SPORT // FAMILY fitness was the focus of last weekend’s Geoff Watt memorial fun run in Warragul.
Now in its 44th year, the fun run features a wide range of competition levels, ranging from 2.5km to a half marathon.
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This year’s half marathon winner was Peter Cutler with a time of 1:18:30, his second win in the category in as many years. Trish Yates won the Women’s half marathon with a time of 1:43:15.
The event is named after prolific marathon runner Geoff Watt, who died while training, and is now run by his daughter and Olympic gold medallist Kathy Watt.
“He started the Warragul Athletics Club and died on a training run up Mount Erica,” Ms Watt told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.
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“He started it and inspired a lot of people. He was heavily involved in the community.
“His motto was to take part and he got 10th in the Boston Marathon and fourth in the London to Brighton, but he was more of an adventurer and just enjoyed it.
“He would love all the community spirit and people just showing up.”
It was the community participation which was key for fellow former Olympians Steve Ovett and Carolyn Schuwalow, who both oversaw the race.
“If you’re involved in the sport you want to see the sport continuing and obviously progressing,” Mr Ovett told WBBC.
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“It’s not all about the stars we see on TV, it is about this sort of thing that’s really what sport’s about; the young kids, mums, dads, and the community getting behind it and enjoying themselves.”
Ms Schuwalow encouraged families to take part in sporting activities and said the Geoff Watt run was a great example.
“Having a family, you want to encourage your children to come out and have a family day here and do some physical activities,” Ms Schuwalow told WBBC.
“A lot of kids these days are on the iPhones and iPads and I don’t think that’s really the way to go if you want to have a long and healthy life.
“I think it is a great memorial for Geoff Watt, who was one of the area’s greatest running philanthropists.”
Many families took part in the races, which stretched along roads south of the railway line and freeway, including one family which ran with a sleeping baby in a pram and happy dog on a leash.
Full results at end of gallery. Photos by William PJ Kulich.
Full results: 2015 Geoff Watt Memorial Fun Run
Geoff Watt Memorial Half Marathon
Geoff Watt Memorial Half Marathon- Mens Open
1. Peter Cutler 1hr18m30
2. Brett Franklin 1hr20m 04
3. Dan Langelaan 1hr21m26
Geoff Watt Memorial Garmin Half Marathon- MensU18
1.Lachlan Jacob 1hr28m33
2.Oliver Adams 1hr42m25
Geoff Watt Memorial Garmin Half Marathon -Mens Over 40
1. Jason Hilder 1hr25m09
2. Gary Nooy 1hr27m07
3. Paul Rowse 1hr31m51
4.Peter Clerks 1hr32m25
Geoff Watt Memorial Garmin Half Marathon -Womens Open
1. Trish Yates 1hr43m15
2. Emily Barkley 1hr 45m12
3. Susan Elsdon 1hr 47m10
Geoff Watt Memorial Garmin Half Marathon- Womens U18
1. Felicity Paredes 2hr19m39
Geoff Watt Memorial Garmin Half Marathon-Womens Over 40
1. Sue Elsdon 1hr47m10
2. Vicki Remyn 1hr47m34
3. Debra Robb 2hr04m36
Kathy Watt Cycles 10k
Kathy Watt Cycles 10k- Mens Open
1. Paul Taylor 37m47
2. Richard Clavarino 38m19
3. Mitchell Distin 39m13
Kathy Watt Cycles 10k- Mens U18
1. Mitchell Distin 39m13
2. Harrison Moore 47m42
3. Ty Miller 55m29
Kathy Watt Cycles 10k- Mens Over 40
1. Paul Taylor 37m47
2. Stuart Gowans 53m10
3. PDarren Yates 55m14
Kathy Watt Cycles 10k- Womens Open
1. Kathryn Hilder 47m47
2. Alicia Clerks 47m48
3. Kate Flint & Tammy Brace 48m29
Kathy Watt Cycles 10k- Womens U18
1. Alicia Clerks 47m48
2. Georgia Pearson 49m08
3.Hayley Adams 52m01
Kathy Watt Cycles 10k- Womens Over 40
1. Kathryn Hilder 47m47
2. Tammy Brace 48m29
3. Megan Thomas 51m04
Australian Clothing Company 5k
Australian Clothing Company 5k-Mens Open
1. Kim Harold 18m11
2. Chris Macdonald 18m23
3. Campbell Pike 18m55
4. Lachy Auldist 21m02
Australian Clothing Company 5k- Mens U18
1. Campbell Pike 18m55
2. Lachie Auldist 21m02
3. Liam Gleeson 21m40
4. Nathan Balfour 22m18
Australian Clothing Company 5k-Mens Over 40
1. Chris McDonald 18m23
2. Mark Spencer 20m07
3. Chris Buckingham 24m47
Australian Clothing Company 5k- Womens Open
1. Anna MacDonald 20m17
2. Jo Pratt 21m46
3. Melissa Taafe 22m27
Australian Clothing Company 5k- Womens U18
1. Ella Johnstone 27m05
2. Mia McGrohan 27m23
3. Darcy Sutteridge 28m10
Australian Clothing Company 5k-Womens Over 40
1.Tammy Jane 23m10
2. Merryn Finlayson 23m29
3. Julianne MacDonald 24m28
Baw Baw Shire & Warragul Gazette 2.5k U14 Girls
1. Emily Hart 11m11.71
2. Jennifer Mackay 13m20.93
3. Bella Finlayson 14m48.47
Baw Baw Shire &Warragul Gazette 2.5k U10 Girls
1. Amelie Crossley 11m40.82
2. Chloe Johnstone 12m09.57
3. Tahlia Langelaan 13m40.94
4. Harriet Yates
Baw Baw Shire &Warragul Gazette 2.5k U14 Boys
1.Jackson Crossley 9m12.04
2. Sam King 9m29.03
3. Jackson Clarke 11m38.90
Baw Baw Shire &Warragul Gazette 2.5k U10 Boys
1. Harry Van Schyndel 11m17.50
2. Rhys Flegg 11m40.82
3. Cody Jones 12m55.81
Gippsland Athletics Young Female Athlete Award
Tameka Moore
Gippsland Athletics Young Male Athlete Award
Aaron Saltmarsh
What a great community event.
The Bona Vista Road was a fair challenge, but great feeling to get to the top of that first big hill.