A brilliant re-entry to AV Cross Country Running (XCR) at Jells Park on 21st April 2018. Brilliant sunshine, and a dry course greeted the 14 SKAAC history makers for the first Round of the season.

SKAAC had 4 debutants, Milla Gleeson, Isabella McDonald, Xavier McDonald and Tom Forster. We also had 4 teams, surely the most ever for SKAAC and our first ever Female and Junior male XCR teams in the club’s history.

Picture left…Xavier McDonald in action.

The top Mens Team, running in Division 4 were winners on the day with Adam Pyke (18:26) Jack Holden (18:28) Steve Knuckey (19:02) Alex Rowe (21:25) and Callum Day (20:06). This group of fine athletes were clear of the impressive VCCL team by nearly 3 minutes. Special mention to Jack Holden, who for the first time wore the SKAAC singlet in an XCR race after many many seasons competing in AV Cross Country.

I will also take the opportunity to single out Callum Day, an Under 20 athlete, the club’s Most Improved athlete from 2017/2018, who was fantastic making his first appearance in an Open SKAAC team.

The Under 18 Women’s team made history by being the first ever female XCR team, and didn’t they do us proud!! Milla Gleeson (12:30), Lulu Goodman (14:15) and Isabella McDonald (15:13) took to the course like seasoned professionals. Tellingly, each of these fine athletes is eligible for this same age group next year.

Milla Gleeson (centre) about to face the starter as the first runner in the Women’s Under 18 race.

The Under 14 Mens team showed so much enthusiasm that the SKAAC tent that was in action near the start-finish line, was a buzz of excitement both before and after the race. To have a team, all bottom age, finish in 5th place at their first ever attempt is an amazing result. The team of Xavier McDonald (11:24), Joel Imbriano (12:10) and Tom Forster (10:57, the 6th fastest run for any Under 14 male on the day) ran brilliantly and had a fantastic time tackling the course and having their first XCR race for St. Kevin’s that the future looks very bright indeed for this talented group.

The Mens 40+ also faced the XCR starter for the first time in SKAAC’s history, the Team of Dino Imbriano (25:31), Lincoln Mah (24:05) and Andrew Thomas (31:20) finished in 12th place. A super tough effort by Andrew Thomas to finish his run, after suffering a calf injury during the race.

All in all – an undisputed success for SKAAC. We look forward to Round 2 at St. Anne’s Winery on 5th May 2018, where the Open Men will tackle an 8km course.

 

Before you give me a hard time about the poor use of a pun, with me about to launch into all the activities of the club in 2017 such as First APSOC Premiership since 1994, record members, Tooronga Opening, Trivia Night, World Championship representatives, 150+ Club records, new coaches, State Relay medal, new club singlets, well I’m not going to do it 🙂

This article is about the title – the Marathon, where 7 SKAAC past or current members tackled the 26 miles.

It has been with great interest that we have all marvelled at the action on the rankings and record boards in the Marathon in the last few years, but few years could match the Marathon action in 2017 by SKAAC members and SKAAC Legends of years past.

This article has been inspired by Matt Robertson (Robbo) who recently moved to London for adventure and work. Robbo always keeps up with all things SKAAC and provided this little gem following his sensational run in the Frankfurt Marathon in October…

Robbo…”Just thought I would drop you a quick note with a funny story. I did the Frankfurt Marathon last Sunday, and when in the pub post-race, I met a bloke from Melbourne called Richard Hope. We got talking a bit more, and turns out he’s a Skobber! And bloody fast – he ran 2.29!

Me…”Awesome job to get that marathon done. Richy Hope is a great runner and an even better bloke – in my year at SKC and you are right, pretty quick over any distance. Ran for Australia in World Cross Country back in the day and has a 66min half marathon in his pomp.”

Robbo…”Thanks Pete, it was a great marathon. Nice flat course, and plenty of crowds in the last five K to cheer you home. Only issue was that being yelled at in German feels more like abuse than encouragement. Wow, Hopey really is a jet. I figured that must be the case given he ran that time (and experienced some pretty bad cramping over the last three K. He said he had to stop a few times to collect himself). And speaking of marathons, awesome to see Chappy run his 2.26 in Melbourne. What an absolute animal. Some great work by Skobbers all over the joint!

Robbo followed up with Hopey and had a meal to further cement the SKAAC spirit!

Harking back to times when no SKAAC member would run the marathon, I thought it appropriate to list the 2017 list of SKAAC Marathon Warriors. Well done team and even better to see that SKAAC international has been born.

Xavier Chapman          Melbourne Marathon      15/10/2017 10th 2:26.57
Richard Hope               Frankfurt Marathon        29/10/2017 64th 2:29.38
Mark Deluca                 Gold Coast Marathon      02/07/2017 30th 2:30.14
Matthew Robertson    Frankfurt Marathon        29/10/2017 214th 2:41.33
Aaron Little                  Berlin Marathon               24/9/2017 1,014th 2:53.48
Luke Goodman            Berlin Marathon               24/9/2017 1,140th 2:55.24
Lincoln Mah                 Melbourne Marathon      15/10/2017 157th 2:56.45

 

In a classic Melbourne morning that had all four seasons in an hour, Kayla DeBondt, Leonora Contaxis & Sarah Minahan have run superbly to secure 3rd place in the Women’s Division 4 XCR Relay at Princes Park. Today was the first time that SKAAC has ever entered a female AV XCR team in our own right and provides a perfect springboard to XCR 2018 when our Mens Team will also run under the famous SKAAC colours for the first time since 2002.
Kayla led off in her first hit-out since returning from Europe in 11:03, followed by Leonora in 14:13 (having to run in freezing wind and rain!) and finished superbly by Sarah in 13:14.
Thanks to Pat Di Natale (SKOBFC Saints Coach) for his assistance in getting the team together and also to Tristan Mioni for his support as team manager for the day.
Please see the before and after shots, and the fact that the team was still smiling afterwards, prompted the question…”how about the 4×800 at State Relays?” I lived to tell the tale – so watch out at the relays!!

BEFORE

AFTER

It is with great excitement that we announce that SKAAC will be fielding our first ever Female AV Winter Cross Country team in the SKAAC colours this Saturday at the Princes Park Relay. Kayla de Bondt, Sarah Minahan & Leonora Contaxis will make history at 9:05am.
This achievement is significant in that in 2018 SKAAC will be entering the AV XCR competition in our own right, after taking the decision to leave APS United.
Thanks to Pat Di Natale coach of the SKOB Saints and also to Tim Crosbie from AV for their support to make this a reality.
Go SKAAC

Today SKAAC made history by securing not one, but two APSOC Cross Country Premierships in Division 1 & Division 2 at the Cooke McClelland Shield at Burke Hall over a punishing 8km.

Not only were Premierships secured in Division 1 for the first time since 1995, but Division 2 was also secured for the first time since well before 1998.

There have been so many great performances this season in the securing of the Div 1 Premiership, nearly too many to list, but I’m going to try anyway!!

Luke Mathews – stunning win at the Jamieson by nearly 40 seconds in SKAAC’s first Jamieson individual win in many years
Peter Bol – Cracking first leg at the Dyson in only his second race introduction to Anderson Street
Brad Mathas – Debut APSOC race at the Jamieson was a super important leg to get SKAAC off to a flyer in 2017. 3rd fastest SKAAC athlete at the Dyson.
Matt Hussey – SKC Year 10 and key member of the Div 1 team at the Jamieson this season, super debut run and prodigious talent. Did not look out of place in the team photo alongside some of the country’s best distance runners.
Ben Tipper – Fantastic effort to make the Top 10 at the Jamieson. As strong as any of them down the stretch at Scotch at the Jamieson – massive future, also looked at home amongst National Champions & Olympians in the winning team photo at the Jamieson.
Alex Rowe – SKAAC had 3 winning teams for the season and Alex was the only athlete to figure in all 3 winning teams
Anthony Aloisio – past APSOC Athlete of the Year part of the near record winning team at the Dyson Relay
Jack Holden – Battled injury to get to the start line and was magnificent in the Dyson team that all broke 12 minutes each for The Tan. A super committed effort under extreme duress.
Mark Deluca – Club stalwart and past APSOC Athlete of the Year, who has given so much over the years. Huge leg at the Dyson to bring the team home, nearly 3 minutes in front of second place
Tristan Day – A massive Year 10 talent from Trinity Grammar who raced brilliantly at the Williamson, beating home his idol Craig Mottram in the process. Backed up for a crucial Cooke McClelland 8km to finish 7th overall.
Callum Day – Raced at the Williamson for 13th overall and cracked the Top 10 at the Cooke McClelland. Huge upside after previously being an elite basketballer. Watch out for 2018!!
Luca Di Conza – Youngest member by a mile at only 13 years of age and finished in Top 20 at the Williamson. The further the distance the better. Reigning Under 14 Track & Field Club Champion
Steve Fabris – SKAAC Committee Member and ultimate team sacrifice to face the starter at the Williamson and again at the Hooley, and despite better judgement at the Cooke. Premiership success is such a rich reward for Fab’s passion and commitment to the Green, Gold & Blue. Coach to many of the Premiership winning team members.
Simon Field – Busted up, and he’ll be cursing when he wakes up on Monday morning, but there was no way SKAAC were ever going to give in with Fieldy on board. Two time AV XCR Athlete of the year and SKC & SKAAC Legend. Smashed it at the Williamson, Hooley and Cooke.
Joe Lynch – Life member and SKAAC’s “Mr Dependable” So appropriate that he is a big part of the success of 2017. You can always count on “Lynchy”
Xavier Chapman – Former APSOC Athlete of the Year and brilliant race winner at the Cooke McClelland in the last race of the season backing up his “fastest for SKAAC” at the Williamson. Has given so much to SKAAC Cross Country over the years, so to now be part of team success is a great return for Xavier’s commitment in the lean years.
Lincoln Mah – Like Fab part of the current SKAAC Committee and LOYAL servant to the club. Great run in one of the most important races for the club in nearly a quarter of a century.

The Sunday fixture of the Cooke McClelland seemed to play into our hands, with exactly 12 brave SKAAC athletes facing the starter, with each and every single member CRUCIAL in the securing of the Club’s two deserved Premierships. If 1 of the 12 did not run today, the Div 2 Premiership would have been won by Old Carey. Whoever said this sport runs on a knife edge, certainly knew what they were talking about.

Cooke McClelland results (20/8/2017)

Div 1 (42 points)
Xavier Chapman 26.44.49 (1st)
Alex Rowe 27:15.27 (2nd)
Simon Field 28:08.49 (4th)
Tristan Day 28:29.34 (7th)
Callum Day 29:25.18 (10th)
Lincoln Mah 31:33.18 (18th)

Div 2 (220 points) 1st in Div 2 & 6th overall
Steve Fabris 31:57.96 (19th)
Riley Bolton 33;22.43 (21st)
Karen Thorp 34:05.55 (25th)
Samuel Doble 36:07.99 (39th)
Brosie McCann 38:41.24 (49th)
Chloe Cornwell (67th)

A big thanks to Team Manager Mark Moussalli who has expertly guided the fortunes for APSOC so well this season. Also big congratulations to fellow SKAAC Committee members responsible for Cross Country, Sam Doble and Tristan Mioni – great effort lads.

And to every athlete, well Done to all who have contributed to such a successful APSOC season in 2017. Who could have predicted this…??

Go SKAAC

All at SKAAC extend congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to represent their respective school competition in this weekend’s round of Representative Cross Country:-

GSV – Isabelle Collins & Georgia Durham
APS – Ben Tipper, Matt Hussey; Will Lewis, Josh Collins & Luca DiConza
SSV Team Vic in Hobart – Callum Day & Tristan Day

What a great array of talent representing themselves, their school, their school competition and in a couple of cases their state, this weekend.

Well Done to all

SKAAC Committee Members Brosie McCann, Steve Fabris & Peter McGarry had the pleasure of hosting a dinner for 7 members the club’s 2016 & 2017 Year 12 Cross Country participants. Astonishingly there were another 4 members who unfortunately could not make the night, a clear sign of the opportunity that exists for this group to stick together a chart a course of success both on and off the track.

The night was designed to allow us as a Committee to thank each of these athletes for their long contribution to their school running endeavours and to reinforce our support for their continued enjoyment of running post their school careers, and to outline some of the plans the club has for the 2018 Cross Country season, as SKAAC becomes a stand-alone AV Winter club.

L-R:- Brosie McCann, Patrick Gigacz, Marco Sgro, Peter McGarry, Ned O’Brien, Seamus Heanue, Patrick Daly, Matthew Lynch, Lachlan McKay, Steve Fabris

Congratulations to the following SKAAC Junior Athletes who will represent Victoria at the upcoming National Championships Saturday 26th August at Kembla Joggers Cross Country Park, Wollongong, NSW.

Under 14… Harry Bowen
Under 16… Luca DiConza, Thomas Scroggie, Isabelle Collins
Under 18… Matthew Hussey, Tristan Day

The GSV Cross Country Championship Carnival (held 2 June 2017) is a massive undertaking with 24 schools across 3 divisions (A, B & C) and 3 age groups Junior (Years 7 & 8), Intermediate (Years 9 & 10) and Senior (Years 11 & 12) competing for GSV Premierships. There were an amazing 1,044 GSV athletes that faced the starter today, 4 of whom are SKAAC members that coincidently formed our first ever Women’s relay team last season in the Under 18 4x800m Relay.

In the Intermediate A race (4km) the following sensational results were achieved:-
7th Isabelle Collins 14:27.4
22nd Ellie Ansett 15:15.3
43rd Ava Bennett 15:48.7

In the Senior A race (4km) Eleanor Brown ran 16:04.4 over 4km to place 40th

Well done to all 4 athletes on their sensational results.

22 years is a long time.
SKAAC’s last win in this most prestigious of APSOC races was in 1995, when many of the clubs legends (and some current coaches) were strutting their stuff on the National & International stage.
So it was appropriate for Justin Rinaldi and his very talented group to create their own slice of SKAAC APSOC history in a commanding win in the Dyson Relay around the Kings Domain on 20 May 2017.
To have 9 of the top 20 runners also underlined what a great day it was for SKAAC.
Also, there was plenty to be excited about with the composition of our two teams. With club stalwarts Xavier Chapman, Mark Deluca & Anthony Aloisio (all former APSOC Champion Athletes of the Year) marking their returns to APSOC racing, and Joseph Deng VERY impressive running 11:40 in his SKAAC debut.

A BIG congratulations to Trish Doble for winning the Women’s 50+ division with her 16:34 effort!!

Also a great effort of team management by Mark Moussalli juggling the teams with aplomb.
All 6 members of the Div 1 team ran under 12 minutes:
Peter Bol 11:24
Alex Rowe 11:30
Jack Holden 11:56
Brad Mathas 11:34
Anthony Aloisio 11:59
Mark Deluca 11:40
For a team time of 70:03, nearly 3 minutes in front of a strong Old Xaverians team.

Scarcely less impressive was the SKAAC #2 team winning Div 2 by nearly 2 minutes. The first 3 runners of this team were in second place overall for half the race!!
Joseph Deng 11:40
Xavier Chapman 12:08
Tristan Mioni 12:36 (equal PB)
Joe Lynch 14:50
Stuart Pettigrew 19:58
Sam Doble 15:14

The SKAAC Div 1 Women’s team finished in 5th place
Karen Thorpe 15:33
Olivia Mitchell 18:09
Chloe Cornwell 17:37
Emily Wallace 17:24

Also great runs by John Cornwell 15:44m, which was a PB, and Stephanie Greenslade battling cramps to run 19:21