Keilor St Bernard’s head coach Ron Stobaus and his daughter Cathy Matthews will enjoy heritage Round at Brimbank Park this weekend. 82806 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By LAURA WAKELY
IF YOU’RE heading to Brimbank Park this weekend, you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped back in time.
Tiny shorts, sweat bands, aviators and handle-bar moustaches will be proudly on display as cross-country runners from across the state take on the Heritage Round.
The event pays tribute to the history of athletics clubs, encouraging competitors to don their club’s uniforms from decades past, as well as the men’s 10-mile cross country championship, which is one of Australia’s oldest continually-run distance races with a rich 120-year-history.
Keilor St Bernard’s head coach Ron Stobaus has been with his club for 48 years and will cheer on his grandson in the race, who will wear his grandfather’s original uniform.
But don’t let the uniforms fool you – the race is as serious as any other on the Athletics Victoria calendar.
Mr Stobaus said competitors train all year round, with a “quite a lot” of hill training in preparation for the course’s terrain.
“It has a couple of big hills in it, which is a bit of a dread for many of the athletes,” Mr Stobaus said.
Maribyrnong resident and Keilor St Bernard’s member Andrew Comley said the event was one of the toughest courses in the season with “about three steps of asphalt” in its 16 kilometres.
Women run a six kilometre race Mr Comley described as “fast and furious” while juniors will also take a turn.
“It will probably be won by someone who’s very fit but very strong, it’s very physically demanding,” he said.
“They wouldn’t call it off under any conditions I wouldn’t think. Rain, hail, snow.”
Athletics Victoria’s Heritage Round will take place from midday on Brimbank Park this Saturday 23 June.
For more information visit www.athsvic.org.au
