Wrap up
A number of Tattersalls Members and staff were represented in the 2009 edition of Oxfam Trailwalker. Rick Glover's team, the Gentlemen of Tattersalls (98) finished in 35 hours and 20 minutes. Rick's team were just beaten by another Tatts team (27) headed by David Robertson (Robbo) and Michael McCormack coming in at 34 hours and 40 minutes. Tattersalls Apha (178) with Richard McGrath, James Tuite, Paul Chappell finished in a great time of 24 hours and 35 minutes.
James Trude and his team finished in 21 hours and 55 minutes while Ken Stanton and his Freehills One (165) team also had a succesfull finish in a time of 31 hours 9 minutes.
Bart Brys' team the Mosman Express had a few problems along the way with Bart pulling out at checkpoint 6 due to a twist with his knee at about the 35km mark Even after an overdose of painkillers, Bart had to retire. The rest of the team carried on and finished a great time in under 20 hours.
The fastest time for Tattersalls was set by Damian Tancred and his Sydney Running Centre Striders team, who came second overall with 13 hours 41 minutes. They ran into problem at checkpoint 2 with one of their team Members retired injured and which meant they lost about 30 minutes and perhaps cost them first place. But a big congratulations for the first placed team - Berowra walkers.
Following is an account of the event, by Member Rick Glover, G42:
Left Brooklyn at 7.00 am Friday and covered 50.5 kms through the bush via Cowan, Berowra Waters, Berowra, Apple Tree Bay, Bobbin Head and Kuringai reaching the Check Point at 9.30 pm at North Turramurra. Then went off track for a shower and 5 hours sleep before I got the Team up again at 4.00 am (quelling a mutiny) and we hit the track again at 5.00 am Sat. Headed for home (49.5 kms away) through the Kuringai Nat Park and Garigal NP via St. Ives Showground, Davidson, Roseville Bridge, Frenchs Forest, Seaforth until we emerged onto the Wakehust Parkway and ambled over the Spit Bridge to Georges Heights in Mosman to finish our hapless trudge at 6.20 pm . A couple of beers later, a Radox bath, a something to eat and I was ready to watch the Wallabies!
To put that into perspective the winning team ran through in under 14 hrs and the first all girl team was home in 16 hrs. However, we were happy to finish in 35 hrs 21 mins (which includes 7 hrs 30 mins off the course) having walked for 14hrs 30 mins on Friday and 13 hrs 21 mins on Sat.
Thank you for your support for the Oxfam cause and your messages of encouragement. Team 98 will raise about $15000/16000 for Oxfam and the three Tattersalls teams combined will pull in around $45000 for the charity.
Rick (aka Capt. Bligh)
Details
The Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney includes up to 500 teams walk 100km throughout the northern national parks of Sydney, principally on the Great North Walk .
Registration for the 2009 100km Oxfam Trailwaker will open via their website at 10 am, Tuesday 7 April for teams that wish to enter the Gold ($5,000+), Platinum ($10,000+) or Diamond ($25,000+) team fundraising categories.
Registration for teams that wish to enter the Regular ($1,000+) team fundraising category will open via the Oxfam website on Tuesday 21 April.
