Sydney Summer Series

600's POSTED AT DR MATT'S PUNT

On a warm and beautiful Sydney evening, Brendan 'The Trilby' Hatton and Richard Green 'But Not Heard', flew the Cabarita course to post perfect full 600 point scores. They were joined by around 200 other Summer Series addicts at this fantastic harbourside (or is that riverside) location that features the old AGL gasworks development (now known as Breakfast Point), and the sublime Cabarita Point Park. Dr Matt Peters, well known for past outings at Joeys, was our pot man - and didn't disappoint with a full spread across the page. Daunting until you realised the map scale was 1:7,500!

The course featured a nice left turn at #30 which most runners seemed to take. A few contrary types plugged for 29, or 30-29 to begin their meals. There was a nice tangle in the Breakfast Pt area itself, giving the loopsters much to chew on, before the breakout north to 22/23 and/or west to the killers 21-11-1. The hard one to capture for the 'second tier' was probably #14 - just too far off line on the 26-4-5 route, but a nagger all the same. Those with a touch of rocket fuel plugged for a 5-21-14-26 return, missing #4, and ignoring the siren song of 11 and 1. This was a good way of boosting beyond the standard central 510, but did entail a bit of leggy stretch. Many OM's and MM's worked the tangle of western streets to this effect - even the old plodder Waz Selby, found himself out there (happy 60th tomorrow Warwick!!).

This will be a great sprint O map when all developments are finished, with lots of fun in the connecting lanes and gardens. Running the foreshore tracks and boardwalks (great between 3 and 23) and around the parks here is just a buzz. The yummy contrast when you duck into the developed areas - and then out again to the views and grassy stuff is fantastic. Control # 27 on the knoll was surely on of Sydney's great Summer Series spots. A great SSS venue, set to get better as the years roll on.

Looking at some of the route options. Many competitors looked to work all the inner Breakfast Point apartment points (8-16-28-25-15) on their outer run, coming home from the north via 13-24-5-26-6-7 and the 20 and up. Others separated them with a 28-15 outer and a 25-6 inner. Much fun and nice flat running (a nice change from last, and next!, week). Although #10 didn't have many fans, I think #4 might be our lonely pot. Too hard for the slower 'inner' runners, and not enough potatoes for the big guns. Nice setting here Matt. Always good to plonk one down somewhere that gets us all worked up in a fug of 'will I or won't I'.

So, back to some of the scoring.

As well as our two golds, there were several nearly made it's. Steve 'The Pencil' Ryan and Rob Mason were a scratch away for 590, Lisa 'The Schooner of Gin' Grant, Kar-Soon and Anthony Peterson carded 580, while Davy 'The Gravy' Bray and Graeme McLeod were out a touch wider on the turn for 570. Not bad, not bad at all thinks the old Porkster. Of interest was Steve leaving off #10 in his on-time outing, and Lisa shunning #4 for her seconds over run. Amazing stuff from these two stars.

Other great scores noted by the man in the trilby, were Pete Annetts working the sweat band for 560, Michael Free cunningly giving his rivals a bit of unexpected lolly with 550 and home four minutes early (planning Michael, planning!), and junior Matty Hill posting 540. Get that. Mathew is still a JM!! And while we are thinking 'Hill', how about mum Barb going the bolt for the same 540! Tony, I know how you feel.

Chris 'Door' Frane and Graeme Hill grabbed 530, Jo 'Jo Zep & The Falcons' Sinclair pocketed 520, followed by a posse of 510's - Ian Cameron and Steve Flick in SVM and Mark Robinson and Mel Cox in VM. Good to see Gary Farebrother working 500 into the score book, and Dave 'Poached' Heggarty shy ten for 490. Richard Morris also held 490, which seemed low for the Morry Minor. Maybe back early.

In the Legends, Heiko and Ron held hands for 460, to be well clear of fellow LM's Mal Gledhill (420), Eric 'Clapton' Smith (360), Chris Crane 'On The Plain' (290), Barry 'Tread' Cole (280) and Peter 'In The Clubhouse' Stevens with 200. Janet Morris took the LW points, with Beverly 'Bird' Johnson carding a remarkable minus 210! Bev must have gone on a serious walk, or stopped at the Palace for a Resches (as we did later - but you knew that didn't you!). Sue Thommo posted a strong 350 in the SVW's, enjoying the course - and Carol Jacobson's absence tramping the Routeburn Track with young Kenny (no, not that Kenny!). Other junior scores noted were Michele Dawson's 440 - well clear of brother Dan's 380, and Siobhan Wilde (Dave's niece not granddaughter) with 190 big red and white ones. Hard also not to enjoy 'Alex, Duck and Hannah' once again on the board with 110. The legend is building!

More scores? All right, all right, settle down - I've got a few more (no rain you see). How about the great Robin Cameron, running in pink sox for 480 (same as Chris 'Taker' O'Neil in OW and Dave 'I'm Off' Lotty in SVM). Jim Merchant had the Culoul Creek Tee on the drip for 470, a shade behind All Black flanker Selwyn 'Toogood' Roper's 480, but in front of Ian 'Business Machines' Miller (440) and Terry 'The Weight of the Law is Upon you my Son' Murphy's 400.

'Noah' Mark Schaefer walked for 330 (a planter f prob rears its head). Mike Hanratty, back from three months in Europe (and a touch of the shivery grass), ran his debut this series for 300. Adrian 'The Drainpipe' Steele is back running and on the boil with a few mates, carding 430, Lisa Lampe worked the Uringa O top well for 380, ten behind Caitlin Anderson's 390. Good to see the 'Biscuit Tin' reclaiming her running form after recent mumdom. Carolyn 'Iment' Haupt ran an excellent 450, Ross 'RKO' Duker and Melissa Selby were unlikely partners on 430, but none the less in front of a subdued Wayne Pepper and Julia Prudhoe's 400 odd.

Given that Masters star Glenn 'The Toecutter' Horrocks absence, good to see the family well represented by dad Graham pushing hard for 330 points in the Super Vets. And for those that didn't hear, Glenn has a broken toe (don't blame the sofa) and will be out of action for six weeks! Betting in the Masters has suddenly become frantic, as the top ten get the renewed itch for gold.

There were many more great scores - some best of season, some going into the light type. The Pork Pie pencil has ground down to a stub in reporting on yet another great event. Next week we fly east to Manly Dam where Terry Bluett (the man behind the Monday Sprint O series) has a treat in store. Terry has added some bush work to last years Burnt Bridge, so expect a little more challenge as we flog our sox off at The Dam! Beauty.

And just before folding the camp stool, a little more news. Andrew Hill is heading home after his year in the UK, and may just be on the lick next week. Graeme thinks he won't be fit - but we all know that means 590 rather than 600! Be great to see Andy back. Also, many of you might have noticed the great numbers we are building in this years series. After 15, we have 628 individual nags on the paddock, as opposed to 676 for all of last season - could be a record sniff given we still have eleven events to report. Bring you friends, bring grandma! The more the merrier, with still lots of fantastic racing to come. Not to mention new maps and some very cunning course setters out to test the ponies (and some nice pubs to ponder the 'if only's').