GEELONG RELAY 5.7k

The Geelong Relay has its origins in a 1937 relay challenge between the APSOC clubs and Ivanhoe Harriers organised by Ian MacDougall (OS), the first APSOC champion. After World War II, the event was named in honour of Ian MacDougall, who sadly died as a prisoner in Germany just a few weeks before the war in Europe ended. Thus from 1946 to 2003, the event was known as the Ian MacDougall Challenge Relay. Whilst the relay has now been re-named, Ian continues to be honoured with the naming of the APSOCAAA Athlete of the Year in his memory.

The event has changed over the years, both in location and distance, mainly because of increasing traffic along the various road courses used in Rosanna, Watsonia, Warrandyte and Arthurs Creek. By the 1990’s, it was clear that racing on public roads was too dangerous and so the event was moved to the 100 Acre Reserve in Park Orchards and then on to sealed paths adjacent to Gardiner’s Creek in Box Hill South. 

Finally in 2001, with the demise of the Ivanhoe club’s winter team after seventy years and the concurrent growth of the Old Geelong Collegians club, the current venue was established at Queen’s Park, Geelong. The 5.7 km course follows sealed bike paths on each side of the Barwon River, starting and finishing near the Queen’s Park Road one lane bridge.

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The paths are undulating, but the lack of any real hills and smooth surface makes for a fast course, as is shown by the course records of David McNeill (OX) 16:44 and Anna Thompson (OW) 18:45.

Initially there were teams of five runners contesting the event on the Geelong course, but since 2004 there have been open teams of four and women’s teams of three. Haileybury and Old Xaverians hold the open and women’s team records respectively.

Afternoon tea is hosted by OGCAAC at the nearby Geelong College campus in Talbot Street, Newtown.

GRAHAM WISE MINI MARATHONS

During the 1960’s, the APSOB Committee was looking to develop additional events, including at least one long event to cater for the increasing interest in marathons. Around this time, there was the arrival of the mini skirt. What better time to introduce a new set of events – the “mini marathons” of 21.1 km, 10.55 km and 5.275 km. The half marathon would suit the “real” distance runners, the quarter marathon the bulk of the members and the eighth marathon the social runners and sprinters.

In 1967 the first mini marathons were held at Bundoora, running on roads through Greensborough, the Plenty Gorge and South Morang. The starting times of the three races were staggered so that the leaders of each race would finish the event together. Following the event, runners and friends retired to the home of Colin Findlay in Bundoora for afternoon tea.

The Bundoora courses were used for a further two years, until encroaching housing development and increased traffic led to concerns for safety on the roads. From 1970, Graham Wise kindly agreed to host the runs from his home in Plenty Road, Whittlesea (really Yan Yean).  Peter Bruce (OX) won the initial half marathon event at Bundoora and a further six times at Yan Yean. Later, Olympian Steve Austin bettered this achievement with eight wins.

Over the ensuing 35 years, changes to the courses became necessary due to increased road traffic. In 2006 and 2007, gravel roads were used, and the numbers of competitors and supporters decreased. Nonetheless the main event of the day remained the sumptuous afternoon tea provided by our host Graham. Sadly, Graham died early in 2008, ending the era of the Whittlesea mini marathons.

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The APSOC Executive had already surveyed a number of options for another venue, looking in particular, for courses free of road traffic and without the need for permits.  The picturesque Main Yarra Trail in Templestowe met these requirements and the 2008 event was scheduled there, starting in Westerfolds Park.

The half marathon course heads east to Blackburn Road extension and return, then west to the Plenty River and return.  The quarter marathon is run from Westerfolds Park to the Plenty River and return, whilst the eighth marathon takes in only part of that leg. The running surface is a bitumen bike path, but there are plenty of bends and hills.

With staggered starting times for each race, runners should, as originally designed forty years ago, finish more or less together. Afternoon tea and presentations are made in a nearby shelter in Westerfolds Park.

As a memorial to Graham, the series of races are known as the Graham Wise Mini Marathons, recognizing his long association with the event of over forty years, his generous support and his magnificent afternoon teas.

LODGE HANDICAPS

From 1961, St Kevin’s AAC hosted a 10 mile (16 km) handicap race, starting and finishing within the school grounds. Until 1986, the handicap winner received the Peter Secombe trophy, but St Kevin’s AAC wished to recognise the contribution of the Lodge family and the event became known thereafter as the Lodge Handicap. In 1988, by popular demand, an 8 km event was added, giving runners the choice of a two distances.

The 16 km course has changed markedly over the years. It used to comprise two 8 km laps from St Kevin’s College to the Yarra Boulevard then through Scotch College, but traffic and safety issues have now restricted the race to the mostly flat bike path along the Yarra River. This has led to some fast times, particularly in the 8 km, where record holders Drew Cole (OX) 24:06 and Anna Thompson (OW) 25:58 have torn up the course. But John Cormack (OS) has hung on to his 16 km record of 50:09 since 1984. This is the second oldest APSOC course record, which clearly demonstrates the high quality of the performance. Anna Thompson also holds the women’s 16 km record of 57:45.

The present course now starts and finishes on the bike path opposite the Scotch College boatsheds.

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ALAN HOOLEY RELAY

Alan Hooley acted as APSOC Chief Official for more than twenty years, commencing in the mid-1970’s. He is also the co-founder of the event which now bears his name, the Alan Hooley Relay. Formerly known as the Gilwell Park Relays, this race was first held in 1978. Gilwell Park is a scout camp in a hilly forest area, containing numerous forest trails, making it an ideal venue for cross country running.

The Hooley Relay is unique on the APSOC calendar by reason of the requirement for each team member to run twice. There are no restrictions on running order, but almost all teams adopt the tactic of giving each runner the maximum possible recovery time between legs, so that in open four person teams, the first runner will also run the fifth leg, the second runner the sixth leg, and so on.

Although the legs are short (3.34 km), the hills are steep and testing. Consequently, only two runners have broken ten minutes on the present course. In 1999, Paul Patrick (OS) recorded the extraordinary time of 9:44 on his second leg after having clocked 9:53 on his first leg! Julian Marsh (OX) chased Paul on the first leg and stopped the clock at 9:55, but unfortunately for Julian, this brilliant run goes unrecognised in the winter handbook. Anna Thompson (OW) holds the female record of 11:30.

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The open team results are interesting, with Old Xaverians winning eight in a row 1978-85, Old Scotch ten in a row 1992-2001 and Haileybury on a current winning streak of six since 2002.

To get to Gilwell Park, take the Gembrook-Launching Place Road from Gembrook for about 6 km and turn right at Swallowfield Road.

All athletes are asked to bring a plate of food for this event. Afternoon tea is held in the Gilwell Park hall before a roaring fire, which is always very welcome after the usually cold and damp conditions during the race.

COOKE-McCLELLAND SHIELD 8k

It is fitting that the event that started it all back in 1931, when the first challenge race took place between Old Xaverians, Old Scotch and Old Wesley through the paddocks of Kew and Hawthorn, now takes pride of place as the final race on the winter calendar. The Cooke-McClelland is also the last of the six premiership races, which means that the results of the event often determine the champion teams and athletes of the year.

The race is named after two of the founding members of Old Xaverians Athletic Club, John "Jack" Cooke and Tom McClelland. It is run over a testing 8 km course around the Kew Boulevard and Yarra Bend. The course rises and falls several times, and many athletes have suffered late in the race after going out too hard on the early hills.

Unlike some other APSOC events, the Cooke-McClelland course has remained relatively unchanged over almost half a century, allowing direct comparisons between performances during that time. Only four male athletes have broken 25 minutes, with Nick de Castella (OX) doing it twice and setting the course record of 24:37 in 1981. The outstanding quality of this run explains why it remains the oldest record on the APSOC books.

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