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The Equaliser Cross Country Race

Sunday 2nd June 1991

by Bret Nichols

Well Kevin, I'm sorry about the weather. But it is great to see continuing keen support of the annual cross country race, even in the face of fine clear cool conditions.

The 14.5km Equaliser course in the Davidson Valley was used for the second time and 60 runners were equalised; ie what went down had to come up. Some might agree with Harvey Blue, who claims it's more of a paralyser.

From the gun it's 1km to the beginning of a 125 metre vertical drop over the next 2.2km, down to the first crossing of Middle Harbour Creek. Via the Lower Cambourne Track and Acron Hill a 100 metre vertical climb over the next 2.2km took you to the drink stop at Acron Oval, St Ives, after which a 1.75km stretch along Acron, Ayres and Roma Roads returned you back into the bush. With a sharp hairpin bend to the left at Selby's S-Bend (christened after Warwick Selby got in the shit last year by running off the course) you're contouring for the next 2.2km past the tree-loppings tip before descending 95 vertical metres over the next 1km down to the second crossing of Middle Harbour Creek.

Finally it's that equalising 125 metres over 2.4km again - climbing this time and the 1km finishing "burst" to the line.

So you've relived your run? And you survived? And you'll be back next year? Of course. From my point of view as deviser of the course, it's a pleasant surprise that so many enjoy running it; it's been such a bastard to me, repeatedly making me breathe heavily and suffer tired legs. The appeal must be in the beautiful bushland and the Firkin/O'Kane catering.

Certainly, Striders are better runners than swimmers. Remember the Lane Cove cross country course - the rain, the creeks in full flood, the coursemarkings obliterated by rain, getting lost only to be overtaken on the run in to the finish around the university oval?

Are some Striders wimps though? Did they prefer to run the Wahroonga Wobble 30km course as an alternative to the cross country course for fear of sprained ankles and the competitive shorter distance? Were they afraid to race for fear of not being up to their best? Or did they, perhaps, apply their notorious map-reading skills to calendar-reading?

Back to the fun though. Jock Davis won for the second successive year, in 53:23, this time as a member of the Striders. Anthony Scott came second in 54:22, with Andy Simpson third in 55:36. Notably, these three are members of the Bigfoot Orienteering Club, and among the best in Australia. Chris Mclean, 4th overall, won the veteran men's category with a time of 58:49, having gained an unfair advantage by training on the Six Foot Track and Butler's Stairs at Woolloomootoo.

Joanne Cowan was 11th overall and won the women's division in 63:59, an improvement on last year's result by 3:04. The average age of the competitors was 39 years, the average time was 71 minutes, and most runners significantly bettered their 1990 times for the same course.

Running conditions were fantastic; cool weather with a clear sky, and equally fantastic was the catering by Barbara and Graham Firkin, with beer and champagne laid on in addition to the fresh fruit, cake, sammies, as well as the Diet and genuine Coca Cola. Thanks to Kevin O'Kane for looking after the Acron Oval drink stop.

Thank you also to those who helped mark the course: Tina,Jo, Dave and Rachel; and to Lynndy who marshalled and de-marked the course. New Strider member Michael Burton, second placegetter in the 1991 Six Foot Track stayed close to Jock Davis until the hill leading up to Acron Oval, but withdrew at the oval, still suffering a lingering flu virus. Sensible !

Conspicuously absent this year was Warwick Selby. Rumour has it that he arrived and started late (as usual) and ran off course (again), emerging at the end of the sodden Melbourne marathon, with a time of 2:45:49. Silly?

As to Striders being runners rather than swimmers, most crossed Middle Harbour Creek via the rock shelf at the left of the direct wet crossing. A few, however, including Jock Davis, Bondi "basher" Harvey Blue, and intrepid Swede Benny Hagberg took the plunge, while course marshal Lynndy Bennett took photos.

Louise Fitzsimmons' progress across the creek was impeded by the reluctance of her dog Kimha to get wet. Wendy Downes and Graham Firkin briefly ran off course into the tree-loppings tip to inspect the welfare of her trees which were blown over by the storm winds that tore through Turramurra earlier this year.

To be equal to the task next year, stay in touch with the training group who regularly run the course; Wednesday evenings throughout daylight saving and Saturday mornings the rest of the year.