2022 Feb Tan Time Trial Results

What a godsend the Victorian Road Runners (VRR) has been for me. I first became aware of VRR via a small advertisement in a running magazine in the mid 1980’s which indicated  that a fun run was being held at Yarra Bend Park on a nominated Sunday morning. This attracted my attention as my teenage interest in running had been rekindled and for some reason I intended to run a marathon. This organised run was my introduction to VRR and the first person I encountered was Val Worrell the wife of the then and inaugural President Tom Worrell

Val was a lovely person and on my joining VRR and entering the run she kindly said to me “ I hope your stay with VRR is a long and happy one” and that is how it turned out for me. I attended many VRR runs and eventually did complete four Melbourne Marathons.

One evening on the way to the  Annual General Meeting Bill Noonan and Mike Kennedy advised me that as Tom Worrell was stepping down from the Presidency they were going to nominate me for this position . This was a short term position for me of just 3 years, followed by Bill Noonan (6 years) and the current El Presidente Mike Kennedy for a really long term of 27years.

When I began attending the First Saturday of the Month Tan Runs there were 20-25 attendees only and, on occasion, if I was not running I would babysit Greg McEwan’s baby daughter as well as timekeeping whilst her father  competed. Happy memories – she would now be in her thirties.

During my Presidency the attendees at the Saturday morning Tan Trials increased to over 100 due mainly to a surge of interest in running by the general public.

The bacon and eggs breakfasts at the change of season Tan runs were very popular and ably organised for many years by Eileen Helmers and Jenny Field with other helpers. These were only discontinued in recent years but the tradition is continued with fruit and cakes etc organised by  Sally Browne  at all Tan runs.  Unfortunately COVID has intervened and this tradition is in suspension.

VRR used to hold dinner/dance presentation  with guest speakers. I recall  two during my Presidency  at the Heidelberg Town Hall with  Fr Joe Giacobbe (Founder of DOXA  Youth Foundation ) and Charlene Rendina who represented Australia in the 400 and 800 metres at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games and the 1974 Commonwealth Games.

The weekends at Wilson’s Promontory were very popular where a number of members with family would attend from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. Accommodation was in the Prom huts and  good wholesome meals were catered by VRR members. Various training runs were offered with the gruelling run to the lighthouse being the longest. All running at the Prom is tough but it was good training for anyone who intended to run the upcoming Melbourne Marathon.

VRR has many achievements but I reckon its association with the Angela Taylor Memorial Run is the greatest. Angela Taylor as you are aware was the young constable who was killed in the Russell Street bombing at police headquarters in March 1986. Whilst this run is not a VRR event but belongs to the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation. Initially VRR was asked by Victoria Police to form the foundation and organise the run as we had the expertise. I understand that it is now a Blue Ribbon Foundation Run but our members can volunteer to assist. I was fortunate to be on the foundation committee as I was the incumbent President and the first Angela Taylor Memorial was held in 1989 and it is a fitting tribute to Angela. Her parents Arthur and Marilyn attend every year.

Through my membership with VRR I have met many people some of whom have become friends. After a Tan run one Saturday Bill Noonan whom I did not know at the time asked me if I would like to run with his group of a Saturday morning in the Greensborough area. This group met at a quarter to six at different venues and would run sixteen kilometres and were known as the B4Sixers and comprised Bill, Mike Kennedy, Neil Moriarty, Peter Slatter (sadly deceased), Mick O’Brien, Doug Stokes, Charles Olsen and others who were VRR members. Many discussions ensued, sometimes heated on politics, religion, football and other topics were the order of the day but we always finished up on good terms to do it again the following week. If it were not for joining the VRR I would not have been involved in all of this. I have many happy memories.

Forty years of VRR of which I have been involved for about thirty five of them. It is an organisation for people who like to run at all levels rather than elite runners. Congratulations and I hope it continues to give encouragement and friendship to the next generation of runners.
Brian Toomey
January 2022