Bracken Dawson won the October Harestock Handicap (on 6th Oct)

With the October event heralded as possibly the last of the daylight runs the runners were determined to make the most of the last chance to run freely and give it some rip before the darkness descends on us for the winter....
nThere was the usual healthy mix of warm-up strategies with a group enjoying some threshold reps on the Westman loop (using the handicap as an effort rep in a threshold session) and others using the handicap as an effort interval in the midst of a longer run....whatever works for you but tonight's winner and second place both came from the Westman Loop persuasion.
nOur winner was Bracken Dawson (9'28 gross) returning to form and thus profiting from a seemingly generous handicap, 2nd was Simone Paulson (9'44 gross) returning for her first run of the year and somehow (tired legs post Clarendon etc) able to blag herself a similarly generous handicap. Only Ric Pike in third (9'51 gross) offered the handicapper any solace on a poor night for him.
nFastest on the night was Bracken (6'24) with Simone 2nd fastest (6'42) and James Day continuing to improve posted a fine (6'49) to be third fastest on the night. These times, particularly Simone with the fastest female time this year does remind me we need to dust off the Honours Board....can Simone get close to Lucy Elliot's course record of 6'12 established way back in 2015?
nJohn Mills continues to lead the way In the overall standings ahead of Louise Snook and a gaggle of others (Bracken Dawson, Steve Oliver, Ian Parker, Stephen Lowy) who are in the frame for podium places.
nOur dedicated pair of ever presents (John Mills and Louise Snook) are still in with a chance of 12 out of 12. Such is the prestige of these awards and John's determination to meet the challenge that he was running tonight whilst 'slightly injured' - prompting many to question his sanity.
nThe next race in the Harestock Handicap series will be the first Thursday of November, the 3rd of November. It will definitely be dark by then so high viz and runners lights please. Be there at the bus-stop ready to race at 19.30 or join us for some warm-up threshold work round the Westman mini-loop from 19.00.