Running the 200m Open at Maryborough

He's back! Lach is looking good. He has fast legs. He won his heat easily and ran really well in the final to finish third. 

I have included a short video of the massed bands parading down the straight before the Gift final.

http://youtu.be/TM2kojoFaHg

Our first Maryborough Gift

After spending the night in a great little B&B just across the road from the track, we are settled in for a big day of racing. 

On the road.....again

Today we drove from Hahndorf to Maryborough, a distance of 575km. The trip took 6 and a half hours with the last two hundred kilometres being on narrow country roads through the very flat wheat fields of the Mallee region. It is so terribly dry. Not one of the many dams we drove passed had a drop of water in them and many of the houses were deserted. 

We stopped for lunch in Nhill at a little cafe named Olivia Rose. The food was absolutely delicious. I had a corned beef stack and Stephen a chicken and chilli wrap. What a little gem of a place!

We arrived in Maryborough at 5.30pm to find that out accommodation is directly across the road from the track. Big tick. Our room is beautifully appointed and cool. We had a bit of a walk around the track and the boys did a short training session. Unfortunately there is very little shade around so if it reaches the predicted 38 degrees it could get a little uncomfortable tomorrow, especially seeing that the program starts at 10.00am but the boys don't run until late in the afternoon. 

Tea was pizza from the funniest pizza shop I have ever come across. It was literally set up in the converted garage of a house. That said.....it was delicious. Pizza, a Weiss Bar and the Big Bash cricket.....what a way to end 2015. 

Amble B&B, Hahndorf

We have spent the past two nights at Amble which is a very comfortable place to stay within walking distance of Hahndorf's Main Street. Our room was called Amble Wren. There are three different apartments within a very leafy garden that is full of beautiful birds of all varieties. Roger, our host, provided a large basket of provisions, which were all sourced from local producers.

Beautiful Hahndorf

Hahndorf is classified as Australia's oldest surviving German settlement. The first families arrived in 1839. Hahndorf is regarded as the jewel of the Adelaide Hills and one of South Australia's most popular towns. A mere 20 minute drive from the Adelaide CBD, Hahndorf can be easily accessed via the Southern Eastern Freeway. The town is immensely popular with visitors from all over the world as well as locals and many new businesses have set up their shops in this iconic town.

When visiting Hahndorf, the most striking features that greet visitors are the over 100 year old elm and plane trees that line the Main Street and the original 'Fachwerk' buildings, many beautifully maintained or restored to original conditions. The town has retained its strong German heritage  and village feel, with a number of shops, pubs and other eateries offering authentic German fare and products.

Even though it was quite overcast it was still very warm today. After a lazy morning Stephen and I spent a few hours walking the length of the street (which is very long) before returning to our little house for a lunch of cheese, small goods, dips, etc.

Adelaide City

We had a few hours to spare after dropping the boys off at the airport so we made our way into the city. We wandered Rundle Mall and had a bite to eat before driving the short distance to the town of Hahndorf, which is situated in the Adelaide Hills. 

Bay Sheffield - Day 2

Another great day of racing at the 129th running of the Bay Sheffield. Lach and Cal competed credibly in the 120m and 550m respectively. No finals but I think they both thoroughly enjoyed their first trip to SA.

The Bay was won by a local, Sam Osmond. His mum Deb works for SA Athletics so it was a very popular win. The Women's Gift was won by Kobi Evans, a school teacher and former heptathlete from WA.