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FUN RUN: Competitors in the annual Shoalbay Classic Road Race. |
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Volume 49, No. 18 , October 05, 2006
By ABPH Helen Frank
The Shoalbay Classic Road Race attracted 92 fit and fun-loving competitors from Defence units across Darwin for this year’s event.
The annual relay involves teams of six, and each member runs about 2.7km. Individual runners complete the entire course of 16.3km.
In this year’s event, PO Nerida Godfrey from HMAS Coonawarra took out the open walker category with a time of 2h.04m.38s.
The Individual RAN Female category was won by LS Kim Roesler from Headquarters Northern Command in a time of 1h.55m.12s and AB Greg Kahl from HMAS Dubbo took out the Individual RAN Male category in a time of 1h.26m.32s.
The Petras Memorial Trophy is awarded to the winning team each year. This race and trophy perpetuate the memory of two fine young sailors who had both served in the Royal Australian Navy with distinction.
LS Gary Petras and his wife Sharyn, who was also in the Navy, had only been married five months when they were tragically killed at the traffic lights near the former site of HMAS Coonawarra at Berrimah.
Gary worked at Shoal Bay Receiving Station, and Sharyn worked at Base Calibration Centre at RAAF Darwin.
The trophy was donated to HMAS Coonawarra in 1989 by Keith and Pam Petras, parents of Gary. Both Gary and Sharyn’s parents wanted the trophy to be awarded at an event involving fit and fun-loving people.
Team Geek from 1st Combat Signal Regiment at Robertson Barracks, who finished with a time of 1h.06m.07s, took home the trophy.
The Individual Open Male Category was won by CPL Joshua Thornhill from 1st Combat Engineer Regiment with an impressive time of 1h.08m.32s and CPL Debbie Benjamin from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion won the Individual Open Female Category with a time of 1h.43m.13s.
The Individual Veteran Male was won by WO Gordon Watkin from 1st Combat Signal Regiment with a time of 1h.28m.13s, and the Individual Veteran Female was won by SGT Kim Booth-Collis from Headquarters Northern Command in a time of 1h.55m.12s.
On completion of the race a tropical breakfast was provided by the Shoal Bay Receiving Station staff and the Petras Memorial Trophy was presented by Karen and Tara Petras.
Participants also received a bag of goodies from Navy Health, who sponsored this year’s event.
