Community Fun Run

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History of the Community Fun Run

When the running boom was at its peak there were many local fun runs available for competitors to choose from on most weekends.  They were run as fundraisers in Gippsland or very close by (Inverloch, Rosedale, and Yallourn North etc.).

As the popularity of running reduced in the late 1990s there was a dramatic reduction in the number of fun runs.  This had two effects: local runners had very few fun runs to compete in and also there was nowhere for new runners to experience competition.

So in 1999 Belinda Issell made the suggestion to her partner, Ian Heafield, why don’t we organise a Traralgon Harriers Community Fun Run (CFR) to promote running by: 

  • Having very low entry fees (just enough to cover the trophies)

  • Many trophies for ages groups with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners

  • 5 Km distance for main event

  • Small distance for very young children1.5km

  • Family orientated

  • Spot prizes (donated by businesses and given out at random, so anyone could win).

Over 100 competitors turned up for the inaugural run which showed that the community wanted such an event.  Local businesses supplied the spot prizes and the Latrobe City sponsored the trophies for a number of years which the Traralgon Harriers greatly appreciated.

Courses

The first course was a clockwise course around the back of the Australian Security Commission building across the Traralgon Creek Bridge on Church Street then down Davidson Street onto George – Munro – Peterkin then back around the old Pizza Hut.  The distance was once for 1.5 km for juniors and three times for 5 km for others.  It was moved from this venue as Police permits etc. became a hassle and a decision had to be made for another course.

It was run once on the old Moe Rail Trail before being moved for many years to Morwell.  At Morwell the 1.5 km distance was run around the Kernot Hall Lake and the 5 km involved running a couple of loops around the Waterhole Creek path down as far as Hourigan Road.  In the last few years the event has been moved back to Traralgon and has been promoted exceptionally well with many teams and individuals now participating.  It is currently run around the Grey Street area with 2016 having over 500 participants.

Write up and results for first Community Fun Run in 1999.

1999 Community Fun Run1999 Community Fun Run

Results

Community Fun Run Male 5km and Female 5km Winners

YEAR

MALE NAME

TIME

FEMALE NAME

TIME

1999

Peter Tonkin

16:09

Dionne Charleston

17.05

2000

John Mackenzie

16:29

Denise Jones

24.06

2001

John Mackenzie

15.54

Sandra Timmer-Arends

Time Unknown

Run on 25 March 2001 – Course was short

2002

John Mackenzie

16:09

Rachel Gibney

19:08

2003

Steve Quirk

17:13

Melissa Jones

20:03

2004

Nick Schilling

16:55

Shannon McCurley

20:29

2005

Steve Quirk

16:37

Deb Piercy

20:53

2006

Ben St Lawrence

16:24

Andrea Henderson

22:33

2007

Craig Huffer

16:00

Melissa Jones

20:58

2008

John Mackenzie

13:32 (4.15km)

Kathryn Hilder

16:20 (4.15km)

2009

Sam Quirk

16:01

Melissa Jones

19:37

2010

Des Paynter

16:23

Anna Orr

20:59

2011

Nick Schilling

16:38

Kathryn Ewels

18:20

2012

Sam Quirk

15:40

Kylie Murray

18:48

2013

Nick Schilling

17:24

Kathryn Preston

19:07

2014

Stephen Rae

16:59

Sarah Lewis

20:29

2015

Ryan Wissmer

15.59

Alexandra Bull

19:05

2016

Ryan Wissmer

16.19

Alexandra Bull

19:39

2017

Ryan Wissmer

15.34

Sarah Lewis

19.42

 24 Community Fun Run March 2002 Complete results

This is an example of range of walks and runs and it also shows age groups that are catered for.

1.5 KM RUN

Time

1.5 KM WALK

Time

Troy Stimson

5.01

Candice Masterman-Smith

14.06

Jay Masterman-Smith

6.44

Sharon Dodd

14.06

Dean Donoghue

7.09

Cameron Graham

14.01

David Mann

8.01

Erin Graham

14.53

Hayden Maximiw

8.06

Tanya Eagle

8.14

Rachel Dodd

8.21

Michael Smith

8.38

Rohan Eagle

9.06

Georgia Slavin

9.28

Jenna Blackwood

10.31

Brianna Lowden

11.04

5 KM RUN

Time

5 KM WALK

Time

John Mac Kenzie

16.09

Robyn Henderson

28.45

Brett van der Velden

17.35

Joel Fife

34.47

Morgan Tucker

18.03

Margaret Salisbury

38.55

Rod Hanson

18.06

Sharon Maximiw

38.57

Roger Maximiw

19.03

Bernadette Lowden

37.31

Rachel Gibney

19.08

Narelle Morrison

41.39

Adrian Masterman-Smith

20.36

Sally Eenjes

41.39

Steve Wright

20.38

Don Evans

43.42

Terry Stokes

20.49

Kyra Howard

45.04

Jade Masterman-Smith

21.13

Leanne Fife

45.04

Nick Smith

21.21

Jacqui Mann

45.25

Allen Boast

21.24

Kerrie Eagle

45.25

Donald Catlin

21.47

Stephan Mann

21.49

Brad McAuliffe

22.01

Jay Masterman-Smith

22.05

Derek Evans

22.11

Ken Lancaster

22.12

Con Kam

22.19

Shannon McCurley

22.36

Steve Eagle

22.39

Ian Duncan

22.43

Stephen McLeod

22.54

Troy Avery

22.54

Jason Eenjes

22.56

Karen O’Keefe

22.56

Peter Grixti

23.49

Barry Summergill

23.59

David Graham

24.43

Jenny Ryan

28.07

Kristin Passalaqua

28.14

Vanessa Piper

28.19

Claire Issell

28.26

Rob Donaldson

28.29

Denise Strang

28.29

Kathy Dodd

29.46

Simon Kumen

30.29

Belinda Gibson

33.06

Hayley Barnes

33.46

Janette Duncan

33.52

Courtney Demartin

33.58

Denise Twite

37.33

 2002 Community Fun Run Winners of Age Groups

1.5 KM RUN

Hayden Maximiw

8.06

U 8 Male

Rohan Eagle

9.06

U 10 Male

Troy Stimson

5.01

U 12 Male

Tanya Eagle

8.14

U 12 Female

1.5 KM WALK

Candice Masterman-Smith

14.06

U8 Female

Cameron Graham

14.01

U8 Male

5 KM  RUN

John Mackenzie

16.09

Open Male

Rachel Gibney

19.08

Open Female

Morgan Tucker

18.03

Male +40

Denise Twite

37.33

Female +40

Adrian Masterman-Smith

20.36

U 16 Male

Claire Issell

28.26

U 16 Female

Jade Masterman-Smith

21.13

U 14 Male

Jay Masterman-Smith

22.05

U 12 Male

Shannon McCurley

22.36

U 12 Female

5 KM  WALK

Robyn Henderson

28.45

Open Female

Margaret Salisbury

38.55

Female + 40

Don Evans

43.42

Male + 40

Joel Fife

34.49

U 16 Male

Kyra Howard

45.04

U 16 Female

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