Report Extract courtesy of Tim Erikson VRWC
A record 397 entries by 297 competitors meant that the previous year’s record attendance was well and truly shattered, making this year's Canberra carnival the biggest walking carnival ever held in Australia. While conditions were perfect for the 20 mile and 10 mile events, intermittent showers later in the day meant that some of the events for the younger walkers were raced in trying conditions - but nothing dampened what was a huge carnival.
VRWC sent its biggest team ever (82 walkers) but this was matched by NSWRWC which also sent 82 walkers. Strong teams from QLD and SA made for some very competitive events and smaller teams from Tasmania, ACT, Bendigo, WA and Regal walkers meant that we had a truly Australian wide carnival.
The day's proceedings started with the long events around Lake Burley Griffin - 20 miles, 10 miles and 5 miles.
The 20 mile race was a corker with the four AIS walkers in control as expected. NSW AIS star Luke Adams took off from the gun with an 8 minute first 2km over the rolling hills. VRWC's Jared Tallent took up the challenge, caught him at around the 4km mark and then went straight to the front and was never headed. With Jared passing the 10 mile mark in 66:21, his existing course record was always going to be bettered and thus it unfolded – with the Olympic dual medalist crossing the finish line in 2:14:57. Luke continued to walk strongly to record an 11 min PB time of 2:18:49, the third fastest of all time while VRWC's Chris Erickson also PB’d with his third place time of 2:22:47. The remaining AIS walker, NSWRWC's Adam Rutter, filled the fourth spot with 2:28:40.
Young ACT walker Brendon Reading debuted successfully with an excellent 2:35:43 while Andrew Jamieson, now 62 years of age, belied the years with his time of 2:42:53. Megan Szirom walked the second fastest ever time by a woman to finish 8th with 2:49:54. Peter Bennett of QLD, only a week after finishing first in one of the big European 24 Hour classics (with 213km), came down in distance for a time of 3:27:02.
The Victorian Race Walking Club won 24 individual medals in the main events (9 gold, 6 silver and 9 bronze)
Geelong Region Walkers appear in bold Italic
Golds: Jared Tallent Open Men 20 Miles 2:14:57
Megan Szirom Open Women 20 Miles 2:49:54
Andrew Jamieson Masters Men 20 Miles 2:42:53
Jess Rothwell Open Women 10 Miles 1:14:33
Ralph Bennett Masters Men 10 Miles 1:32:10
Damien Elms Fitness 5 Miles 55:49
Billy Allamby U12 Boys 2km 10:21
Jmara Hockley-Samon U14 Girls 2km 9:55
Rachel Tallent U20 Girls 5km 25:15
Silvers: Pam Tindal Masters Women 10 Miles 1:32:13
Ross Reid Masters Men 10 Miles 1:32:12
Georgia Bertrand U10 Girls 1km 5:21
Billy Allamby U14 Boys 2km 10:18
Rachel Tallent U18 Girls 5km 25:17
Kellie Wapshott Open Women 5km 22:48
Bronzes: Chris Erickson Open Men 20 Miles 2:22:47
Ralph Bennett Open Men 10 Miles 1:32:10
Bernie Keirl Masters Men 10 Miles 1:32:53
Robin Wood Fitness 10 Miles 1:57:31
Rhydian Cowley U20 Men 10 km 44:57
Jared Walker U12 Boys 2km 10:22 (due to a mix up in race directions, jared walked an extra 40 metres while leading which probably cost him the National Title)
Stephanie George U12 Girls 2km 10:19
Lewis Clark U16 Boys 3km 14:20
Jmara Hockley-Samon U16 Girls 3km 15:21
and 13 Teams medals (5 gold, 7 silver and 1 bronze)
Open 20 Miles 1 VRWC Jared Tallent, Chris Erickson, Andrew Jamieson
Open Women 10 Miles 2 VRWC Jess Rothwell, Beth Alexander, Pam Tindal
U10 Boys 1km 2 VRWC Sam Candotti, Ethan McShanag, Noah Candotti
U10 Girls 1km 2 VRWC Georgia Bertrand, Hayley George, Jessica Lillie
U12 Boys2km 1 VRWC Billy Allamby, Kyle Swan, Cooper Owen
U12 Girls 2km 1 VRWC Megan Walker, Paige De Lisen, Emily Hamilton
U14 Boys 2km 1 VRWC Billy Allamby, Jared Walker, Jeremiah Jones
U14 Girls 2km 1 VRWC Jmara Hockley-Samon, Stephanie George, Bianca Attard
U16 Boys 3km 2 VRWC Lewis Clark, Matt Felton, Aaron Gardner
U16 Girls 3km 2 VRWC Jmara Hockley-Samon, Amelia Finnegan, Hilary Brazel
U18 Boys 5km 3 VRWC Brad Simpson, Matt Felton, Connor McShanag
U18 Girls 5km 2 VRWC Rachel Tallent, Natalie Laurie, Hilary Brazel
Open Women 5km 2 VRWC Kellie Wapshott, Rachel Tallent, Emma Smith