Frankston to Portsea 55km Run 55km/34 miles
6th April 1991
| 1. | Paul Patton | 4:03:14 |
| 2. | Brickley Hepburn | 4:20:24 |
| 3. | Tony Franklin | 4:22:44 |
| 4. | Joe Skrobalac | 4:30:08 |
| 5. | Kevin Cassidy | 4:32:43 |
| 6. | Kon Butko | 4:53:04 |
| 7. | J. Contento | 4:53:25 |
| 8. | Geoff Hook | 4:53:31 |
| 9. | Terry Cox (Jnr) | 4:53:39 |
| 10. | Alan Witt | 4:53:46 |
| 11. | Phillip Dodin | 4:57:04 |
| 12. | Geoff Womersley | 5:03:12 |
| 13. | Peter Gray | 5:09:06 |
| 14. | M. Dixon | 5:20:28 |
| 15. | George Perdon | 5:31:56 |
| 16. | Jim Wolstencroft | 5:35:23 |
| 17. | Norm Johnston | 6:00:00 |
Michael Whiteoak D.N.F.
Report by Dot Browne
Conditions for this year’s race were ideal with a predicted temperature of 22 degrees. The race started punctually at 7am but runners were upset within minutes by a dog being hitright beside them on the road. The animal was quickly taken to the vet. We hope it survived.
However, it seemed that Paul Patton [last year’s winner] was not too disconcerted by the incident because he took off at 100 miles an hour, leaving the rest of the field for dead and went through the first 5km in 19:30 and the marathon distance in 2:48. However, Paul said that he faded badly in the last 10km so was about 20 minutes slower than his course record last year.
We must mention one particular runner who deserves to be slated – Peter Armistead. Up to within two days of the race, he made firm promises and a definite commitment to run with Pat Cooper. He would really look after her, he reckoned, just like he “looked after her” at the Six Foot Track last year. Well it seems he has let her down badly again. He just didn’t front. Reckoned he had an urgent call to lay bricks up at Mansfield. Likely story! Some blokes will do anything to get out of looking after a lady! Pat as so distraught when she heard that she didn’t turn up either! That boy needs to take his own advice and practice more determination, discipline and dedication.
Hookie and Alan Witt [“Brother Half” as we call him] kept each other company the whole way, despite suffering blisters in the last 10km. Al put in a sensational finish along those roller-coaster hills after Hokkie shared one of his magic “Power Bars” from the USA with him. Kon went like the clappers when he realized that the two rogues were so close and finished only 27 seconds ahead of Hookie.
Norm Johnson was a character. He’d started the run with a bulky kit-bag over his shoulder. Lord knows how he intended to run 55km carrying that! I grabbed it off him around 5km and threw it in m y car but at 10km, he wanted it back again. He had a present in it for one of his old flames, apparently – roses and the whole bit! Said she lived not far off the course and he was going to drop it off during the race! Fancy waiting for a race situation to do the big Casanova act! He obviously wanted to make a fast getaway in case she attacked him.
Most of the field finished under five and a half hours, which brought us around to lunch time. A perfect time for all of us to go to the Portsea Hotel nearby for a great meal, sink a few beers and listen to Brother Half Witt’s stories about how he almost cleaned up Butko
Ed. Note: Mick Whiteoak gets the dubious honour of being the first Victorian WUSSIE. After so many years since his last ultra, he should have been as fresh as a daisy. However, he only made it to the marathon point where he was heard to offer the following excuse: “I only run marathons”.