Frankston to Portsea 55km Run 55km/34 miles
11th April 1992
| 1. | Mike Wheatley | 4:16:02 |
| 1. | Ross Shilston | 4:16:02 |
| 3. | Kon Butko | 4:23:19 |
| 4. | Kevin Cassidy | 4:27:10 |
| 5. | Max Gibbs | 4:29:36 |
| 6. | Mark King | 4:30:00 |
| 7. | Geoff Hook | 4:39:21 |
| 8. | Keith Green | 4:40:04 |
| 9. | John Harper | 4:58:46 |
| 10. | Geoff Womersley | 4:59:55 |
| 11. | Lois Wishart | 5:21:25 |
| 12. | Greg Wishart | 5:21:27 |
Peter Armistead D.N.F.
P Fraser D.N.F.
Phillip Dodin D.N.F.
Report by Dot Browne
There were 15 starters in this year’s event, conducted by Peninsula Road Runners. They lined up at the Frankston Post Office at lam and the weather was perfect, cool and overcast, with a predicted top temperature of 22 degrees. Kevin Cassidy led the field out of Frankston on the undulating, winding road, and covered the first 5km in 23 minutes. “Slow down!” yelled his wife Margaret on the sidelines, but did he take her advice? Of course not! After all, he was an experienced ultra runner, wasn’t he, and he knew what he was doing. Peter Armistead was hot on his trail (Pete can’t help himself either!), with Hookie running well in third position. A motley bunch of Peninsula Road Runner boys (including Ross Shilston and Kon Butko plus three first timers, Max Gibbs, Mike Wheatley and Mark King) started off conservatively and came through next. Keith Green, John Harper, Geoff Womersley and Greg and Lois Wishart were next through, looking good. (They tell me that John Harper had started off 10km earlier than the start to “warm up” for the 12 Hour event in 3 weeks time)
By 10km Pete Armistead had hit the front in 47 min. with Kevin right on his tail, Hookie still in third. And in fact the placings remained the same for the first half of the race, with the lead see-sawing between Cassidy and Armistead, who were both looking more and more determined (and stuffed!)
By 30km along the flat beach road, the bunch had reeled Hookie in and the leaders were still shoulder to shoulder ahead and not wasting time on refreshments. Both were looking decidedly hot and bothered. “They’ll blow up!” stated Shilston confidently. “We’ll cream’em!” When Pete Armistead was told what Shilston was going to do to him, he grunted, “Cocky little bastard!”
Another 5km saw Pete Armistead fading fast and looking for excuses to walk. Dot Browne provided the perfect one with her card-table of jelly beans, cold potatoes , water and Coke. He was history. Kev had a 100m. lead and had started rehearsing his victory speech. Shilston’s smile was getting wider. Alan Witt jumped into the race to run with Hookie and try and get him going. He had limited success.
By 40km Kev had a 300m lead but the PRR bunch had caught Pete. Ross Shilston in the bunch was looking relaxed and confident. Another couple of km. and Kev looked over his shoulder and got a hell of a fright to find the bunch within sight.
By 45km Pete was walking and looking for somewhere to lie down and die, and the bunch had passed Kev, with Kon Butko going like a train, just ahead of Shilston. The first-time ultra runners, Mike Wheatley, Max Gibbs and Mark King were coping really well, although looking tired. Hookie, back in the field was stuffed and Alan Witt’s jokes were going down like a lead balloon.
By 50km Pete had died in the back of Dot Browne’s support car and was into the cups of tea and rolls and Kev was taking extended walks, and eating heaps of jelly beans. Shilston had picked up Butko and was 200m in the lead and was smelling victory. Kon was complaining of shin soreness and looking a bit ragged. Hookie was into the power bars and cold potatoes and surviving. Newcomer, Mike Wheatley was running a blinder and staying with the leader.
Then it was up that tough little pinch into Sorrento and over the roller coaster hills to the end of Nepean Highway at the Army Depot. to finish. Thanks to the Peninsula Road Runners for another successful event and congratulations to that cocky little bastard Ross Shilston and Mike Wheatley, who tied for first place. Organisers were pleased that all 12 finishers came in well under the 6 hour cut-off time and they all collected a block of chocolate for their efforts and an invitation to lunch at the Portsea Hotel.