Short Course Cross Country returns to West Dapto
Published Tue 04 Jul 2023
4 July 2023
Short Course Cross Country returns to West Dapto
After a two-year break, the NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships return this Saturday to the purpose-built course at West Dapto, home of Kembla Joggers club.
In the COVID effected 2020 winter season, the venue hosted NSW’s only two cross country championships. Then in 2021 the winter season was cancelled due to COVID and the 2022 race was moved to Bathurst as a test event for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. The 2022 race probably couldn’t have proceeded at West Dapto due to the course flooding with 1000mms of rain, a result of being on the river line. In the ensuring two years, there has been significant development in the area around the venue and also too parts of the course. There has been beautification work near the challenging final hill and improvements to swampy areas. The 7.5km open course in 2023 will be a little tougher than in previous years as it will include two trips up the final hill.
Host club, Kembla Joggers club are this year celebrating 50 years. Over the decades, through government grants and fund raising, they have developed the dedicated venue, one of just three in Australia (along with Nowra and Stromlo). The course, opened in 2004 has undergone constant improvement. There has been site infrastructure added in 2010 with a club house included an office, toilets, change rooms, kitchen, garage, store room for equipment and an 80 seat hall. It is named the Kerryn McCann Hall, in memory of the NSW and club great distance runner. Constant maintenance and improvements keep the clubs dedicated volunteers busy.
EVENTS FACT SHEET:
Name: 109th NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships
Venue: West Dapto Cross Country Course, Darkes Rd, Brownsville
Date: Saturday 8th July 2023
Ages: U10 to Masters
Events: see below
Entries close: Noon Wednesday 5th July 2023 – entry details below.
Where to enter: https://www.nswathletics.org.au/events/176133/
More info - timetable, course map, distances and more: https://www.nswathletics.org.au/events/176133/
Host Club: Kembla Joggers
Events:
U10 & U12 - Male/Female: 1.5km
U14 - Male/Female: 2km
U15, U16, U17 & U18 - Male/Female: 3km
U20 – Male: 6km
U20 – Female: 4km
Open - Male/Female: 7.5km
30-49 Masters – Male/Female: 7.5km
50-69 Masters – Male: 6km
50+ Masters – Female: 4km
70+ Masters – Male: 4km
Fun Run: 2km & 4km
The championships are a pathway event to compete at the Australian Cross Country Championships. Read the criteria: https://www.nswathletics.org.au/nsw-state-teams/nationalcrosscountry/
History NSW Short Course Cross Country
This is the 109th edition of the race, held annually since 1906, missing three years due to the world war I (1916 to 1918), four non-championships races due to world war II (1940 to 1943), two years in the ‘90s (‘92 and ’93) and 2021 due to COVID. The first 58 years were held on racecourses all over Sydney, including: Randwick, Canterbury, Gosford, Kensington, Victoria Park and Ascot.
Although it is currently termed the ‘short course’ cross country, for the first 75 years, it was more the ‘long course, with distances from 10 mile to 20km, 15km and 16km.
The most successful champions have been:
MEN: 5 – Alleyn Gainsford (STG), Robert Vagg (ES); 4 – Jack Sheaves (SOS), Donald Campbell (RK) and Paul Arthur (RBH/AEA)
WOMEN: 5 – Liz Miller (AEA/RBH; 4 - Annette Dwyer (AEA).
Recent winners:
2016 - Harry Summers (RBH) and Kate Spencer (RBH)
- - Edward Goddard (UTN) and Angela Leadbeatter (NFL)
- - Jordan Gusman (BAN) and Paige Campbell (SYU)
2019 - Brad Milosevic (GIR) and Rose Davies (ADA)
2020 - Rorey Hunter (BAN) and Paige Campbell (SYU)
2021 - Not held COVID
2022 - Drew Fryer (RBH) and Holly Campbell (RBH)
2023 - 109th edition
Who were the 2022 NSW State Short Course XC champions?
FEMALE
Open 6km Holly Campbell, Randwick Botany Harriers 22:34
U20 4.5km Shayne Hargraves, Bankstown 18:16
U18 3km Lily Winward, Bankstown 11:49
U16 3km Annabelle Miller, Kotara South 12:01
U14 1.6km Jessica Kann Bankstown 5:55
U12 1.6km Ronia Warszawska Sutherland 6:00
30-34y 6km Lora Roff, Randwick Botany Harriers 27:21
40-44y 6km Lauren Mitchell, Kembla Joggers 26:21
45-49y 6km Trudi Barnes Kembla Joggers 27:59
50-54y 4.5km Cristine Suffolk, Victory Runners 23:36
55-59y 4.5km Linda Molloy, Hills Distrist 22:47
60-64y 4.5km Margaret Kenny, Nsw Masters 23:47
65-69y 4.5km Rosemary Roediger, Hills Distrist 24:23
MALE
Open 6km Drew Fryer, Randwick Botany Harriers 20:23
U20 4.5km Hamish Hart, Knox Grammar School 15:12
U18 4.5km Max Russell, Randwick Botany 16:01
U16 3km Huon Groves, Randwick Botany 10:48
U14 1.6km Lachlan Wheeler Sutherland 5:49
U12 1.6km Max McIntosh Sydney Strid 5:58
30-34y 6km Joshua Johnson, Bankstown 20:24
35-39y 6km Lachlan Oakes, Delta Running 23:13
40-44y 6km Russell Dessaix-Chin, Sydney University 22:00
45-49y 6km Robin Whiteley, Asics Wests 22:51
50-54y 4.5km Andrew Cross, Sutherland 17:50
55-59y 4.5km Paul Arthur, Gosford 17:34
60-64y 4.5km Tony Coles, Hills Distrit 20:20
65-69y 4.5km David McEwan, Hills Distrit 20:21
70-74y 4.5km Ron Schwebel, Sydney Striders 23:22
75-79y 4.5km Frank Scorzelli, St. George 23:46
80+y 4.5km William Thom, Bankstown 30:03
David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: 2020 NSW Short Course XC – Fleur Cooper & Ivy Boothroyd (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)
