Athletics Ballarat Chas Suffren Memorial Cross Country-6.4km
Race Summary
Date: 2 August 2026
Event: Athletics Ballarat Chas Suffren Memorial Cross Country
Location: Woady Yaloak Equestrian Centre, Smythesdale
Distance: 6.4 km
Time: 32:25
Result: 🥇 1st Place – 60+ Age Group
Weather: Sunny, no wind, approximately 13°C
Race Overview
The Chas Suffren Memorial Cross Country was held at the Woady Yaloak Equestrian Centre in Smythesdale under perfect winter racing conditions. The afternoon was sunny, there was no wind and the temperature was around 13°C, making it ideal weather for cross-country racing.
My preparation wasn’t ideal. I had been working until 1:00 pm before making a quick trip to the venue for the 2:30 pm start. By the time the race began I already felt flat and sluggish, and unfortunately that feeling stayed with me throughout the race.
The Course
The Woady Yaloak Equestrian Centre provided a genuine cross-country challenge. The course included several creek crossings, low horse jumps that had to be hurdled, and a short but punchy hill that tested everyone. It was an enjoyable course that demanded constant concentration and made for an interesting afternoon of racing.
The Race
From the start I never really found my rhythm. After working all morning and then rushing to the race, my legs simply didn’t feel as fresh as they had in recent events. I started sluggishly and, despite trying to lift the pace, I never really came out of that feeling.
Around halfway through the race I decided to stop chasing a fast time and instead focus on running within myself and getting to the finish as strongly as I could. Even though I finished feeling quite tired for such a short race, I was pleased to secure 1st place in the 60+ age group.
Road to Abu Dhabi
While this wasn’t my strongest performance of the season, it was still another valuable step on my journey to the 2026 World Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi.
One of the biggest lessons from this race was understanding how work, travel and pre-race preparation can influence performance. Even though I didn’t feel at my best, I stayed mentally composed, adapted my expectations and still managed to win my age group.
Every race—good or bad—provides another opportunity to learn. The experience gained from days like this will be just as valuable as the personal bests when I stand on the start line in Abu Dhabi.
Key Takeaway
Not every race will produce a personal best, but every race teaches an important lesson. This event reinforced the value of adapting to the circumstances rather than becoming frustrated by them. Despite feeling below my best after a morning of work, I stayed focused, raced with determination and still came away with an age-group victory. Sometimes success isn’t measured by the stopwatch alone.
Next Stop
My focus now shifts to the Athletics Victoria Half Marathon in Ballarat, where I’ll be looking to build on my recent running form and continue my preparation for the World Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi.
Every race, every training session and every lesson learned brings me one step closer to representing Australia in November 2026. The journey continues.
Official Results
