A MASSIVE SKAAC contingent took on all comers at the Gouden Spike Meeting in Leiden Netherlands. Thanks to Martin Pyke for these great pics of Adam Pyke, Kayla DeBondt, Peter Bol, Alex Rowe & Brad Mathas in action.

Kayla striding out for a win in Heat 3 of the 800m
Peter Bol in the Mens 400m
Brad Mathas (outside) takes off in the 800m
Adam Pyke making the guy coming 2nd hurt a fair bit in the home straight
Alex Rowe 2nd striding home in the Mens 800m

A fantastic Lodge Handicap was held by the banks of the Yarra over the traditional 8k & 16k distances on Saturday 3rd June. Over 120 competitors faced the starter up from about 80 generally. This is likely due to the fixturing change made by the APSOC Committee in response to the revised (& often revising) AV fixture.
One must say hats off and well done to the APSOC Committee for making this change – for what it has done is two things:-
1) Allowed the Williamson to be raced in the June school holidays and thus providing the opportunity for every club’s junior athletes to compete in a second Championship race for the season; and
2) Provide a race in the school holidays where the distance is better suited to juniors rather than the 8k of the Lodge.
3) Allowed the Lodge to be better attended due to avoiding the school holidays and lifting the chance for all at SKAAC and the broader APSOC Community the chance to appropriately acknowledge the MASSIVE contribution of Keith & Alan Lodge to SKAAC firstly and APSOC generally.
We all owe Keith & Alan a massive amount for what they have done to steer SKAAC into the position we now find ourselves in. And the Lodge Handicap is the very public way we get to demonstrate this thanks.
So it was fantastic to see Keith’s wife Pat, present along with daughters Fiona and Celeste & Alan Lodge enjoy the race and the afternoon tea afterwards in the Brandon Room at SKC.
We are proud of the Lodge Handicaps and this was on show for all of APSOC to see on 2nd June.
Thanks to SKAAC Cross Country Committee representatives Mark Moussalli, Sam Doble & Tristan Mioni and past SKAAC Committee Member (& immediate past APSOC President) Nick O’Neill for the long day they put in yesterday to make the event the success that it was. Mark’s co-ordination of the afternoon tea was simply brilliant and well received by everyone.
On the track SKAAC had a very successful day with:-

16km highlights…
* Xavier Chapman the fastest over the 16km course in 53.47
* Lincoln Mah 64:33

8km Highlights
* Joe Lynch 31:45
* Sam Doble 32:27
* Karen Thorpe 32:50 (the second fastest female over the 8km course)
* Trish Doble 35:50 (the fastest female in the 50+ category over the 8km course)
* Olivia Mitchell 37:40
* Paul Hope 39:28
* Steph Greenslade 39:37
* Emily Wallace 41:32
* Stuart Pettigrew 46:00

On behalf of the SKAAC Committee we congratulate long time club member Ned O’Brien on being announced as 2017 Cross Country Captain at St. Kevin’s College. Ned has been a mainstay of our club for many years having started with us during his time at Glendalough in season 2011/2012.
Ned has been a trailblazer in so many ways being the first SKC primary student to join the senior boys for training, and in doing so, re-defining the way that development of young SKC athletes takes place.
Ned has been a SKAAC Club Champion at both Under 13 & 14 level in 2011/2012 and again was duly awarded the Under 14 Track & Field Champion in 2012/2013.
The current SKC Cross Country Year 12’s are a special group with so many passionate not only about their running but also the famous green, gold & blue colours, that no-one would be at all surprised so see quite a few of the current surnames representing SKAAC for many years to come.
Ned, all the best for the remaining APS Cross Country season. You are a fantastic member of our club and long may you continue to be.