BRWC Results – 2019

Australian All Schools T&F Championships, Perth, 6-8 December 2019

The Australian All Schools T&F Championships were held in Perth in early December, with U14, U16 and U18 track walks on offer. Alas, few Victorians made the trip, many preferring to save their money and contest the Australian T&F Championships in Sydney next March as an alternative. One BRWC walker who did make the trip was Alana Peart, winning the U18 Gold Medal.

Girls 5000m Walk U18, Saturday 7 December
1. Peart, Alanna       VIC    24:51.39

3rd Australian 50km Championships, Melbourne, Sunday 1st December

Alanna and Jemma Peart and Fraser Saunder were in action in the Athletics Australia invitational walks at the annual Fawkner Park 50km meet in Melbourne in early December. Jemma, coming off Y12 exams, was underdone, but Alanna excelled to come second in the U20 10km, easily beating the 2020 World Cup standard of 50:00, and Fraser was equally impressive in his third place finish in the U18 5km (against older opponents).

Women 10km Road Walk Invitation U20
2. Alanna Peart        VIC    49:01  PB 0:29
6. Jemma Peart         VIC    54:09

Men 5km Road Walk Invitation U18
3. Fraser Saunder      VIC    23:58  PB 0:03

Alanna Peart and Fraser Saunder recognised for their fine racewalking seasons.

Well done to BRWC walkers Alanna Peart and Fraser Saunder who this week were recipients of two major yearly awards.

• Alanna won the Junior Women’s category in the annual VRWC Runners World Winter Season Awards, a fitting recognition for her outstanding winter.
• Fraser won the Bob Gardiner Award as the Best Athletics Victoria U16/U16 Male Walker. This is one of 6 Winter Roadwalking Perpetual Trophies awarded annually by Athletics Victoria.

AV All Schools T&F Championships Weekend 1, Doncaster, 26-27 October

A number of BRWC walkers were in action on the first weekend of the Victorian All Schools T&F Championships at the Tom Kelly Athletics Track in Doncaster. Well done to winners Alanna Peart, Jemma Peart and Fraser Saunder, and well done to Scott Peart on his PB in the U14 3000m Walk.

Women 5000m Walk U20
1. Peart, Jemma       01   Ballarat Hig     25:31.99

Women 5000m Walk U17
1. Peart, Alanna      03   Ballarat Hig     23:43.03

Men 3000m Walk U16
1. Saunder, Fraser    04   Ballarat Gra     13:49.59    PB 0:02

Men 3000m Walk U14
6. Peart, Scott       06   Ballarat Hig     16:58.32    PB 0:51

SSV Secondary Schools T&F Champs, Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park, Friday 18 October

The highlight of the annual School Sport Victorian Secondary Schools Athletics Championships was the superb performance of 16 year old Ballarat walker Alanna Peart who set a new Open record of 6:25.94 in the Girls 16-20 1500m walk (she also holds the 12-15 Girls walk record). She sat in for the first half behind the existing record holder Rebecca Henderson, before clearing away to win by 12 secs. Other BRWC walkers in action included Jemma and Scott Peart, along with Brodie Tallent.

Girls 16-20 1500m Walk
1. Alanna Peart      Ballarat HS     6:25.94    PB 0:11, Meet Record
3. Jemma Peart       Ballarat HS     6:50.86

Boys 12-15 1500m Walk
4. Scott Peart       Ballarat HS     8:26.35
9. Brodie Tallent    Ballarat HS     9:20.25

Jared Tallent 1.5km Handicap, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Sunday 13 October

A quick 1.5km dash was on the agenda for the running the Jared Tallent Cup. The field was small, but quick times were the order of the day. Charlotte MacDonell lead out from the start and held off the fast finishing Sarah Brennan to take 1st place in the Jared Tallent 1.5km race with a 1 min PB time of 10:00. Fraser Saunder placing 3rd with the fastest time of the day in a very slick 6:51. A special mention to Rex Brennan in his debut 500m walk, exhibiting plenty of style.

Jared Tallent 1.5km Handicap
1. Charlotte MacDonell       10:00  PB 1:00
2. Sarah Brennan              8:04
3. Fraser Saunder             6:51  PB 0:02
4. Alanna Peart               7:01

0.5km Walk
1. Ted Brennan                3:34  First one

Merv Lockyer 3km Handicap, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Monday 7 October

Following the school holiday break, our walkers were keen to dust off their shoes and hit the scenic Lake Wendouree North Gardens track. Starting off in the sealed handicap, Fraser Saunder took the lead and didn’t look back, finishing first in a quick PB time of 13:51 (PB 0.26). On handicapped times, Sarah Brennan and Scott Peart walked strongly to take out 2nd and 3rd places respectively. Our junior walkers Charlotte MacDonell and Jorja Tallent kept up a steady place to also complete the 3km walk.

Merv Lockyer 3km Handicap 3km Handicap
1. Fraser Saunder        13:51  PB: 0.26 (New U16 BRWC record)
2. Sarah Brennan         17:16
3. Scott Peart           18:06
4. Alanna Peart          14:40
5. Jemma Peart           15:40
6. Charlotte MacDonell   23:13
7. Jorja Tallent         24:27

Australian Roadwalk Championships, Adelaide, Sunday 8 September 2019

Four BRWC walkers were in action in the annual Australian Roadwalk Championships in Adelaide in early September and all were successful. Jemma Peart (U20 10km), Alanna Peart (U18 5km) and Fraser Saunder (U16 10km) all won their respective age groups, each capping off what has been a great winter season of excellence. Rounding out the list, Scott Peart was part of the winning Victorian team in the Boys U14 3km Walk.

Girls 10km Road Walk Under 20
1. Peart, Jemma        VIC   53:09.03

Girls 5km Road Walk Under 18
1. Peart, Alanna       VIC   24:43.01

Boys 5km Road Walk Under 16
1. Saunder, Fraser     VIC   24:11.00   PB 0:25

Boys 3km Road Walk Under 14
8. Peart, Scott        VIC   17:48.03  PB 0:05

Team Gold:  RWV  (Liam Hutchins, Sebastian Weickhardt, Scott Peart)

BRWC Graeme Nicholls Lap of the Lake & Jastec 1.5km Handicap, Ballarat, Sunday 18 August

This week we held our annual dual club races of the Graeme Nicholls 6km Lap of the Lake and the 1.5km Jastec Handicap. We were privileged to have both Graeme’s wife Robyn and his sister Alison travel up to attend the race in Graeme’s honour. We even managed to have minimal wind and no rain during the race. It was great to see Alison enjoy her scenic walk around her old stomping ground of the Lake, and be reminded of the chilly winds off the lake.

All walkers took off for their lap of the lake, with Alanna Peart taking the lead of the race and finishing with the fastest time of 27:42, with Fraser Saunder close behind in 29:56 (1:14 PB). On handicaps Kaylah Heikkla-Dubowik was the winner in her first 6km race, finishing in 37:21, with Fraser & Sarah Brennan taking out 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

Our small group of juniors contested the 1.5km Jastec Handicap, with all starting off in a group. Scott Peart took the lead and finished with an 11sec PB in 8:29, followed by Jorja Tallent and Charlotte McDonell.

Graeme Nicholls 6km Lap of the Lake Handicap
1. Kaylah Heikkla-Dubowik       37:21   First One
2. Fraser Saunder               29:56   PB 1:14
3. Sarah Brennan                34:44
4. Alanna Peart                 29:42
5. Jemma Peart                  31:46   New U20 BRWC record

Jastec 1.5km Handicap
1. Scott Peart                   8:29   PB 0:11
2. Jorja Tallent                10:44
3. Charlotte McDonell           11:00   First one

BRWC President’s Cup 3km Handicap, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Sunday 4 August

Our small group of walkers was keen to hit out for the President’s Cup. Working from a staggered start, our backmarkers were focused on chasing down the scratch starters. Charlotte MacDonell started off strongly, with Scott Peart chasing her down in the closing part of the race to win in his equal PB time of 17:53. Fraser Saunder was powering home strongly, not able to catch the front markers, but finishing with the fastest time of the race in 14:37. Joining us were two new walkers, Memphis and Lexey from Maryborough, giving racewalking a try with an initial 1km, then continuing on for another 1km. We hope to see the girls joining us for another race.

President’s Cup 3km Handicap
1. Scott Peart                  17:53   Equal PB
2. Charlotte MacDonell          22:13
3. Fraser Saunder               14:37
4. Alanna Peart                 17:12
5. Jemma Peart                  17:22   New U20 BRWC record

2km Walk
1. Memphis                      16:41   First time
2. Lexey                        17:21   First time

August 2019 – Alanna Peart is VicWest Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year

We are more used to seeing them in racing shorts and vests but Jemma and Alanna Peart donned the good gear at the annual the FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport Awards gala dinner in Ballarat in August 2019. Both had been nominated for the WestVic Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year, along with some other talented athletes. This time it was younger sister Alanna who won the overall award. Great work girls!

Victorian Roadwalk Championships, Middle Park, Sunday 28 July 2019

Four BRWC walkers were in action in the recent Victorian Roadwalk Championships in Melbourne, with all 4 winning medals. Well done to Alanna and Fraser (gold), Jemma (silver) and Charlotte (bronze).

Victorian U20 Girls 10 km Championship
2. Peart, Jemma            52:21

Victorian U18 Girls 5 km Championship
1. Peart, Alanna           23:12   PB 0:27

Victorian U16 Boys 5 km Championship
1. Saunder, Fraser         24:36   PB 0:20

VRWC U10 2km Club Championship
3. MacDonell, Charlotte    14:50   First 2km walk

Victorian Schools Roadwalk Championships, Middle Park, Sunday 23 June 2019

BRWC walkers Jemma, Alannah and Scott Peart, Fraser Saunder and Charlotte MacDonnell were all in action in the Victorian Schools Racewalk Championships meet in Middle Park on Sunday 23rd June. All performed well, with golds to Alanna and Fraser, silver to Jemma and bronze to Scott, while Charlotte finished just outside the medals in her first race in Melbourne.

AV Schools U20 Girls 10 km
2.  Peart, Jemma           Ballarat High School         49:21   PB 2:35

AV Schools U18 Girls 5 km
1.  Peart, Alannah         Ballarat High School         24:14

AV Schools U16 Boys 3 km
1.  Saunder, Fraser        Ballarat Grammar School      14:21

AV Schools U14 Boys 3 km
3.  Peart, Scott           Black Hill Primary School    17:53   PB 0:08

VRWC U12 2.5km Championship Girls
14. MacDonnell, Charlotte  BRWC                         18:39

LBG Carnival, Stromlo Forest Park, Canberra, Sunday 9 June

BRWC walkers Jemma, Alannah and Scott Peart were part of the Racewalking Victoria team in Canberra on the Queens Birthday long weekend and they competed with distinction, each doing two races, a pretty tough program with a minimal break between races.

Jemma and Alannah won all the women’s races from U16 to Open – something I can’t remember happening before.

Jemma       1st   U20 10km     53:51
            1st   U18  5km     26:37
Alannah     1st   U16  3km     14:34
            1st   Open 5km     25:58
Scott       9th   U14  2km     11:44
           11th   U16  3km     18:05 
            2nd   U16  3km

Thanks to all the support crew in the background helping the kids to achieve these great results & having fun at the same time with the other Vic Athletes – Thanks WestVic Academy of Sport, Chris & RADcentre, Coach Wayne Peart, VRWC, Jess Rothwell, & Daryl helping Scotty with his style.

BRWC Benita Van Raaphorst Memorial 3km Handicap, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Sunday 19 May

A bright Autumn morning greeted the walking group and the Van Raaphorst family at the race held in their sisters Benita’s honour. Benita Van Raaphorst was an up and coming junior racewalker who 18 years ago passed away in an accident, and this race is held in memory of her dedication to racewalking.

With the football season in full swing some of our walkers were otherwise occupied. Our small field keenly headed off in handicap order with our new walker Charlotte MacDonell leading the way and holding on to the end, finishing in 21:56 with a 2:50 sec PB. Laura Ballinger was not able to catch Charlotte but also finished well in 20:14 with a 51sec PB. Third place went to Fraser Saunder with a new club U16 record of 14:27.

Benita Van Raaphorst Memorial 3km Handicap
1. Charlotte MacDonell    21:56   PB:2:50 
2. Laura Balluinger       20:14   PB:0:51
3. Fraser Saunder         14:27
4. Scott Peart            18:14
5. Jemma Peart            15:10

Willi Sawall 3km Handicap, North Gardens, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Sunday 5 May

Once again, the Ballarat North Gardens provided the backdrop for our first race of the winter season. It was a small but keen group of walkers greeting the start line in this year’s Wili Sawall 3km walk, and in the presence of the great walker Willi Sawall himself. It was our top juniors who led out early with Jemma Peart, Alanna Peart and Fraser Saunder all producing good times, none giving an inch as they battled to the finish line. Jemma finished with the fastest time. Not to be out done Laura Ballinger produced a fine walk to cross the line in a time of 21:17. However it was Scott Peart who took the handicap honours in a time of 18:02. We also welcomed our new member Charlotte MacDonell for her first walk.

Willi Sawall 3km Handicap 3km Handicap
1. Scott Peart            18:02
2. Jemma Peart            14:21
3. Fraser Saunder         14:46
4. Alanna Peart           14:37
5. Laura Ballinger        21:17
6. Charlotte MacDonell    24:46  First one