SGT
Rob Combe
SGT
Rob Combe It was a case of quality not quantity at the recent
ADF 10km Championships held at Holsworthy on February 28.
Although numbers were down there were some exceptional performances
and a new era of ADF athletic talent unveiled.
A field of just 28 runners faced the starter in warm conditions.
The mainly flat course would take them on four laps of a 2.5km
loop that proved to the liking of most competitors.
The early leader was PTE Hamish Gray from 2 HSB and he had opened
up a 20m break at the 1km mark in a time of 3min10sec.
A group of six had formed behind him with last year’s winner CPL
Wayne Heath (2 HSB) and veteran WO2 Mark Anderson (1 HSB) making
their presence felt early.
CPL Geoff Hanckel (CSU WAG) and CPL Damien Enderby (77 SQN) who
had raced in the cycling criterium and road race the day before,
looked happy to sit on the pace and cover any move as it arose.
They wouldn’t have to wait long.
The group swallowed up PTE Gray near the end of the first lap
and then the lead changed several times with SGT Rob Combe (1
HSB) and PTE David Whitehead (4 RAR) each taking a turn at the
front.
Just after the halfway point PTE Whitehead surged to the lead
with only CPL Hanckel and WO2 Anderson able to hang on.
He then went up another gear in the last lap and left the other
two to battle out the minor placings, winning in an excellent
time of 33.24min.
CAPT Rayward ran strongly to take out the Women’s event in 42.17min
followed by 2 LEUT Bell in 44.11min and PTE Greenland in 46.26min.
It was CAPT Rayward’s first ADF event but she is already aiming
for the State Teams Half Marathon Challenge in May.
