Fleet footed
Army runners win ADF Cross Country

Thirsty work: ADF Cross Country Champions Pte Fiona Dubbels and Cpl David Whitehead. Photo by Bill Cunneen

THE Army has secured bragging rights after two of its fleetfooted soldiers edged out more than 200 other service personnel from the Navy and Air Force, to help Army win the ADF Cross Country Championship at Holsworthy Barracks on July 21.

Cpl David Whitehead, 4RAR, won the Men’s Open for the second year running, while Pte Fiona Dubbels, 1HSB, won her first ADF Cross Country championship.

With 4RAR missing some of their top runners, the depth of the 1HSB team proved too strong and they convincingly took out the Champion Unit/Ship trophy from 4RAR with 145 Sigs Sqn third.

Pte Whitehead cantered to victory in the Men’s 8km cross country in a time of 28:15. Spr Mat Jeffrey, IRR, was second in 30.01, and Navy’s Leut Josh Nottle, NSC, was third in a time of 31.36.

The evergreen Sgt Rob Comb, 1HSB, produced an impressive performance to win the Men’s Over 40s in 29.53, a better time than the runnerups in the Men’s Open.

The winner of the Men’s Open, Cpl Whitehead, described his victory as “extremely satisfying”, but was disappointed his anticipated showdown with the ADF’s top runner, Navy’s Sub- Leut Rowan Walker, didn’t eventuate.

“I was expecting a tougher race against Sub-Lieutenant Walker because he is the ADF’s champion long distance runner,” Cpl Whitehead said.

Sub-Leut Walker, who won the 5000m at the ADF Track and Field Championships in Victoria in February in a record time of 14.59 was unable to attend the cross country event, but he and Cpl Whitehead are set for their titanic showdown at the Sydney City to Surf on August 14.

In the Women’s Open 6.3km event Army also scored a clean sweep, with Pte Dubbels winning in a time of 28:35, closely followed by runners-up Cpl Amy Hall, 1HSB, and Cpl Janine Davidson, LHQ, who both battled hard from the outset and finished with only five seconds separating them.

Pte Dubbels also won praise for her courage in the event, as she was so nervous before the race that she could not eat breakfast.

“I was quite nervous before the race I couldn’t eat but now I’m very excited because this is the first major championship I have ever won,” she said.

Pte Dubbels said her maiden victory would encourage her to tackle bigger challenges.

“I have been a runner all my life but I have only started to take running seriously in the past 12- months because of the rewards that it can bring,” she said.

Top placings

Men’s Open (Under 40 years)
Cpl David Whitehead 4RAR (Army) 28.15, Spr Mat Jeffrey IRR (Army) 30.01, Leut Josh Nottle NSC (Navy) 31.36

Men’s Veterans (40-44 years)
Sgt Rob Come 1HSB (Army) 29.53, Sgt Shepherd 4RAR (Army) 33.17, WO2 Scott Thompson AAB-M (Army) 37.38

Men’s Masters (45 years +)
Chaplain Don Kauss 1HSB (Army)

Women’s Open (Under 35 years)
Pte Fiona Dubbels 1HSB (Army) 28.35, Cpl Amy Hall 1HSB (Army) 30.45, Cpl Davison LHQ (Army) 30.50

Women’s Veteran
Cpl Jacqui Morgan 1HSB (Army) 36.20, Capt Veena Cochrane 1HSB (Army) 38.33 Champion Unit/Ship 1HSB Champion Service Army