|
Ferber is King of the Mountain
48 brave
athletes accepted the challenge to race to the top of Mount Laura in the Amfit
King & Queen of the Mountain Challenge which was one of the feature events in
Saturdays Whyalla Gift / Food and Wine Fair. The balmy 34 degree temperature at
race time made for warm but pleasant conditions but the competition was sizzling
hot straight from the start. Local runner Nic Hoffman was sitting on the heels
of the race favorites Mathew Ferber and Terrence Murphy heading up Fisk Street.
These three were also hotly pursued by Emily Hyde and Nick Worthing Neil
McNaughton.
The
early ascent of Mount Laura saw Ferber and Murphy pull away slightly from
Hoffmann and the chasing group of runners of McNaughton, Hyde Worthing and
Victor Awata. Ferber displayed and amazing speed on the down hill leg to open
up a 15 second gap on Murphy and Hoffman and even more on the chasing group who
took a more cautious approach to the downhill running. Mean while in the queen
of the Mountain section of the race Emily Hyde had open up a sizeable lead on
promising junior cross country runner Tasmin McMahon and Port Pirie girl Alison
Williams. Hyde was all class and technique as she ran past the 20-30 spectators
that lined the uphill section of the course with her feet barley touching the
ground.
Ferber
continued to extend his lead when back on the firmer footing of bitumen and by
the time he ran through the Roopenna gate and onto the oval to cross the finish
line his lead was extend to 30 seconds. Murphy secured 2nd place by
finishing strongly holding off Hoffman who was hot on his heels.
Emily
Hyde maintained her lead and took out the title of Queen of the Mountain with
Tasmin McMahon showing the crowd that she will be a force to reckon with in the
very near future. Third female went to Alison Williams who won the race last
year. In the junior section the first under 18 male (Baron of the Mountain) was
Whyalla Runner David Green and Baroness (fist Under 18 female) was Ellen
Packard. The Whyalla Football League Development Squad was well represented in
the field with Cieran Hollingsworth_ Hughes being the fist squad member home in
11th position. The event was a great success thanks to the
assistance of The SES, Police , Saint Johns Ambulance and the many marshals out
on the course to ensure the runners well being. |
