too much) Brendon was eager to catch up on some training and put in a couple of runs around Longbeach but with the enjoyment of Bacchus still fresh he took to google to find some competition.

The search returned the Broulee Runners a local running group only 30 kilometres from our accommodation. Their first event was held in 2007 and they meet every Wednesday afternoon at Mossy Point offering a 2km, 3.5km, and 5km out-and-back course.

We arrived and registered our details with the friendly committee and nominated our preferred course. Ashleigh and Robyn selected the 2km, Jennifer the 3.5km and Brendon the 5km.

The course started at the Mossy Point headland featuring a magnificent ocean view. It followed a grassed section along the headland south towards Broulee where a steep descent down a tree root infested path required careful negotiation. Through a picnic area on the foreshore and then onto the bridge that heading into Broulee where the 2km competitors turned back. The bike path then followed the beach further south to the 3.5 and 5km turnaround points, then in reverse back to the finish.

Times were recorded by way of a handheld multi-timer. At the finish you are handed a ticket with a number reference to your finishing time. You hand the ticket to the timing marshal who records your name against that time.

Ashleigh and Robyn finished with three runners behind them in a time of 18:20. Jennifer ran fourth of six in an adjusted time of 25:53. Her time was reduced by 5 seconds because she ran a bit past the 3.5km turnaround point. A fellow competitor altered the race director who applied the time reduction (we giggled about how Neil would have handled that situation). Brendon finished 4:48 behind the winner in 23:12 (7^th of 18).

Afterwards we were invited for photos for their website and the local rag.

The organisers were ecstatic with the turnout, 51 runners on the day was their new record!

We look forward to joining the Broulee runners again next time we’re down that way.

You can find more info at http://brouleerunners.blogspot.com/ or find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BrouleeRunners?ref=stream

Date: Saturday, 1 March 2014

From: Anthony, Isabella, Rodney & Brendon

Some Splashin' and Dashin' in Yarrawonga

G’day Ferals,

Feral team  4-S (Salmon, Salmon , Savage and Sinclair) headed off to Yarrawonga Splash N’ Dash at 5.55am to compete in the Dash part. It was 10 minutes past our agreed departure time but we were on our way until a phone call was received whilst stopped at a red light at Mackay Avenue to advise Salmon senior that Salmon Junior’s shoes remained in the garage.

A quick loop back to collect and we were really on our way. Anthony assured us that we wouldn’t strike the red light twice and things looked good when approaching the deserted Mackay Avenue intersection but the lights turned amber and then red and so we waited – again.

A cleverly placed call from Rodney in the back seat to driver Anthony had him thinking what else they’d forgotten, laughter ensued and we settled in to enjoy the pleasant scenery of daybreak.

A close call with a bull that had escaped kept everyone alert and Anthony introduced us to some of the local bird life including close ups with  Ocyphaps lophotes & Eolophus roseicapill. While Rodney showed he has more than running ability by giving us a detailed lesson on the life of Sir John Monash.

We reached our destination greeted by cool conditions (about 11°c) collected our timing chips and had a warm up. We bumped into Feral Cheryl Wood who had competed in the Splash part the previous day and was running the 5km event.

At 8.55am we took our starting position and listened to the race briefing where a 10% competitors discount off the price of a chicken parmy at the Terminus Hotel was mentioned, Rodney and Brendon gave each other a knowing glance and at 9.05am we were away.

The course began adjacent to Lake Mulwala winding its way around the scenic out-and-back section to Rams Head. At the end of the loop you were confronted with contra directional competitors making it difficult for Brendon to ascertain who was in front of or behind him. The 5km course returned to the finish at this point and the 10km course continued through the new residential section across the fairways on the golf course and then in reverse back to the finish.

The chute to the finish line was very intimate with spectators either side cheering and holding their hands out for a “low 5”. Most runners co-operated resulting in extra cheering.

The Salmons who’d competed in the 5km events returned first with times of 23:44 for Anthony (6th) and Isabella 23:43 first place under 18 female! – Lucky we went back for the shoes.

The 10km runners returned and Rodney claimed 6th place overall but 2nd open male in 37:37 and Brendon was 31st overall and13th  open male in 44:50.

Rodney and Isabella accepted their respective cheque and gift voucher, posed for some photos (Rodney was in more than he should have) and we headed off for a hot coffee.

After we ordered a blackout ensued, we hypothesized whose order if any would be processed and in the end Rodney’s order prevailed and Anthony accepted a refund as the energy company estimated 2 hours to restore power.

No sooner had we exited the establishment the sound of blinking fluorescent lights was heard along with the roar of laughter from other patrons (and Rodney) who had watched our tale of woe play out live.

We reunited with the Terminus Hotel to claim our discounted lunch along with a couple of cold ones (lemonade for Isabella) a bonus for the best looking male and complimentary chips for Anthony and Brendon.

The purchase of “roadies” encouraged Anthony to let Rodney take the drivers seat and we were home by 3.30pm

A great day had by all with great results as a sweetener!