2018 Hat Head Trig one for the ages

With 68 starters in the junior field and 71 in the open, organisers of the 48^th annual Hat Head Trig run were quietly confident that it was the biggest turnout of all time.

But the ‘remarkables’ didn’t end there – not by a long stretch.

Kempsey 15-year-old Tom Fletcher was one of the many headliners, winning the boys’ race in 16:51 before regathering, and minutes later, lining up for the senior race.

The St Columba Anglican School student went on to win that race too, in 14:34 – not that he was holding anything back in the earlier contest.

“I got hopelessly lost on the way down the mountain (in the junior race),” Tom told The Argus by way of explanation.

“I was surprised I was actually close (eventual runner-up Ethan Mathers) when we came out of the bush. It was a good race and he pushed me all the way.”

In modern memory, only one person has won both the senior and junior races on the same day – so Tom’s name will now stand beside the legendary Lachlan Davidson.

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The first woman home – who accepted her trophy to thunderous applause as a local – was Zarinah Tolman, whose husband Aiden plays first grade for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the National Rugby League.

Zarinah finished in 20:23 and is no stranger to the Hat Head Trig, although she told The Argus this was the first time she had won.

Finishing just ahead of Chloe Saunders (20:39), Zarinah said the 2018 contest had been “hard” – and the final creek crossing challenged all as the current and wind were at one to steer the competitors off-course.

Aiden – a hero in Hat Head and across the Macleay – also completed the Trig run, and was delighted to see his partner triumph.

Asked if she had beaten Aiden home, Zarinha was unsure, then coy, and finally: “I’m pretty sure I beat him convincingly (can’t be confirmed, but why wreck the legend)”.

The event is put on by the Hat Head Bowls and Recreation Club, whose chairman Mark Johnson was beaming at how the day turned out.

“We’ve had brilliant weather and a great turnout. We’ve also had the support of the surf life saving club who are running the water stations and the first aid,” Mark said.

The event sees competitors run from the campground and across the creek, then bash through the bush to reach the trig at the top of the hill, before making the just as testing return journey back down to the finish line.

Results:

Girls: 1^st Tully Sharman 22:41, 2^nd Charlie Norton 22:54, 3^rd Amy Mathers 22:55.

Boys: 1^st Tom Fletcher 16:51, 2^nd Ethan Mathers 16:58, 3^rd Ruan Picker 17:14.

Women: 1^st Zarinah Tolman 20:23, 2^nd Chloe Saunders 20:39, 3^rd Zoe Divall 20:54.

Men: 1^st Tom Fletcher 14:34, 2^nd Sean Whalen 14:57, 3^rd Dylan Matthews 15:18.

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