Top 4 for Premier Women and Men headlines Cruden Farm racing
Rd 3 XCR16: Cruden Farm Cross Country
MUAC took to the Cruden Farm Cross Country with aplomb on Saturday, with the lede clearly being a top 4 finish for both MUAC Premier Division teams. Round 3, including the 124 year old Victorian 10 Mile Championship, was held at the childhood home of billionaire tyrant Rupert Murdoch, Cruden Farm, on a course that included immaculate manicured gardens, paddocks, bush tracks and a muddy creek crossing.
A lucky 13 MUAC women took on the 8 km course. A top 5 of Aislinn Prendergast, Ellen Schaef, Ella Trimboli, Lanita Steer and Liv Honore all finished in the top 55, taking the team to 4th place and pushing them further up the premiership ladder to fifth. The race also saw the welcome return of super mum Sarah Horsfield. Once again the Division 4 women ran well and came a very close second. The team now sits in second place on the ladder, just three points from the lead.
Nick Earl was the top story for the Men, finishing just off the podium in 4th place, a spectacular run over 16km. It’s the combined team effort Wot Won It, with 6 men inside the top 55 and 7th and 8th pushing hard, just outside the Premier Team. Martin Mashford returned to racing and showed that lack of training is a viable strategy, finishing an impressive 17th. There was strong running further down the order too with North Queenslander James Maguire fast enough to avoid being mugged by a croc and Hamish Beaumont getting to the line without any sign of Freddie Star.
Many thanks to the Maguires and Lou Organ for helping out on the day as our volunteers; without them we would have scored no points.
There was a sumptuous post race repast at the MUAC marquee with a smorgasbord of delightful baked goods, though Paul Munro admitted he was only there for de beers. A quick reverse ferret by our trusty bus driver and the team was rolling up the freeway: muddy, tired and refreshed after another hard round of cross country.
MUAC will be back in action in two weeks for Rd 4 of XCR’16, the Lake Wendouree Road Race, which will be followed by the traditional Saturday night excursion to Gaylords.
