 |
|
HARD ROAD: CAPT Andrew
Whittaker, left, crosses the finish line to place second in
the Masters event of the ADF 10km Road Championship.
Photo: Michael Brooke
|
|
| |
 |
HARD ROAD: CAPT Whittaker
with
RAN team mates LSET Michael Scarlett, CPOMT Paul Baker, POPT
Steve Adams, WOMT Trevor Henderson and LCDR Bertram Slape.
Photo: Michael Brooke
|
|
| |
Six fleet-footed sailors and officers were the surprise performers at
the AD 10km Road Championship at Holsworthy Barracks on 30 March.
The six RAN runners were among 38 ADF runners who competed in the 10km
championship, where new records were set in all five race categories.
The gruelling race involved four laps of the 2.4 km track used for the
BFA and an additional 800 metres around HQ 5 Bde.
But far from being proverbial “fish out of water”, Navy runners
challenged their more fancied Army rivals, finishing second and third
in the Men’s Master’s event.
CAPT Andrew Whittaker clinched second place in a time of 39.27, while
LCDR Bertram Slape and WOMT Trevor Henderson, both from HMAS Kuttabul,
clocked 44.22 and 49.11 to capture third and fourth place.
The Navy trio were pipped at the post by (USAF) LTCOL Jeff Symmes, who
clocked 36.37, to shatter the old record by exactly two-and-a-half minutes.
CAPT Whitaker, who was only 20 seconds short of breaking the old mark
of 39.07, said that all the Navy runners could be proud of their efforts.
“It’s all about getting out there and having a go,” he
said.
And the Navy did have a go.
POPT Steve Adams, and LSET Michael Scarlett, both of HMAS Waterhen, came
seventh and 13th in the Men’s Open, recording times of 36.54 and
45.26 respectively.
CPOMT Paul Baker, of HMAS Newcastle, clocked 45.37 to come within a whisker
of clinching third place in the Men’s Veteran event.
At the conclusion of the race, CAPT Whittaker, in his capacity as the
president of the Navy Running Association, presented the winners and place
getters with their trophies.
CAPT Whittaker said the objectives of sport in the ADF were to encourage
participation, to develop a competitive ethos and espirit-de-corps.
“Competitions, such as this race, provide the perfect opportunity
to build qualities in the respective work places, units and ultimately,
the ADF,” the Director of Military Personnel Policy said.
The AD 10km Championship was conducted as part of the annual inter-service
competition events organised by the Australian Defence Running and Athletics
Association.
|
