Convicts and wenches to (trail) run

TrailRunMag 28.02.2013

There is set to be some great trail racing this weekendScreen shot 2013-02-28 at 12.18.26 PM in Tasmania with the Convicts and Wenches 50km being held in the Narawntapu National Park at Greens Beach on Sunday.

Established in 2010, the intriguingly named race traverses four beaches and three headlands within the National Park, which overlloks Bass Strait in northern Tasmania.

The region is rich in colonial history – hence the name – and offers some startlingly picturesque scenery. It has been referred to as “Tasmania’s Serengeti“, owing to the abundance of wildlife in the Springlawn area of the park.

Screen shot 2013-02-28 at 12.22.18 PM

The beach-headland-beach type run event includes:

* 50 km solo ultra run

* 2 x 25 km Convicts & Wenches relay (new)

* 25 km run/walk

* 10 km run/walk (new)

* 4 km run/walk (new)

Screen shot 2013-02-28 at 12.22.50 PMAdding some historical spice to the event is the encouragement to wear fancy dress as either a convict of wench.

Race record holder Aub Henricks from Launceston is a hot favourite and may need a ball and chain to be slowed, but will challenged from the recently well performed Jonathan Worswick from Sydney, Michael McIntyre of Hobart  and from John Claridge, also of Launceston. 

Claridge has some good current form with the best time of the season in the Launceston  5km Parkrun and won the 2012 Ross marathon. Worswick won the 2011 Nerang State Forest 50km and placed second in the 100km Surf Century race at Anglesea last September.

Henricks is no slouch having won the Launceston 6 hour race with the impressive distance of 75.474km and many other races, all the way up from 800 metres. McIntyre is a former winner of Three Peaks and also the Cadbury marathon.

03_Narawntapu-National-ParkIn the women’s race, record holder Amy Lamprecht (formerly Hinds) from Beaconsfield will be challenged by Jacqui Guy from Hobart. Lamprecht won the women’s section of the 2012 Ross marathon and was second in the women’s section of the 2012 100km Surf Century. Guy is a former winner at Three Peaks and two-time winner of the Bruny Island 64km race.

The event has attracted a record field of 90 runners. Accommodation at Greens Beach is booked out, with lots of interest expected.

The race is a qualifying race for the world trail championships and is recognised by Australian Ultra Runners Association and the International Association of Ultrarunners.

For more information, visit www.convictsandwenchesmarathon.com

Or contact: Ian Cornelius

info (at) convictsandwenchesmarathon.com

tel 0408 527 391