Scotch College

Aths club strives for that elusive first placing

The Old Scotch Athletic Club has had mixed success in the 2006 APS Old Collegians’ Amateur Athletic Association cross-country competition, with very creditable second and third placings in recent major races.

Overall, brilliant personal performances have been counterbalanced by inconsistent team performances early in the year. Fortunately, the combination of a determined group of core runners, new recruits and the return of some elite athletes from overseas has given us hope and confidence for the future.

The first major race of the season was the Jamieson 5 km race, held at Scotch College. Peter Simm came second, but our injury-riddled division one team limped home in a disappointing fourth place. The next race was the Dyson Relay at the Tan. With the return of club 800 m record-holder Andrew Krumins, Old Scotch consolidated third place behind Old Haileybury and Old Xavier.

Next we approached the Geelong Relay with high hopes. The division one team of Krumins, Sam Curry and Scott Lawrence put us in a good position and former MGS student Bill Feutrill brought the team home in a respectable third place. Determined to win a major race, Old Scotch sent a formidable team of Simm, Darcy Long, Robert Schwerkolt and Paul Wilson to the Hooley Relay at Gembrook. We exchanged the lead with Old Haileybury throughout the race and came a close second to the defending champions.

In other races, Peter Simm has rediscovered his brilliant 1998 form, when he won Athlete of the Year; Schwerkolt, Adrian Wallis and James Atkinson have all had top six finishes, and David Lightfoot is improving rapidly. Old Scotch runner (and former Wesley Collegian) Antony Rickards represented Victoria in the Australian Marathon Championships on the Gold Coast in July, running a personal best time of 2:26.39 to be placed tenth and win a gold medal in the team competition for Victoria.

OSCAC caters for social runners as well as elite athletes. Distances in the winter range from 3.8 km to half-marathon, and it’s a great way to keep in shape and meet new people. In summer, a full athletics program is available through Athletics Victoria at the Box Hill track. The Club’s social schedule includes the fabled Pub Run (described as the Tour de France of running and drinking) and the annual tennis day. Club contacts are President Ross Becroft (0439 912 468) and Vice-President Nick Wallace-Smith (0438 925 591).