Ship shape running event

By LCDR Mick Gallagher

Ships company from HMAS Manoora look on as Mr Lucio Di Bartolomeo starts off the “Ship to Shore” 5km walk. Photo: ABPH Brenton

Four hundred and thirty runners and walkers participated in this year’s HMAS Kuttabul/ADI Ltd Ship to Shore event at Garden Island (GI), Sydney.

This was 110 more competitors than the inaugural event last year

Starting at the gangway of HMAS Manoora under the starter’s gun of Mr Lucio Di Bartolomeo, the Managing Director ADI, the five-kilometre event took its course from Woolloomooloo Bay around the island and finished on the Elizabeth Bay side of GI.

The competitors included LEUT Chris Jones from HMAS Parramatta and son SMNSN Ryan Jones from AUSCDTONE at HMAS Waterhen.

There were three runners from King’s Cross police with one, Perri Hayes, coming 3rd in the Open Female event.
One sailor did the course pedalling a monocycle.

“It was good to see so many out on such a fine day,” said the CO of HMAS Manoora, CMDR Martin Brooker, who finished second in the Male Veteran Walkers event to Jim Barndon (27:45) of Ministerial Services Public Affairs/NSW.

CMDR Brooker was edged along by fellow “Manoorians,” CPOET Glenn Morrisey and CPOMT Mark “Muffy” Duncan.

Also competing were veteran runners CMDR Brian Eagles, CO HMAS Kuttabul, and CMDR Peter Kelly, OIC NPTC-Canberra, who won the Male Veterans event (14:50). Second was LEUT David Gayford MHQ.

The Open Male event was won by PTE David Whitehead of 4RAR Holsworthy (13:06).

In the Open Male Walker event the first three places went to HMAS Parramatta, ABET Haonan Teng, ABET Troy Pollard and POMED Simon Walker.

The Open Female event was won by CPL Stephanie Hall (14:32) and the Female Veterans MAJ Hanan Abdalla HQAST, with LEUT Ange Googe the 1st LEUT of HMAS Kuttabul in second place.

The Open Female Walker was won by ABWTR Cassandra Watson from HMAS Parramatta, with Ms Susan Marr from ADI taking out the Veteran Female Walkers.

The day was made complete with a BBQ provided by volunteers from the cadet unit TS Sirius.

Sponsors included ADI, ADCU, Kuttabul Welfare, The Runners Shop-Clovelly, Australian Bicycle Co-Kensington, Life Fitness Australia, and World of Sport.

“I would like to thank the PT staff from HMA Ships Kuttabul, Waterhen, Watson, Newcastle and Manoora for their assistance,” said event organiser POPT Andrew Gibson.

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