Words and pic Tree Faerie
The fastest runner in Clifford Street South Golden Beach has been cheering some folk, and disappointing others, since 2001.
In the early days it was easy for a half keen, half-cooked punter to take on several of the neighbourhood preschoolers and some of the more debilitated elderly residents to win a trophy. Not so much anymore as the numbers grow.
These days there are several categories, so that at least half a dozen hopefuls can collect an iconic, albeit tacky, trophy.
The first race of the day saw dozens of the local kids sprinting the 150 metres to the blue crepe-paper finish line. It was a tight finish with 13-year-old Matty Grey crossing the line first. The moment of the day belonged to Jarrah Farrell and Tio Martin who stopped to help a fallen and weeping three-year-old.
Ten-year-old Mylee Farrell, after many years of trying, took out the girl’s trophy.
Many of the same kids joined the adults for their race and annual get-together to sledge each other before the bragging rights are settled for another year.
New Clifford Street resident Nic Smith took the honours in the men’s and a very sporting and deceptively pacey Pauline Elliot collected the women’s trophy. ‘Not bad for a 70-year-old,’ said Pauline.
Residents and runners gathered for a bit of post-race hydrating and chitter chat and applauded Stacey Sargent who, after coming middle of the pack for most of the races over the preceding years, scored this year’s coveted ‘Nobody Remembers Second’ trophy.
Winner’s roll
Boy’s: Matthew Grey
Girls’: Mylee Farrell
Men’s: Nic Smith
Women’s: Pauline Elliot
Over 50s: Andy Taylor
Nobody Remembers Second: Stacey who?
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