On July 18, Ashgrove Rangers Athletics Club played host to Qld Masters Athletics for their short course cross country championship. The race was held in conjunction with the Rangers’ monthly Flying 4 race.

A chilly 8am start meant times were slower than might have been expected.

Rangers members performed well in the event. Alastair Wallace took out gold in the 50-55 age group in 18:06.50 and was the first male across the line. Paul Circosta (21:21.12) took out silver in the same age group. Paul Holland gained gold in the male 40-44 age group in a time of 19:12.69.

The Rangers male team of Wallace, Circosta, Paul Holland and Dick Dunstan took out gold in the teams category.

On Sunday 20th September, the ASR held their annual club cross country handicap.  The awards were presented by the Ashgrove Rangers club patron, Ms Kate Jones, Member for Ashgrove.  The open division was won by Lynda Bateson, with club newcomer Osman Saleh winning the under 20yrs division and Hamish Granger winning the under 14 years division.

The best performance for the winter season was won by long time club member, Don Wallace for his performance at the Qld Marathon.  Jessica Gallagher was awarded the most improved club member of the season with a huge improvement in her cross country times over the season. Well done Jessica.

Ashgrove Rangers will be holding their annual cross country handicap at the next Flying 4 which be held on Sunday 20th September at Yoku Road Ashgrove commencing at 8am.  The handicap event will have trophy presentations for the club member winners of the under 14 (1.5km), the under 20 (4km) and the open (4km) event.

Trophies will also be presented for the club member best performance of the winter season and the most improved for the winter season.

Queensland Masters Athletics (QMA) held their short course cross-country championship on Sunday 23 August in conjunction with Ashgrove Rangers monthly Flying 4 race.
Warm, fine weather promised a good race. The large field posted good times across the board. Honours went to the home club as Ashgrove were the only club fielding teams. The Rangers women’s team of Hubertien Wichers, Jodie Schubert, Lynda Bateson and Sophie Cockroft won their event. The Rangers fielded two mens teams with the A team of Tom Newman, Peter James, Wayne Heath and Alastair Wallace winning their event and the B team of Peter Effney, Don Stapleton, Paul Circosta and Dick Dunstan coming second.

Individual results were as follows:

Women
35-39
Jodie Schubert      Gold

40-44
Hubertien Wichers   Gold
Sophie Cockroft     Silver

45-49
Lynda Bateson       Gold

50-54
Marcy Sheer         Gold

Men
30-34
Wayne Heath         Gold

40-44
Tom Newman          Gold

50-54
Alastair Wallace    Gold
Peter Effney        Silver

55-59
Jason Collie        Gold
Paul Circosta       Silver

60-64
Peter James         Gold
Don Stapleton       Silver
Dick Dunstan        Bronze

Results are in from the Flying Four Winter Handicap.
Thankfully the weather was slightly warmer than the cold snap of the previous few days but, even so, competitors found the conditions bracing. Many runners shrugged off tracksuit tops and various other apparel with mere seconds to go before their start. Things did not improve after the start with runners dragging in lungful after lungful of cold, dry air. Given the conditions, the results posted were very good.
The winners were:
1 Jarod Dodgson
2 Lyn Baker
3 Hermeiny Johnson
(Times have not been given because it was a handicap so times do not reflect the actual race time for the runner.)
For the women, the placegetters were:
1 Lyn Baker
2 Hermeiny Johnson
3 Kelly Cooper

For the men:
1 Jarod Dodgson
2 Gavin Poore
3 Ivan Rogers

In the under 14 year old 1.5 km race, the placegetters (boys & girls) were:
1 Ethan Johnson
2 Sophie Cooper
3 Anton McQueen

For those interested in outright times (which will count towards the year’s standings), the top three in the Flying Four were:
1 16:10.62 Hubertien Wichers
2 16:19.05 Graham Barralet
3 17:28.83 Rachel Effeney

The Flying 4 this Sunday is a special one because it is Mothers Day! In honour of Mum we’ll serve morning tea. The total fee will be $4.00 which includes the entry fee and morning tea. The maximum you pay as a family is $8.00.

Please go to the on-line entry form via ‘Home’ and ‘Flying Four’. It literally takes a minute to complete it; that way on Sunday you just have to tick off your name and pay the entry fee (unless you ar not a member, then you have to complete a trialist form as well).

So see you at Yoku Road - West Ashgrove this Sunday for the start of the race at 8.00am!

Thank you to all the competitors who came to compete in the Lincoln Winch Memorial Flying Four on Sunday the 22nd March.  On the twentieth anniversary of the Flying Four, this is the biggest turnout ever - so thank you to the 92 competitors who competed on the day.

Thank you also to Lincoln’s family, friends, and work and cycling colleagues who came to honour Lincoln’s memory.  The BBQ breakfast that you provided was a real hit!

The 4km handicap event was taken out by Sam Durward in a time of 16.50.  Sam was presented with the Lincoln Winch Trophy by Sarah Winch, Lincoln’s wife.  They are pictured with Ashgrove Rangers president Hubertien Wichers.

The 2nd Lincoln Winch Memorial Run will be held on Sunday 22 March.  Lincoln passed away last April and the club decided that we would commemorate and celebrate Lincoln annually via a handicap race, which is incorporated into the monthly Flying 4 (cross country).  Lincoln was a great club member and Flying 4 competitor, and we miss him dearly.  There is a trophy to be won, but to be in contention for it you must have run the Flying 4 twice.  However, you do not have to be a club member, as the idea is that non-runners can win it too.  Last September, when the run was held for the first time, many of Lincoln’s cycling and work friends ran.  So, make sure you are there!  Registrations are taken between 7:30 and 7:45.  Venue: sports fields at Yoku Road, West Ashgrove.  Fees: $3 pp or $6 per family.  And as usual with the Flying 4 there are lucky draw prizes thanks to Intraining. Distances: 4km for the trophy run, 1.5km for the under 14 year old people (no trophy).

Congratulations to the Ashgrove Rangers Flying Four winners for 2008. The mens 4km category was taken out by Dom Smith, with the silver trophy being awarded to Graham Barralet and the bronze to Dick Dunstan. The womens 4km category was awarded to Shelley Smith, with the silver going to Hubertien Wichers (our club president) and the bronze to Jean Hampson.  The 1.5km (under 14 yrs) was won by Hamish Granger, with silver going to Madison Moy and bronze to Jessica Stacey. Congratulations to all!