The winner of WA’s interservice cross country, PTE David Ross.

Photo: ABPH Joanne Edwards

By LSPT Jason Hutchison

By LSPT Jason Hutchison Nerrabup National Park in WA was the scene of this year’s WA interservice cross-country last month, where Army snatched the title from Navy.

Although the Navy had won this event every year since 1989, it was obvious from the start that the reigning champions were in trouble.

Both the Army and RAAF had ten competitors, while Navy only had five.

The 10km course weaved through the Yaberoo Budjara Walking trail, and although the race was fairly close for the first couple of kilometres, the field gradually spread out at the half way mark.

SMN Bradley Pethers ran well to be up the front among the leaders.

The course was unforgiving on the runners with its undulation and soft sand underfoot, making it extremely difficult for runners to get into a rhythm.

Army’s PTE David Ross was first to cross the line with a time of 41:49. SMN Bradley Pethers was second with a time of 43:00, closely followed by FTLT Malcolm Walker at 43:20 minutes.

The first female to finish was PTE Cindy Greenfield in a time of 48:08, second place was PTE Bernadette Rogash with a time of 50:23, and third was SMN Vanessa Doyle in 1:02.05.

Army were clear winners ahead of RAAF and then Navy.

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