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Warramunga
wins on Christmas Is.
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Warramunga’s
winning runners: SMNCIS Amanda Weir, LSCIS James Robertson,
ABET Simon Jenkins, SBLT Kathryn McCabe, LSCSO Stephen Cailes
and SMNCSO Rebecca Hamilton.
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While
HMAS Warramunga (CO CMDR I.R Middleton) has been busy during Op
Relex II, six crew members thought a great way to get ashore would
be to enter a mixed team in the annual Christmas Island Marathon.
Each runner had to complete seven kilometres in blistering heat,
on what has been labelled one of the world’s toughest courses.
After being delayed due to ship’s commitments and an extremely
slow mini bus, the team arrived seven minutes after the race commenced.
Still eager to have a run, the team decided to run the course for
fun as all proceeds where going to charity.
LSCSO Stephen Cailes took off for the first leg and the team bus
proceeded to the next change-over point. Thirty minutes later as
the other teams were changing runners, to the team’s surprise
‘Cailesy’ had closed the gap to mere seconds.
SMNCIS Amanda Weir, then took up the chase in one of the more difficult
legs and the team members had now decided it was their goal to catch
one of the other teams.
The third runner was SMNCSO Rebecca Hamilton. By the time she arrived
at the change-over point, not only had the team caught up, they
had pushed through the main field of runners.
Fourth runner, ABET Simon Jenkins undoubtedly had to run the hardest
section of the course — a series of short steep hills and an
extra long uphill section that had the mini bus ready to retire
while following.
SBLT Kathryn McCabe ran a strong leg for the team, increasing the
gap; the only obstacle in her way being the large robber crabs everywhere
in this area of the course.
The final 7km was a steep downhill battle. LSCIS James Robertson,
running in the dark with only the light of the mini bus to guide
him, ran across the finish line where spectators applauded him enthusiastically.
Soon after, the team was informed that it had finished 1st in the
mixed team section and 3rd overall team.
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