Trail series kicks off at Cobble Hill

The Vancouver Island Trail Running Series kicked off the 2016 season on April 9 with a stop at Cobble Hill.

Runners set off on the Cobble Hill race, the opener of the Vancouver Island Trail Running Series, on April 9.

Runners set off on the Cobble Hill race, the opener of the Vancouver Island Trail Running Series, on April 9.

The Vancouver Island Trail Running Series kicked off the 2016 season on April 9 with a stop at Cobble Hill.

The first event in the six-run series included two distances: the 12-kilometre short course, and the 21km long course — known as the Gutbuster in honour of the series’ former name.

First place out of the 124 runners who finished the short course went to Matthew Winkler, with a time of one hour, eight minutes and 51.9 seconds. In second place was the Ceevacs Roadrunners’ own Cory Ramstead at 1:09:01.0, while Warren Beattie placed third at 1:10:35.3.

The top female runner, at sixth overall, was Shawnigan Lake’s Nancy Baxendale. The second female runner was Brittany Brooks at 1:19:04.5, followed by Katja Tinnemann at 1:24:16.5.

Isaac Allen of Shawnigan Lake School was the first men’s U19 runner at 1:22:00.3, and Mady Martin, also from Shawnigan, was the first women’s U19 runner at 1:24:45.0.

A total of 87 runners completed the 21km Gutbuster, led by Derek Vinge and his time of 1:48:42.5. Shane Ruljancich was second at 1:49:15.2, and Andrew Russell placed third at 1:52:39.9.

The first female runner at the longer distance was Lindsey Chamberlain, who placed 12th overall with a time of 2:16:16.5. Cheryl Davies was next at 2:24:05.5, and Tara Pollock was third at 2:27:29.4.

The second race in the series will take place at Mt. Tzouhalem on May 7.

Other races are scheduled for Western Speedway, Transfer Beach, Mount Washington, and Burgoyne Bay.

 

Cowichan Valley Citizen