"I’ve
Finally found my
Hero…"
The
story of the 1983 to 1991 Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathons.
By
Phil
Essam
First
published in 1999
Copyright - Phil Essam
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair
dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as
permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process
without written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the Author.
All rights reserved.
"I’ve finally found my hero…" is
taken from Kevin Mansell’s quote in 1987 when he crossed the Finishing Line for
the first time. Kevin definitely typified the fighting spirit of every
Westfield Runner that attempted the race between 1983 to 1991. Thanks Kev.
Contents
The Westfield Run Song…………………………………….iii
Introduction by Tony
Rafferty……………………………....iv
Acknowledgements…………………………………………vii
Australian Ultra running – Pre
83……………………………1
1983 – Cliff Young shuffles into
history…………………….5
1984 – Melb-Syd – The Lawnmower
Man…………………17
1985 – Birth of a Greek Legend……………………………
32
1986 – Yugoslav’s Pub Crawl – Tragedy
Strikes…………...50
1987 – Kouros wins again – the new
route………………….72
1988 – The Bicentennial race – Kouros
number three………93
1989 – Kouros number four……………………………… 115
1990 – The Legend wins again…………………………… 132
1991 – The Last Race………………………………………158
The Top thirty Westfield
Runners………………………….180
Humour, Tragedy, Courage – Favourite
Articles…………..184
Acknowledgments
I had always been fascinated by the exploits of the ultrarunners
traipsing the road between Sydney and Melbourne in the now defunct Westfield
Run. It wasn't until 1988 when I actually saw the ghostly apparitions run, jog
and walk through Sale, Gippsland at 1, 2 or 3 o clock in the morning that I
fully appreciated and marvelled at their efforts.
It was in the 1990 race when I crewed for Victorian runner and now
lifelong friend, John Briet. There is a photo of John that paints a thousand
words about the anguish and satisfaction that the race brought the runners. I
ran in a couple of smaller Ultras in 1990, but my desire and heart was not
quite there so it went in the too hard basket for a few years.
1991 was to see the last running of the Westfield and after that I
became dismayed, angry and disappointed that no one had compiled a book on the
greatest sporting event ever held in this country. When I was posted from
Darwin to Wagga Wagga in late 1995 I made two vows. The first was to get back
into Ultrarunning and the second promise was to complete the book on "The
Westfield Run" I have completed the first vow and am hooked for life. I
have also completed "I’ve finally found my Hero …" and here it is for
you to read.
There are many people that I must thank. My wife and daughter for
their patience as I have tapped at the computer for many hours over the last
three years. I love you both. I must also thank Tony Rafferty, John Briet,
Kevin Mansell( now my coach), David Standeven, Bryan Smith, Cliff Young, Dot
Browne, Yiannis Kouros and Ron Hill. Thanks for the information, guidance and
time that you have all given me during the past three years. Thanks to all the
other Ultrarunners, crew members and officials that have given information,
photos tidbits and help. The list would be a page in itself. I am indebted to
all of you as this story is your story.
Unfortunately, Westfield and people close to Westfield Management
chose to ignore, deny or give little of my requests for help and information.
In this story I have only wanted to tell the full version of events and I
thought that Westfield would have been proud to have their race recorded in
written history. Tis their loss!
Some nights of recounting the race
stories on the computer left me exhausted. I would feel that I was actually
running in the race with some of the competitors. I hope every reader enjoys the
story and I hope it gives them something to help them with the race of life.
Thankyou for selecting my book.
Phil
Essam
Introduction
By
Tony
Rafferty
During the
1970's a number of runners ran solo along the Hume and Princes Highways between
Sydney and Melbourne. Gaining generous publicity breaking one another's best
times attracted interest from marketing managers and advertising agencies.
At
that time ultra-distance runners were regarded by some sections of the media
and general public as eccentrics. Track and field athletes in general viewed
the ultra-distance person and their endurance feats with a degree of curiosity
and sometimes disbelief.
The
advent of the Sydney to Melbourne race soon dispelled any doubts about the
physical strength, mental focus and credibility of the competitors. The event
demonstrated that the athletes were highly trained people of extraordinary
endurance with powers of concentration unseen in most sports.
Sponsored
in 1983 by the shopping centre group, Westfield, the first official Sydney to
Melbourne race known as the Westfield Run stamped its place in ultramarathon
history.
An
estimated 20, 000 people in the early hours of the morning cheered potato
farmer, vegetarian and bachelor, Cliff Young, when he shuffled into Doncaster
Shopping Town car park from Sydney in 5 days 15 hours 4 minutes.
Searchlights
lit up the night sky, weary children waved flags, people danced, car horns
blared, television crews jostled for positions, journalists shouldered one
another seeking exclusive interviews as the thin, bewildered, weather -beaten
man from Colac finished the historic race.
"It
was a beautiful enchanting run. Sometimes I ran with stray cattle. But I had an
awful time from Wodonga to Wangaratta. A totally hellish run," said Joe
Record who drove across the Nullarbor Plain from Perth and stayed at Young's
home at Beech Forest a few weeks before the race. "I'd a big duel with
(the late) George Perdon which lasted 40k. I couldn't let him go. Then I
couldn't even walk the hills and said 'Stuff it'. I stopped. I had Granny's
ankles."
"Siggy
Bauer was the man to beat. He had all the records," said Perdon. "It
didn't dawn on me that Cliffy would do what he did."
When
George Perdon gained second place Siggy Bauer said: "I've never seen
anyone go past me so fast.".
The
race conducted in the opposite direction the following year again received
national news coverage. People lined three-deep about a kilometre leading to
Westfield's centre in Parramatta. Former cycling champion Geoff Molloy earned
first place trophy.
Inside
the complex during the presentation ceremony one could be forgiven for
thinking, seventh place, Cliff Young, won the race again. A deafening roar
lasting many minutes when he walked on stage drowned his words on thanks.
Meanwhile with his prizemoney banked and the trophy neatly packed away, Geoff
Molloy mingled quietly at the back of the crowd seemingly captivated by Young's
public support.
Yiannis
Kouros, affectionately known as the "Golden Greek" and "Colossus
of the Roads" lived up to his reputation as world's best when he blitzed
the field in 1985. The winning margin between Kouros and second place Siggy
Bauer was 24 hours 39 minutes - or 158 kilometres.
A
few days before the 1986 race Kouros suffered a fractured toe. At the start he
appeared on crutches as a spectator. Later he cycled up and down the highway,
offered encouragement to competitors and helped support crews.
During
the event a car collided with semi-trailer, skidded across the road and struck
South Australian entrant, Dr Geoff Kirkman. Rushed by ambulance to Wagga Wagga
Base Hospital in a critical condition he remained in intensive care for a week.
The crash killed the car driver.
Flamboyant
Yugoslav Dusan Mravlje, after a tough contest with Brian Bloomer and
German-based runner Patrick Macke accepted first place award.
New
Zealander Dick Tout and Macke demonstrated initiative and enterprise in their
battle for second place in 1987 when Macke crossed the line only six hours
ahead of Tout. However again Kouros showed his class winning the race with a 26
hour 34 minute margin. Four days later a hero's welcome greeted Cliff Young
when he finished in sixteenth position.
Kevin
Mansell experienced the anxiety of the highway and the estasy at the finish
line when he finished in fourteenth place in his first Westfield Run. A friend
said he looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame: "I dragged one foot after
the other. I fell all over the place," he said. "Coming up the hill
(at Doncaster) was the most breath-taking experience of my life."
Fourty-three
competitors contested the 1988 race declared by the Australian Bicentennial
Authority as an official bicentennial event. Each runner received a medal to
commemorate the occasion.
Unhappy
at the decision by race organisers to start Kouros 12 hours behind the field,
runners complained without success to compete on equal terms. Again Kouros beat
the field home arriving at Doncaster 16 hours 4 minutes ahead of Dick Tout.
Rushed
to hospital exhausted when he finished in front of Kouros, in 1989 South
Australian David Standeven gained second position. The Greek champion won on
lapsed time after another 12 hour delayed start.
Sporting
sunken cheeks and bloodshot eyes Maurice Taylor crossed the line in 7 days 7
hours to claim fifth place. He believed his struggle over the last 150 metres
was the greatest moment of his life. "Even now years later I still get a
tingle from it's memory," he said. "The Westfield Run was
ultrarunning's raison d'etre."
An
eight and a half day cut off introduced the following year forced runners to
maintain higher fitness levels in an effort to finish on time and ear a special
gold medal.
Kouros
after much discussion accepted an eight hour delayed start and captured the lead
from Victorian Bryan Smith near Canberra. He arrived in Melbourne 9 hours 50
minutes ahead of the Australian six-day record holder amid cheers from
thousands of spectators including a highly vocal Greek contingent.
Alleged
demands for expenses and appearance fees totalling $80, 000 which Westfield
refused to meet resulted in the non-appearance of Yiannis Kouros at the
starting line in 1991. In the first and only handicapped event on a course
which included the Snowy Mountains, Bryan Smith after a tough challenge from
NSW entrant Tony Collins, won the $60, 000 first place prize.
English
champion Eleanor Adams (Robinson) endured stifling heat in one part of the race
and zero temperatures in another, won the women's section in the 1985 event in
8 days 30 minutes, and won again in 1986 and 1988. Victorian, Cynthia Cameron
gained first place in 1987. New Zealander, Sandra Barwick stood top of the
rostrum in 1990.
Yiannis
Kouros holds the fastest time from Sydney to Melbourne: 5 days 2 hours 27
minutes. In each of the five races in which he competed he showed unique
physical strength, awesome endurance and exceptional power of the mind. In nine
races and a total of 240 competitors two runners were banned from the event:
One tested positive to a performance enhancing drug, the other cheated when he
accepted a lift in a car.
Race
director, Charlie Lynn's dynamic energy provided runners and support crew
personnel with confidence and encouragement, especially during stressful
periods at night, often in inclement weather. A number of times he appeared in
the fog from nowhere like a ghost in a red tracksuit. His flashing smile, heart
laugh and spirited chatter boosted a runner's spirit. Lynn's leadership
ability, social skills and charismatic personality demonstrated a professional
manner seldom seen in ultramarathon.
Race
Executive Director, Chris Bates in October 1991 announced the withdrawal of
Westfield's sponsorship. Thanking the athletes and support crews for their
participation in the nine races he said: "If anybody besides Cliff had won
( in 1983), the event would have died then." Westfield's General manager,
Alan Briggs said in the economic climate his company would be better served
directing it's support back to shopping centres.
Author,
Phil Essam's fear that the Sydney to Melbourne classic would remain only in
oral history spent more than two years researching the event. Readers are
rewarded with a work which proudly takes its place among the literature of
ultramarathon running.
TONY RAFFERTY
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