A FAMILIAR face was first past the post at the Tamworth Running Festival on Sunday as former local Ben Malby returned to town to take out his third straight PRD Tamworth Half Marathon.
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Malby was pushed all the way to title number three by another triple title holder, Gunnedah’s Peter Loveridge, with Colin Ferguson ten minutes behind in third.
A glorious winter’s day greeted almost 700 runners at No. 1 Oval, the half marathon going first before the energetic Tamworth Ten and Fun Five crowds took off, followed by the walk and when everyone got back a big field took part in the Northern Daily Leader Dash for Cash.
Kate Kingston lead the girls across the line in just over 90 minutes, with Leanne Corcoran and Emma Howey a few minutes behind.
Another former resident returned to town to take out a Tamworth Ten title, some 25 years since his last of three titles in the 1980s.
Louis Young raced his first Tamworth Ten in 1975 as a nine year old, and has completed the race more times than he knows.
“The last few years I have come in fifth and sixth but have been really training towards today,” Young said.
“It is a fantastic event and a beautiful day.”
The 49 year old and Newcastle’s Robert Hungerford set a cracking pace out of the gate, before Strong proved to be just that, pulling away from his younger rival to finish in 36.24 minutes, 50 seconds in front of Ben Abell who closed in on Hungerford to snatch his second silver.
Branxton’s Jennifer Coogan was the first female across the line in the Ten at just under 43 minutes.
“I saw the boys go out and probably went out a bit hard,” Coogan said.
“It is my first 10km race for a while so I just had to go hard or go home.”
“It is a really good crowd and good course here.” A 15-year-old Stuart Geddes flew around the track to take out the Fun Five in a time of 17.40minutes, with Darryl Domer in second followed by the first two girls.
Natasha Favoto was only one minute behind the winner, with young Quirindi flyer Lacie Quigley hot on her heels in overall fourth.
Tamworth Tri-club president Mal Ellicott said the day could not have gone off any better.
“We had plenty of quality runners and plenty of people out having fun,” Ellicott said.
“That is what it is all about.”
