Hard slog
Dogged efforts in the ALTC cross-country

Tough stuff: ALTC cross-country participants slug it out on the biggest hill in Wodonga. Photo by Ian Morley

HUNDREDS of soldiers in varying stages of exhaustion were sighted running, walking, even crawling up the biggest hill in Wodonga, slugging it out for a place in the Army Logistic Training Centre’s (ALTC) annual cross-country.

More than 500 ALTC staff, trainees and defence civilians competed on June 3, in a men’s 6.5km course or women’s 5.4km course, with a 3.5km course for walkers.

The route started at North Bandiana Barracks and travelled up the steep and winding Keneth Watsons Road to the Huon Hill lookout.

The annual ALTC event ran slightly differently than it had in earlier years, as ALTC Commandant Col Rex Rowe said he wanted a bit more of a challenge for participants.

“The unique thing about this year’s cross-country is that everyone had to work hard to get up the hill whether they were walking or running,” he said.

“It also provided a chance to appraise the basic fitness level of both staff and trainees.”

Participants also enjoyed an extra incentive to perform during the race.

A slobbering mastiff nicknamed Cujo, “scared the lights out of both staff and trainees,” according to one participant as it ran unleashed among the runners.

But undeterred, most participants completed the event.

Pte Cartledge, who had ran the course several times in preparation for the event commented, “No matter how many times you ran the course, it still hurt getting to the top”.

At the completion of the race Col Rowe and RSM WO1 ‘Buster’ Beatty presented awards provided by ADCU and Frontline to the winners, before the day concluded with a barbecue lunch that was provided by newly trained field caterers.

Results

Champion Team: Vehicle Training Wing 52.4
1st Open Male: Lt Jonathon Styles 29.44
1st Open Female: Pte Rebecca Christou 28.14
1st Vet Male Runner: WO2 Scott Mengal 36.50
1st Vet Female Runner: Lt-Col Susie Busch 32.49
1st Male Trainee: Sig Benjamin McCarthy 30.37
1st Female Trainee: Pte Rebecca Christou 28.14
1st Male Walker: Gnr Mathew Klefisch 28.04
1st Female Walker: Maj Barbara Mouncey 30.47