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IROQUOIA TRAIL TEST 32 Km |
Race Report
results
by John Remington
with Geoff Sheppard, Rich Urbanski, Ryne Melcher
and Donna Dupont
The 13th annual Iroquoia Trail Test was held August 19th and featured a redesigned route that now is held entirely on the Bruce Trail in southern Ontario. While a 32 kilometre race may seem a bit short to be part of an ultra series this race takes most runners longer to finish than a road marathon. The course had obviously been designed by an accomplished runner with the route broken up into distinct sections so you could get used to running on grass or rocks or trail and then switch to another surface in about 20 to 30 minutes. The Iroquoia Trail Test has the most varied terrain of all the OUS races and traditionally brings the road warriors out to do battle with the trail enthusiasts. The 32 km distance also encourages many shorter distance runners to try a race of "ultra" duration, if not "ultra" length.
158 runners lined up for the start on the largely unknown new course. The first part is the main section of road running, but a single file trail descent and climb quickly shocks the system. The new section of race course surprised the runners with rocks and scenic boardwalk crossings that would keep them entertained over the next 24 km.
After a tough rocky 2 km section between Twiss Road and Guelph Line the course flattened out until an escarpment edge rocky descent would frustrate everyone as concentration was a necessity just when the legs were getting heavy. What the runners didn't know was that the next 5 km, which include a very long climb, passed a former Buffalo compound and the outdoor set location of the hit TV show RELIC HUNTERS. In fact, if you were watching TV on race day at 5:30 pm you would have seen scenes from the show of the exact location.
A quick turn around at Appleby Line did not relieve the runners from the tough trail as they would pass their rivals on the way back. Coming into the last aid station at Twiss Road, perennial top finisher Mark Tarnopolsky carried a shrinking 1 minute lead over the fast charging Dom Repta and Jason Petro. When the dust had cleared, Dom Repta had secured a sweet come from behind victory in 2:41:23, 37 seconds ahead of Petro who was 28 seconds ahead of a hobbling Tarnopolsky. Dom was a sentimental victor as he had challenged Ohio’s Mohican 100 mile trail race in June but had come up short in his first attempt at the distance.
George Sarson, 53, led the 50+ males with a strong 3:10:14. It’s great to see George hitting the trails after his long injury layoff. First place woman was Nadine Devin in 3:10:30 for 25th overall position. Second and third went to Shelly Willmemse, 3:13:09 and Lee Harvey, 3:13:59 respectively in a very close race. First woman in the 50+ was Joan Murphy-Walker in 4:02:53. Second place was Marion Landry from Montreal in 4:37:25 to continue her great OUS year.
The organization was great with well-supported aid stations every 3 to 7 kilometres. The weather was dry and warm and despite a new course the race was conducted almost flawlessly. Geoff Sheppard, RD and the Burlington Roadrunners did a great job.
An interesting change this year was dividing the runners into two random teams - Tobermory and Niagara (named after the terminal Bruce Trail Sections). This made 50% of the runners very happy as they happened to be on the winning team led by Hans Maier. Way to go Team Niagara!
OUS interest in the race was high with many of the series "regulars" joining in only a week after the Bechtel Park 50 kilometre race. Ryne Melcher stormed to 6th overall in 2:50:18 but I strongly suspect he'll be back to win next year! Tony Martin ran great and finished in only 3:14:27. Steve Govier secured the lead in the OUS under 50 male division with a time of 3:21:02. Scott Turner DNF’d and slipped to second in the division. He's no doubt still experiencing the severe strep throat that slowed him the week before at Bechtel Park.
Ron Gehl finished in 3:22:14 to beat out 50+ male division rival Doug Barber, 3:26:15. Ron is looking very strong this year as he tries to win the Ontario Ultra Series overall. Many other OUS regulars took part in this race and I think many more will next year when this race will fill up quickly.
A great touch was that each finisher was rewarded with a frozen Popsicle after finishing their "test". New gift prizes of towels and hand carved rock awards were handed out to the category winners.
Time Age Cat Bib
1 Repta Dom 2:41:23 26 A 1st M overall 2174
2 Petro Jason 2:42:00 29 A 2nd M overall 2146
3 Tarnopolsky Mark 2:42:28 37 A 3rd M overall 2157
4 Kotilehti Tim 2:46:47 37 A 1st M open 2144
5 Eaton Dave 2:47:20 21 A 2nd M open 2254
6 Melcher Ryne 2:50:18 21 A 3rd M open 2250
7 Magi Allan 2:50:56 37 A 2237
8 Brouwer Joachim 2:51:37 41 B 1st M 40-49 2118
9 Nagowski Ted 2:53:43 39 A 2190
10 Brennan Michael 2:57:25 46 B 2nd M 40-49 2262
11 Brenneman Fred 2:59:57 36 A 2258
12 Srnic Zeljko 3:00:03 43 B 3rd M 40-49 2264
13 Beernink Todd 3:02:12 29 A 2275
14 Dejak Frank 3:02:17 45 B 2111
15 Dufour Dan 3:02:32 29 A 2134
16 Peddle Ronald 3:02:51 40 B 2145
17 Deman Gilles 3:03:01 31 A 2270
18 Mercer Keith 3:03:22 41 B 2163
19 Van Gemert Henry 3:04:05 39 A 2119
20 Vivian P. Mark 3:04:10 41 B 2141
21 Michael Tim 3:07:09 48 B 2117
22 Perozak Mike 3:09:56 39 A 2203
23 Sarson George 3:10:14 53 C 1st M 50+ 2232
24 Sweezie Paul 3:10:22 32 A 2238
25 Devin Nadine 3:10:30 F 24 D 1st F overall 2164
26 Mannering Mark 3:12:01 42 B 2205
27 Wilson Brad 3:12:02 40 B 2257
28 Willmemse Shelly 3:13:09 F 28 D 2nd F overall 2171
29 Driscoll Jamie 3:13:50 2288
30 Harvey Lee 3:13:59 F 31 D 3rd F overall 2288
31 Ragetlie Henri 3:14:02 41 B 2154
32 Martin Tony 3:14:27 36 A 2243
33 O'Gorman Marcel 3:14:35 30 A 2136
34 Fisher John 3:14:40 52 C 2nd M 50+ 2229
35 Walker Stephen 3:14:44 53 C 3rd M 50+ 2214
36 Harper David 3:14:47 45 B 2170
37 Athey Rhea 3:14:48 F 36 D 1st F open 2173
38 McDowell Rick 3:15:39 51 C 2133
39 Cooper Jeff 3:16:54 45 B 2159
40 Blumenthal Arnold 3:16:55 44 B 2187
41 MacLeod Jane 3:16:59 F 43 E 1st F 40-49 2104
42 Hewitt Joe 3:18:10 46 B 2132
43 Seaton Rob 3:19:18 46 B 2222
44 Beaudoin Jim 3:20:09 35 A 2184
45 Govier Steve 3:21:02 35 A 2115
46 3:21:21 N/A 2189
47 O'Flynn Aine 3:21:24 F 32 D 2nd F open 2263
48 Moriarty Sean 3:21:40 34 A 2148
49 Gehl Ron 3:22:14 53 C 2219
50 Robinson Tony 3:24:15 28 A 2274
51 Pellow Bruce 3:24:16 53 C 2209
52 Arruda Ellie 3:25:55 F 39 D 3rd F open 2106
53 Barber Doug 3:26:15 54 C 2123
54 Jackson Connie 3:26:32 F 29 D 2218
55 Roberts Nick 3:27:28 36 A 2167
56 Arndt Trevor 3:27:47 33 A 2137
57 Peters Keith 3:28:10 31 A 2268
58 McRobert Ricky 3:28:14 45 B 2244
59 Swan Dennis 3:28:15 37 A 2185
60 Williams Allan 3:28:40 35 A 2233
61 Michalek Les 3:28:48 50 B 2210
62 Milko Warren 3:30:26 30 A 2242
63 Niall Keith 3:30:59 44 B 2103
64 Gilcrest Jim 3:31:05 59 C 2226
65 Robbins Lester 3:31:53 34 A 2180
66 3:31:59 2290
67 Senior Chris 3:32:24 29 A 2252
68 Edwards Chuck 3:32:46 54 C 2121
69 Chambers Robyn 3:33:23 F 31 D 2142
70 Hillier Wade 3:33:25 32 A 2161
71 Zonruiter Gerda 3:33:25 F 38 D 2249
72 Martin Chuck 3:33:42 36 A 2271
73 Urbanski Rich 3:33:53 53 C 2178
74 O'Neill Patrick 3:34:00 48 B 2147
75 England Gord 3:33:24 47 B 2224
76 Albon Roy 3:35:07 48 B 2273
77 Plant Kristine 3:35:10 F 34 D 2246
78 Brunet Tim 3:36:54 30 A 2109
79 Martin Jim 3:37:47 50 C 2149
80 O'Hagan Tim 3:37:47 53 C 2278
81 Ferguson Linda 3:38:05 F 37 D 2212
82 Simpson Gavin 3:39:05 50 C 2231
83 Pierce Andrew 3:39:38 37 A 2168
84 Parsons Roger 3:39:59 47 B 2176
85 Sigut Aaron 3:40:49 34 A 2130
86 Mallett Bill 3:41:58 55 C 2255
87 Thomas Rob 3:42:26 36 A 2234
88 Wing Steve 3:42:49 26 A 2280
89 Parker Howard 3:43:43 50 C 2107
90 Aragalis Rob 3:44:28 33 A 2206
91 Suttaby Dave 3:46:59 32 A 2245
92 Maier Hans 3:47:02 60 C 2101
93 Charbonneau Vincent 3:47:04 30 A 2239
94 Sommers Patricia 3:50:03 F 47 E 2nd F 40-49 2110
95 Olsen Kendra 3:50:18 F 39 D 2259
96 Glen Jim 3:51:11 33 A 2208
97 Weaver Art 3:51:40 49 B 2267
98 Brons Gerrit 3:52:02 51 C 2131
99 Harthun Gord 3:52:20 45 B 2125
100 Ostapiak Orest 3:53:23 40 B 2241
101 Shapcott Erin 3:54:12 F 19 D 2153
102 Orr Mike 3:54:55 50 C 2179
103 Broome Herb 3:55:12 46 B 2165
104 Jacobs Howie 3:56:53 43 B 2183
105 Farla Suzanne 3:58:39 F 46 E 3rd F 40-49 2235
106 Hung Richard 3:58:45 32 A 2127
107 Northcott Clara 3:59:06 F 45 E 2175
108 Fleming Ann 3:59:26 F - 2261
109 Howes-Jones Daryl 3:59:42 48 B 2143
110 White Bob 3:59:53 39 A 2256
111 Dick Jennifer 4:00:31 F 24 D 2155
112 Govier Virginia 4:00:31 F 35 D 2215
113 Wood Aaron 4:01:33 23 A 2156
114 Stuart Jon 4:02:26 36 A 2228
115 Rodgers Kevin 4:02:31 39 B 2114
116 Murphy-Walker Joan 4:02:53 F 53 F 1st F 50+ 2158
117 Schwarz Robert 4:04:06 41 B 2182
118 Ritchie Scott 4:04:16 32 A 2216
119 McLaren A.Duff 4:06:10 51 C 2120
120 Landry Donald 4:07:25 55 C 2207
121 McClymont Wendy 4:07:39 F 37 D 2126
122 Samarelli Michael 4:09:27 45 B 2160
123 Amaral Lea 4:09:37 F 36 E 2269
124 Forthuber Joel 4:10:20 19 A 2251
125 Hewitt Sharon 4:10:45 F 40 E 2230
126 Lafferty Bill 4:11:39 53 C 2113
127 Orth-DemczyszynMartina 4:11:57 F 33 D 2277
128 Brons Sonya 4:12:43 F 39 D 2124
129 Gabon Gerry 4:12:50 38 A 2129
130 Cleary Joe 4:13:12 60 C 2151
131 Eaton Judy 4:13:42 F 34 D 2181
132 Crane Rebecca 4:14:20 F 26 D 2177
133 Paquette Mitzi 4:15:01 F 30 D 2201
134 Cowie Alex 4:15:01 62 C 2204
135 Barrie Rita 4:17:29 F 44 E 2192
136 Grant Suzanne 4:17:29 F 41 E 2217
137 Keenoy Brendan 4:18:05 52 C 2186
138 Whitehead Tammy 4:21:36 F 36 D 2220
139 Lacroix Louis 4:22:30 47 B 2247
140 Walker Bruce 4:24:20 46 B 2188
141 Topham Amanda 4:26:16 F 34 D 2227
142 Walker Sue 4:26:52 F 41 E 2276
143 Lloyd Ray 4:32:54 61 C 2105
144 Dupont Donna 4:33:23 F 27 D 2169
145 Bundgard Paul 4:34:23 41 B 2166
146 Landry Marion 4:37:25 F 55 F 2nd F 50+ 2108
147 Krug Tim 4:37:32 56 C 2150
148 Cook Pamela 4:59:30 F 50 F 3rd F 50+ 2279
149 Durrant Ted 5:18:28 48 B 2122
150 Needham Thomas 5:18:28 62 C 2221
151 Walker John 6:12:12 48 B 2253
152 Heroux Jess 7:29:21 54 C 2172
Brown Peggy DNF F 45 E 2162
Taylor John DNF 45 B 2213
Turner Scott DNF 40 A 2240
Shelvey Margaret DNF F 63 F 2139
Petro George DNF 46 B 2140
Gooder Larry DNF 46 B 2202
Varga Astrid DNF F 50 F 2223
Kanners Dave DNF 53 C 2236
159 starters
Results: Geoff Sheppard, Scott Myers, co-RDs
updated Oct 4, 2000
see also: ITT
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