Running Writing - May 1997


No. 3 May 1997

The Interview with South Canberra Tuggeranong coach Garry Hosking is from the June 1994 Canberra Runner magazine. The Story on the 11th Women's and Girls' Fun Run will be printed in the June issue of Tuggie Athlete magazine.

The GIO Australia 11th Women's & Girls' Fun Run by Ewen Thompson
	On a typically glorious Canberra autumn morning more than 700 participants congregated at Acton Ferry Terminal for the 11th annual 6 kilometre Women's and Girls' Fun Run. Two-time Olympian Susan Hobson was a notable absentee from the elite field as she was running the London Marathon the following Sunday [Sue finished 19th in 2:35:23-ed]. The 1988 winner Joy Terry was also a non-starter "injured again" according to coach Richard Lucas. Joy is a former international with an AA certified 10k road PB of 32:27 in winning the 1989 Canberra Times Fun Run. Susan's course record from 1996 of 20:05 was not expected to be challenged. "I think it will be a race between Jane (Zeller, a local triathlete), Elaine (Cooper), Robyn Sewell (1996 Canberra Times Fun Run winner) and a girl from Sydney (Tiffany Levette)" said race director Deborah Hoare. This prediction proved pretty close to the mark. At 2km Jane and Elaine were running shoulder to shoulder, with Robyn trailing by 10 metres. There was a gap of 50 metres to Mary-Jane Harding, Jennifer Beer and Fiona Jorgensen. On the return run from the Carillon, Jane pushed the pace which had the desired effect on Robyn who dropped off another 50 metres. Elaine, however was only a stride behind and looking ominously comfortable. There's a footbridge in Commonwealth Park about 1500 metres from the finish line. Instinct must have taken over for the track trained Elaine Cooper, for this is where she made the break: "I thought I would leave it as late as possible". A decisive surge was turned into a comfortable 20 second winning margin. Coach Glenn Coward was pleased with the outcome, although not the tactics: "When I said leave it late, I meant wait until the last fifty (metres)". Her response to this was: "I didn't want to take any chances and the thought of the prize-money ($500 from GIO Australia) was incentive to get away a little earlier". Elaine had previously won the Women's and Girls' in 1995 in one of the closest finishes in race history. Second on that occasion was promising junior Claire Fraser. This year there was no need for the photo finish, and the winning time of 21:31 was a satisfying one second personal best. Robyn Sewell (also a triathlete and Canberra Times winner) finished a lonely third with mountain running expert Fiona Jorgensen beating Levette, Beer and Harding into fourth place. Gay Thurlow from GIO presented the place-getters with their cheques and trophies after finishing the race herself. South Canberra Tuggeranong Athletic Club was successful in many of the team and age-group categories. Erin Sutcliffe won the 13 to 14 years age-group. Kelly Roberts finished second in the Under-18's. Rosemary Longstaff won the 40 to 45 years age-group: "I was really pleased with my run...maybe I won't retire now. I had a close battle with Kelly (Roberts) over the last half kilometre (Kelly prevailed by one second)". Fiona Jorgensen, Kelly Roberts, Theresa Macgregor and Michelle Ward-Pearson were members of the winning 'Athletics/Sporting Club' team. Karen Daniels-Sutcliffe and Erin Sutcliffe were the "Concise Couple" who won the Mother and Daughter prize. The "Hosking Trio" of Rebecca, Jessamy and Jillian were winners in the 'Sisters' category. First in the Government Departments category were the "Calvery Cruisers". The winning Primary School team were the "Garran Greyhounds" with their distinctive T-shirts, and the High Schools category was taken out by "St Clairs".	Select photo to view large image Elaine Cooper and Jane Zeller, still together at 2 kilometres. [27k] Running for fun in the '97 Women's and Girls'. [28k] Michelle Ward-Pearson, Rosemary Longstaff and Kelly Roberts. [25k] *****The SCTAC 1997/98 season committe is: President - Peter Haren, Vice President (coaching) - Alan Bishop, Vice President (organisation) - Gordon Nightingale, Secretary - Ted Harrison, Treasurer - Tony Behm, Registrar - Lyn Button, Committee - Greg Gilbert, Ewen Thompson, Geoff Monro.*
	Debbi Hoare thanked GIO Australia, supporting sponsors (Instant Colour Press, Win TV, FM104.7, Robinson Building Group, Australian Physiotherapy Association), and Barrel draw donors (Rydges Canberra, The Runners Shop Canberra, The Australian Institute of Sport) in her presentation speech: "...and not forgetting my organising committee of Alice Scott, Annette Sugden, Beryl Lowry, Fiona Jorgensen, Lu Vizard and Dave Cundy." The prestigious $1,000 junior scholarship was awarded to South Canberra Tuggeranong athlete Kelly Roberts. This was quite meritorious as Kelly was struck down with Chicken Pox ten days before the race. "She was below her best and it was a good effort on her part just to finish" said coach Mike Sainsbury "...the scholarship is a good reward for Kelly's efforts on the track (2:10 and 4:39) and Cross Country Club Summer Series (2nd female)." Results - top 30 Finishers: 1 Elaine Cooper 21:31, 2 Jane Zeller 21:51, 3 Robyn Sewell 22:24, 4 Fiona Jorgensen 22:56, 5 Tiffany Levette 23:01, 6 Jennifer Beer 23:21, 7 Mary-Jane Harding 23:24, 8 Kelly Roberts 23:37, 9 Rosemary Longstaff 23:38, 10 Aimie Rugendyke 23:41, 11 Erin Sutcliffe 23:49, 12 Melinda Ford 23:55, 13 Jill Reich 24:20, 14 Jan Watson 24:22, 15 Leann Weston 24:28, 16 Vanda Quinn 24:29, 17 Louise Fox 24:31, 18 Debbie Colwell 24:31, 19 Margaret Klee 24:33, 20 Miriam McCarthy 24:38, 21 Erin Lenon 24:53, 22 Julia Keith 24:57, 23 Lea Edwards 25:02, 24 Debra Rollings 25:06, 25 Linda Lenton 25:17, 26 Theresa Macgregor 25:24, 27 Maria Hancock 25:27, 28 Michelle Ward-Pearson 25:42, 29 Valerie Hush 25:42, 30 Dianne Gutwein 26:00.

Profile of a Coach - Garry Hosking

by Carol Ey

First published in Canberra Runner magazine no.105 June 1994

	This year, two of Canberra's talented young runners, Paul Imhoff and David Quayle, were selected to represent Australia in the World Junior Cross country Championships. Paul has also made the World Junior Track and Field team. The coach of these two successful runners is South Canberra Athletic Club member, Garry Hosking. How did you become involved in coaching? I had been a runner myself up until the late 1970's, then as a teacher I had been coaching at school for several years. In 1986, the school supported me to attend a Level 1 coaching course where we were encouraged to get involved in the local Club scene. I then got in contact with Greg Gilbert at South Canberra Tuggeranong, and through him was approached by a group of young men looking for coaching, and it has gone on from there. Who have been the greatest influences on your coaching style? In my own running I basically followed the LSD principles derived from Lydiard, but not using the different phases throughout the year. I have also been influenced by some articles Pat Clohessy wrote - who of course was also from the LSD school.		Select photo to view large image Garry Hosking winning an Interclub 400m race. [22k] Two of Garry's daughters, Jessamy and Rebecca seen here running with Theresa Macgregor in the Women's and Girls' Fun Run. [29k]
	In recent times you are perhaps best known as a coach of young men. Have you concentrated mainly on this group? Originally I was asked to coach a group of school kids, mainly boys, so that was where I started. Most of this group later either left Canberra or quit running, and by 1988-89 the group was mainly young girls. Now it's largely boys again, although I do have a couple of girls, and some of the original group I coached who are now seniors have come back again. I am also helping SCT senior 10k and marathon runner Kevin Bonnett. I have found it good to have a mix of experience in the group, as the others can feed off the more experienced ones, and I think that is an important part of the coaching, Of course once they get to International standard, it is hard to find others in Canberra to look for that advice. How many people do you coach? Usually I have a group of about a dozen. I don't enforce attendance at training, so some people drift in and out a bit, also some attend more in summer, others more in winter. How much time does coaching involve for you? For the last year or so, it has been Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Saturday races. In the past I did the long runs on Sunday as well, but now I just provide guidance, based on pulse rate, and leave them to it. Even if you're there you can't always tell how each runner is going. What has been your greatest moment as a coach? Well, the last 6 to 12 months has been full of good moments really. Paul and David's successes have been great as a reward for all their hard work. But my best moment was going down to watch the National Cross Country Championships in Melbourne last year. It was a multi loop course, so you could see the runners often during the race. In the Under-20 event, the ACT had a chance to win team gold. Going into the last lap, David was our fourth runner and his position was going to be vital for the team. With about 1500 metres to go, I could see that he was struggling a bit, and I was able to give him some encouragement. It seemed to help and we went on to win. That run also led to David being included in the World Cross Country squad, so it was very significant for us. There was a pleasing result for Garry in 1997 when David Quayle qualified for the final of the open men's 1500 metres at the Optus Australian Track and Field Championships. David ran 3:45.68 in his heat and finished 9th in the final. [Editor]

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