O’Flynn
Grows Wings
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| Sven O'Flynn |
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Stung by reports in the Stawell
Mail Times that likened him to a “moody racehorse”,
Ararat runner Sven O’Flynn hit back by smashing
a strong field of reliable campaigners in the 6.5
kilometres Garry Rice Handicap. The race was held
at Rice's fabulous Concongella vineyard last Sunday.
Sven is
a newcomer this year to the SAAC but has run for
some years with the Ararat Club. The enigmatic
Sven, who peppers his race form with many a casual
effort before suddenly shaking out a “blinder”,
ran just about the race of his life to confound our
beloved handicapper with a 1 min 23 sec winning margin
over Gaynor Radovic.
Kylie Murtagh was a further
20 seconds away in third place in a promising performance
that should guarantee a win in the near future.
What
was even more remarkable about Sven’s win was
the fact that he ran in some discomfort after dropping
a heavy barbecue on his left foot while helping a
mate move house that morning. After buckling to his
knees from exhaustion on crossing the finish line,
Sven quickly removed his running shoes to reveal
a badly bruised and swollen foot. “Ordinarily
that would have stopped me from running,” he
winced, “but I was really motivated by being
compared to a racehorse that ‘sometimes digs
his toes in’, so I was determined not to this
time.” It was in fact a real “horses
for courses” victory for Sven whose only previous
win with the Stawell & Ararat Cross Country Club
was at the same grassy and picturesque venue in 2007,
when he actually ran eight seconds faster.
The popular
race, held in conjunction with the Stawell & Ararat
Cross Country Club, honoured the memory of Ray Scott,
a distinguished runner with both clubs over many
years, and past-president of our club, who died tragically
on Saturday, May 8, while on a training run through
the Ironbarks Forest he loved.
All 32 runners wore
black armbands and two of Ray’s closest running
mates, Frank Shevlin and Barry Radford attended the
race. Frank came especially from Ballarat and, running
on invitation, sped over the distance in a blistering
22 minutes and 37 seconds, which was easily the fastest.
Our own champion, Nathaniel Warren, tried to stay
with him and was officially the club’s fastest,
but Frank blitzed him by almost a minute.
Radford
did not run but displayed various scrapbooks and
memorabilia from the past glories he shared with
his old friend. Two of Ray sons, Karl and Liam, also
raced in their dad’s honour. It was a pleasure
and a delight to run in their company. It was a big
day out for the O’Flynns as Luca and Lily O’Flynn
both won junior divisions of Garry’s race.
By Keith Lofthouse
A special thank you to Garry
and Rhonda for the effort they went to on the day.
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