Next BMLAC Cross Country

Lake Dewar - Sunday 5th July

Entries have officially closed for this year's VLAA State Cross Country Championships to be held at Bundoora Park on Sunday 26th July.  The link below is a confirmed list of BMLAC entrants.  Michael & Karen will now process BMLAC team entries to VLAA as required by Friday 10th July.

BMLAC Entrants - Click Here

More Photos - Click Here

Results - Click Here

BMLAC results from Benalla Open Day - Click Here.

Bacchus Marsh Cross Country athletes traveled to Benalla for the weekend to participate in their annual open day.  Many of the families enjoyed the long weekend stay at the Benalla Leisure Park.

Saturday evening the athletes were privileged to Traci's spaghetti bolognaise tea whilst the parents utilized the BBQ facilities in the recreation/meals room. 

Sunday morning we convoyed out to Reef Hills Reserve, while a few families made the early morning hike up the Hume Highway.  Although the track was extremely heavy due to the overnight rain this did not deter our athletes from running some outstanding races.  Our Under 9 & 10 athletes competed under difficult conditions with a heavy downpour during their event adding to the already challenging course. Well done kids.

Bacchus Marsh's medal tally was 11 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze and our Centre was also awarded the Benalla perpetual trophy.

Gold - Claire Byrnes, Bryce Stephenson, Connor Shugg, Evana Miesen, Dominic Miesen, Lucas Shugg, Nick Caulfield, Mitchell Thompson, Maddison Bertram, Peter Dickson, Karen Shugg.

Silver - Solomon Miesen, Olivia Stone, Thomas Presnell, Hayden Thompson, Sarah Lindsay, Julian Bocock, Mikaela Hawken, Annika Miesen.

Bronze - Kirsti McBride-Bocock, Alistair Bocock, Emily Robinson, Hamish Coulton, Trish Stephenson, Paul Miesen.

This week's Cross Country returned to Caledonian Park, Ballan for our second run on one of new courses.  The athletes weaved their way down to the Werribee River, then ran along the long stretch of the river bank prior to a tough winding uphill finish.

Photos - Click Here

The Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics Centre held their 4th Annual Cross Country Open Day at Bullengarook Reserve on Sunday in perfect conditions.  Athletes from the following centres: Altona, Ballarat, Box Hill, Coburg, Croydon, Essendon, Geelong, Knox, Sunbury, Werribee, Whittlesea and Williamstown enjoyed the days events held through the bushlands of the Gisborne Ranges.  This year's winner of the perpetual trophy was won by the Geelong Athletics Centre who a total of 34 athletes compete on the day.

Many thanks to all those families who supported our Open Day.  Thank you to all the committee members, rabbits, turtles, marshalls, officials, canteen staff and supporters who contributed to the successful of the day.

Results - Click Here

Photos - Click Here

This week BMLAC competed at one our new Cross Country venues, Calendonian Park in Ballan.  63 athletes enjoyed course with many recording a season's personal best time.

Full Results - Click Here

Photos - Click Here

(taken by Trevor Denton)

In contrasting conditions to last weekend, our athletes today appreciated the warmer weather at Lake Dewar.  Several of our races were closely contested with runners enjoying the downhill sprint to the finish line.  With the local football scheduled for Sunday morning it was very pleasing to see many of our intermediate boys being available to compete.  Many of the schools are currently conducting their region and zone cross country events and we welcome any kids to participate in our runs for additional training.

Next week's Cross Country will be held at Caledonian Park Ballan.  Directions - take the first Ballan exit from the Western Freeway and head towards Ballan township.  Turn right at the third intersection (opposite St Paul's Uniting Church) and follow to the end of the street.

Results - Click Here

Photos - Click Here

In what is usually an enjoyable running venue for our Cross Country athletes, this week proved an extremely challenging course.  With the track winding through the Lady Northcote camp surrounds, the long up hill track along the back of the camp grounds into a gale force head wind certainly tested the strength of our kids, especially our junior runners.  Despite the conditions it was very pleasing to see many of our runners return again this week for another run. 

Next week we will travel down the Western Freeway to Lake Dewar, Myrniong and with the course set in the highlands of the Pentlands Hills we will be praying for the winds to subside.

Directions - turn left at  the Pykes Creek/Greendale exit off the freeway and follow the road past St. Anne's Winery.  Continue on this road (part gravel) to its end and enter through the iron gates at Lake Dewar to the car park.

Results - Click Here

Photos - Click Here

This weekend saw the return of Cross Country to Bacchus Marsh.  Our first run for 2009 was held at Peppertree Park in perfect conditions.  A large number of athletes returned for another season of competition while it was great to see so many new faces turn up and register for their first season of cross country. 

More Photos - Click Here

Results - Click Here

Athletes are reminded that all home runs will commence at 10.30am this season.  Next week's events will be held at Lady Northcote Camp, Rowsley.  Directions - turn right at the roundabout near the station (Bacchus Marsh Balliang Rd) travel out pas the showgrounds.  Continue for 4km, turn right at Rowsley/Glenmore turn off (Glenmore Rd) and continue for 8m to Lady Northcote Camp.