A NSW trifecta in W45A was the highlight of the Australian Middle Distance Champs on day one of the national carnival in WA on Sunday.
Only two and half minutes separated Jennifer Enderby (middle, NC), Karen Blatchford (right, NC) and Cath Chalmers (left, BF) over the 3.1km stretch. Their nearest rival was a further five minutes behind.
Robert Spry reports: "The WA Long Championships, a warm-up event on the Saturday, was anything but as a strong cold front brought winds and heavy rain to Spice Brook near Bindoon. Once on their course, runners found relief from the wind with classic spur-gully terrain in open forest scattered with grass trees and wildflowers.
The weather eased somewhat for the Middle Distance on Sunday as almost 600 people gathered for the first national title of the carnival. The map was a study in two parts - elaborate gully systems north of the start, then crossing into forest with controls seemingly hidden on small features in the forest to the south. At least, that is my excuse for a poor run !
In addition to the W45A trifecta, other NSW winners were Nicola Blatchford (W20E), ONSW President Greg Barbour (M40A), Ewan Shingler (M12A), Josh Blatchford (M21A), Basil Baldwin (M75A), Neil Schafer (M85A), Mikayla Enderby (W10A), Val Hodsdon (W65A) and Maureen Ogilvie (W80A). Full results are in Eventor.
Overall the carnival is off to a promising start. The organisers appear well prepared with plenty of shelter tents including one for each State school team (to save on transport), Pretex waterproof maps, and the very popular O-Lynx results display. Monday, which is a public holiday in WA, sees the Australian Sprint Championships at Curtin University."
