On the Monday before the Jamieson, the forecast was a dismal 16 degrees and showers. By Thursday it had changed to 18 degrees and a chance of clearing showers… and then on the day, we had sunshine and around 20 degrees!!
Absolutely perfect conditions for hosting the highlight of the APSOC cross country season, the 5km Jamieson race around the beautifully manicured grounds of Scotch College. After paying our respects to the founder of our club, Alex Jamieson, and one of the club’s quiet achievers, David Purvis, who passed away in December after decades of dedicated service as timekeeper and official, the pack headed over to the soccer oval for the start.
Even before the gun, there was a cardinal buzz – for the first time in a very long time we equalled the number of competitors as Old Xavs (37 each, out of the 150 competitors). After starting at precisely 2:30pm, very quickly there were red singlets swarming to the front of the field… and while James Whelan from Old Xavs won the race in a course record time of 14:44, Rory Vial (2nd), Conor Sullivan (3rd), Connor Merrigan (5th), Luke Bodle (7th), Harry Shao (8th) and Peter Holland (10th) were all close behind, leading to a comfortable Scotch win in the open teams event – and demonstrating our extraordinary depth, given who was not available! Hopefully the first step in a Grand Slam at APSOC level this season. Our seconds team was third overall, which is another marker of depth, with 3 under 14s, an under 16, an early 20s and a nearly 50-year-old – a nice spread of ages with an emphasis on the future!
Our achievements in the women’s teams event were surely our best ever – Amelia Watson, Isabella Bisko, Olive Armstrong and Belinda Guthrie came 2nd overall, with Old Scotch teams also in 4th and 6th places, quite a dominating outcome! Huge thanks to Karen Moir for encouraging many of her athletes to run for us.
The overage events were no less dominated by Old Scotch, with Mark Purvis snagging an 86% age grading in winning the M60s, while Lynton Williams and returning club legend John Cormack rounded out the trifecta in that category.
And for a brief moment we even added the handicap result to the list of achievements – but unfortunately Elliot Becroft was one race shy of eligibility… however, his effort of smashing last year’s time is very much noteworthy – he was the fastest on handicap by nearly two whole minutes, a terrific performance!
As if that wasn’t enough, we then undoubtedly sealed the “Best Afternoon Tea” award for 2025 – in dappled late afternoon autumn sunshine, on the deck of the cardinal pavilion with the river behind us, we enjoyed a sumptuous feast. Huge thanks to all who contributed goodies, but especially to the hard workers Heather Danks, Candice Charles, Amanda Moudling, Caroline Beischer, Kate Unsworth and Abi Unsworth – we are so grateful for your efforts!
I would also like to say a huge thanks to those who answered the call to marshal – Gregor Evans (who took on the most challenging spot at the track junction!), Ian Handasyde, Stewart Handasyde, Henry Dawborn, Elizabeth Dawborn, Megan Sullivan (with assistant Ruby!), with APSOC legends Peter Le Get, Pete Bantrick and John McMillan lending a hand as always. Big thanks to our president Doug Campbell and his daughter Mari who also helped out with opening up/cleaning up and general support, to Gary Zuccala and Mark Purvis for the photos, and to all those who helped out collecting cones, encouraging junior athletes, and overall providing the sense of camaraderie and bonhomie which is what makes this such a great club.
So onwards and upwards for the rest of the 2025 Winter season – the Churchill 6/12km next week (April 12), the McPhail 8km on Sat 23rd April and then the next big one, the Dyson Tan Relay, on Saturday May 3rd… hoping Old Scotch can have the fastest and second-fastest men’s teams and the fastest women’s team!! Hopefully see many of you at these events.
Go Old Scotch!
