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PRODID:-//APSOC Cross Country - ECPv6.15.17//NONSGML v1.0//EN
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X-WR-CALNAME:APSOC Cross Country
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://apsoc.net.au
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for APSOC Cross Country
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TZID:Australia/Melbourne
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DTSTART:20240406T160000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260628T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260628T143000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010018Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T044944Z
UID:6348-1782649800-1782657000@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:AV Road Relay
DESCRIPTION:Teams will compete on the Calder Park racing circuit for the honour of the Victorian Road Relay Championship. 
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/road-relay-6-2k/
LOCATION:Calder Park Raceway\, 377 Calder Highway\, Calder Park\, Victoria\, 3037\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APS United,Athletics Victoria
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260620T143000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260620T160000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T055904Z
UID:6378-1781965800-1781971200@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:Alan Hooley Relay
DESCRIPTION:Alan Hooley acted as APSOC Chief Official for more than twenty years\, commencing in the mid-1970’s. He was also the co-founder of the event which now bears his name\, the Alan Hooley Relay. Alan passed away in 2014. \nFormerly known as the Gilwell Park Relays\, this race was first held in 1978. Gilwell Park is a scout camp in a hilly forest area\, containing numerous forest trails\, making it an ideal venue for cross country running. But from 2013\, the event moved to Karkarook Park in Moorabbin with its flat and fast trails\, and then in 2015\, to scenic Nortons Park\, Wantirna South\, and finally to the present venue\, Braeside Park\, in 2023. Since 2013\, relay legs have been 3 km in length. \nThe Hooley Relay is unique on the APSOC calendar by reason of the requirement for each team member to run twice. There are no restrictions on running order\, but almost all teams adopt the tactic of giving each runner the maximum possible recovery time between legs\, so that in open four person teams\, the first runner will also run the fifth leg\, the second runner the sixth leg\, and so on. \nThe open team results for the event are interesting\, with Old Xaverians winning eight in a row 1978-85\, Old Scotch ten in a row 1992-2001 and Haileybury six in a row 2003-2008. \nAll athletes are requested to bring a contribution to afternoon tea. There is no available electricity and so athletes are encouraged to bring their own hot water for tea and/or coffee.
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/alan-hooley-relay/
LOCATION:Braeside Park\, Cypress Drive\, Braeside\, Victoria\, 3195
CATEGORIES:APSOC
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260613T132000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260613T150000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T045111Z
UID:6257-1781356800-1781362800@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:AV 12k/6k Cross Country
DESCRIPTION:A trip to Cruden Farm for a hilly cross country hit out.
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/4k8k-cross-county/
LOCATION:Cruden Farm\, 60 Cranbourne Road\, Langwarrin\, Victoria\, 3910\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APS United,Athletics Victoria
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260606T093000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260606T103000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T055316Z
UID:6351-1780738200-1780741800@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:McPhail 8k
DESCRIPTION:Originally staged at the Tan\, this popular event has been held at Yarra Bend Park since 2006. It is named in honour of the late Ken McPhail (OX)\, who was the first APSOC handicapper in the days long before computers played any role in the affairs of the Association. Ken was the APSOC handicapper for 25 years and he kept a close eye on all runners to ensure that no one scored an unworthy handicap win. He also had a fine athletic record\, including competing in around fifty Cooke-McClelland races in succession. \nIt is therefore appropriate that the McPhail event is a “sealed handicap”\, so that all runners start together without knowing their handicaps. At the conclusion of the race\, the handicaps are revealed and a winner announced. \nSo the McPhail is a scratch race over 8 kilometres. The Yarra Bend course is very scenic as it winds its way along the banks of the Yarra\, but contains some testing little hills to keep the runners’ minds on the task at hand. Two Olympians hold the course records – Adam Pyke (OW) set the men’s course record of 24:42 in 2022 and Victoria Mitchell (SK) ran the fastest women’s time of 28:00 in 2011. \nAll athletes are requested to make a contribution to afternoon tea at this event. There is no available electricity and so members are encouraged to bring their own hot water for tea and/or coffee.
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/mcphail-8k/
LOCATION:Yarra Bend Park\, Yarra Bend Road\, Fairfield\, Victoria\, 3078\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APSOC
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260530T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260530T153000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010056Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T102441Z
UID:6345-1780146000-1780155000@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:AV 8k/4k Cross Country
DESCRIPTION:St Anne’s Winery\, Bendigo\, hosts the 8km (open men and women) and 4km (U20) heritage round. The surrounds of the winery offer athletes a testing course\, with a mixture of different terrains. The event is a great opportunity for clubs to showcase their heritage and history.
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/166k-cross-country/
LOCATION:St Anne’s Winery\, 3 Belvoir Park Road\, Ravenswood\, Victoria\, 3453\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APS United,Athletics Victoria
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260523T134500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260523T153000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T054802Z
UID:6341-1779543900-1779550200@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:Dyson Relay 3.8k
DESCRIPTION:The Frank Dyson Relay is the third oldest event on the APSOC calendar. It was first held in 1939\, but was suspended during the war years between 1942 and 1945. The race resumed in 1946 and has been held every year since then on the famous Tan track around the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. \nWhen looking at previous results\, the older team and fastest lap times appear slower than in recent years\, but this is because the original course included extra distance beyond the Tan track to create a 4 km circuit. Since 1989\, all runners have been required to run a single 3.82 km lap. The current start and relay changeover point is near Government House Drive. Runners travel in a clockwise direction\, so that the initial section is relatively flat to the bottom of the feared Anderson Street hill. From the top of Anderson Street\, there is a mostly downhill run to the finish. \nThere have been many outstanding performances over the years in this event\, including Steve Austin’s lap of 10:55 at 40 years of age\, but none better than Matt Clarke’s incredible time and course record of 10:45.6 in 2019. The women’s course record is currently held by Anna Thompson (OW) at 12:12. Old Scotch’s winning team in 2001 clocked 1:07.26\, an average of 11:14 per runner.
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/dyson-relay-3-8k/
LOCATION:Tan Track (Birdwood Ave)\, Birdwood Avenue\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3004\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APSOC
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260516T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260516T150000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T045813Z
UID:6192-1778934600-1778943600@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:AV Cross Country Relay 6k
DESCRIPTION:The XCR Cross Country Relay Championships are held in the beautiful surrounds of Jells Park in Melbourne’s south east. The undulating 3 km course traverses both open grassland and pine forest\, with open and overage competitors each completing two laps and junior competitors one lap.
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/cross-country-relay-6k/
LOCATION:Jells Park\, Waverley Road\, Wheelers Hill\, Victoria\, 3150\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APS United,Athletics Victoria
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260510T080000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260510T090000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010021Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T045955Z
UID:8531-1778400000-1778403600@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:AV 5k Road Race
DESCRIPTION:A new event on the AV calendar in 2025 returns as the season opener in 2026. An out and back course on Lakeside Drive alongside Albert Park Lake.
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/av-ekiden-relay/
LOCATION:Lakeside Stadium\, 31-33 Aughtie Drive\, Albert Park\, Victoria\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APS United,Athletics Victoria
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260502T143000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260502T160000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260426T061827Z
UID:6233-1777732200-1777737600@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:Orchard Handicap 10k/5k
DESCRIPTION:The Ken Orchard Handicap (“The Orchard”) starts and finishes at the Coot Picnic Area in Albert Park\, at the northern end of the lake opposite MSAC. It is a handicap race\, with runners starting at staggered times set by the handicapper’s computer. In the 10 km event\, runners head south for 300 m\, then turnaround to run two clockwise laps of the lake\, finishing back at the start point. The 5 km event follows the same start but completes one clockwise lap after the 300 m turnaround. Afternoon tea\, provided by Old Wesley Collegians AC\, is served at the start/finish area after the race.\n\nThis race originated in 1937 as the 5 Miles Handicap\, one of the earliest events on the APSOC calendar. It was run as such until 1941 when the Association disbanded during World War II. Upon resumption in 1946\, it was renamed the Ken Orchard Memorial Handicap in memory of Ken Orchard\, an Old Wesley athlete who lost his life in air operations off Darwin in 1942. Ken was an enthusiastic secretary of Old Wesley before enlisting in the RAAF and in 1940 finished third in this event at Albert Park.\n\nIn common with most events of the time\, in its early days the race was rotated between venues\, but from 1959\, being an Old Wesley-sponsored event\, it was held at Albert Park. Until 1973\, the event distance was maintained at 5 miles or 8 km. From 1974\, the distance was increased to the current 10 km long course\, comprising two laps of the lake plus a small loop at the end. This was presumably easier to handle than separate starting and finishing points and kept the course mainly on the lake bank. The five mile course had included a short cut across the golf course. For some time now the lake circuits have been run clockwise\, but in earlier years the event was sometimes run anti-clockwise.\n\nIn 1995\, with redevelopment work commencing in Albert Park for the Grand Prix\, the event had to be moved to Fawkner Park\, an attractive venue\, but the distance required four laps of the park. This venue posed difficulties with parking and post-run refreshments\, so in 2003 the Orchard returned to the lake. On a windy day\, twice around Albert Park Lake provides a testing run regardless of wind direction and therefore a good cross-country course. In 2025\, a 5 km single lap event was also added for those who want a shorter run.\n\nMost of the Association greats over the years have featured as winners of this event\, either on handicap or as fastest time. The record over the current circuit is held by Steve Austin (OS) in 30:27\, just edging out Ewen Wilson (OS) and Richard Hope (SK) in 30:30. Anna Thompson (OW) has the fastest women’s time at Albert Park of 36:51.\n\nPlease note that runners who choose the 5 km option will be ineligible for awards or Athlete of the Year points.
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/orchard-handicap-10k/
LOCATION:Albert Park\, 1 Aughtie Drive\, Albert Park\, Victoria\, 3206\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APSOC
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260425T141000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260425T163000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240817T020035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T054216Z
UID:6354-1777126200-1777134600@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:Wise-Findlay Mini Marathons 5k/10k/21.1k
DESCRIPTION:During the 1960’s\, the APSOB Committee was looking to develop additional events\, including at least one long event to cater for the increasing interest in marathons. Around this time\, there was the arrival of the mini skirt. What better time to introduce a new set of events – the “mini marathons” of 21.1 km\, 10.55 km and 5.275 km. The half marathon would suit the “real” distance runners\, the quarter marathon the bulk of the members and the eighth marathon the social runners and sprinters. In 2011\, the race distances were changed to 21.1 km\, 10 km and 5 km. \nIn 1967 the first mini marathons were held at Bundoora\, running on roads through Greensborough\, the Plenty Gorge and South Morang. The starting times of the three races were staggered so that the leaders of each race would finish the event together. Following the event\, runners and friends retired to the home of Colin Findlay in Bundoora for afternoon tea. \nThe Bundoora courses were used for a further two years\, until encroaching housing development and increased traffic led to concerns for safety on the roads. From 1970\, Graham Wise kindly agreed to host the runs from his home in Plenty Road\, Whittlesea (really Yan Yean).  Peter Bruce (OX) won the initial half marathon event at Bundoora and a further six times at Yan Yean. Later\, Olympian Steve Austin bettered this achievement with eight wins. \nOver the ensuing 35 years\, changes to the courses became necessary due to increased road traffic. In 2006 and 2007\, gravel roads were used\, and the numbers of competitors and supporters decreased. Nonetheless the main event of the day remained the sumptuous afternoon tea provided by our host Graham. Sadly\, Graham died early in 2008\, ending the era of the Whittlesea mini marathons. \nThe APSOC Executive had already surveyed a number of options for another venue\, looking in particular\, for courses free of road traffic and without the need for permits.  The picturesque Main Yarra Trail in Templestowe met these requirements and the 2008 event was scheduled there\, starting in Westerfolds Park. The running surface is bitumen\, with plenty of bends and hills. As a memorial to Graham\, the event was named the Graham Wise Mini Marathons\, recognizing his long association with the event of over forty years\, his generous support and magnificent afternoon teas. In 2018\, the APSOC Executive resolved to re-name the event as the Wise-Findlay Mini Marathons as a fitting tribute to both Graham Wise and Colin Findlay. \nStart times \nWith staggered starting times for each race\, runners should\, as originally designed forty years ago\, finish more or less together. Start times are as follows: \n2.10 pm – Half Marathon (slower runners 100+ minutes) \n2.30 pm – Half Marathon \n3.10 pm – 10 km \n3.30 pm – 5 km \nRunners need to check in at least ten minutes ahead of their event start time. \nCourses \nThe start and finish lines are now next to the shelter where runners previously met after the event for afternoon tea. This shelter will now be both the assembly point\, adjacent to which athletes can park and where they can safely leave their gear under cover\, as well as the meeting place for afternoon tea and award presentations. \nThe half marathon commences in an easterly direction for 550m before returning to the start line\, giving a total out and back distance of 1.1 km. The runners then head west to complete two out and back sections each of 10 km (5km out and 5 km back)\, bringing the total distance run to 21.1 km. The 10 km runners simply run the westerly out and back section once\, while the 5k runners head in the same direction\, but will turn around at 2.5 km. \nAfternoon tea \nAll athletes are requested to contribute to afternoon tea. \nCourse records at Westerfolds Park: \nMen/Women \n5 km – A Pyke (OW) 14:51 2016/A Kasapis 17:45.7 (OW) 2018 \n10 km – A Aloisio (SK) 31:37.6 2018/A Paterson (OX) 38:23 2016 \nHalf – M Bayley (OH) 69:28 2014/K Thorp (SK) 85:09.6 2022
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/graham-wise-mini-marathons/
LOCATION:Westerfolds Park\, Fitzsimmons Lane\, Templestowe\, Victoria\, 3106\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APSOC
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260418T143000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260418T160000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T052157Z
UID:6359-1776522600-1776528000@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:Williamson 5k
DESCRIPTION:Haileybury Athletics Club (or Old Haileybury as it was originally known) joined APSOC in 1989 and was quick to introduce its own teams event into the winter calendar. For the first five years\, the event took the form of a relay conducted over a 4 km circuit of the Keysborough campus of Haileybury College. There were four relay legs of 4 km\, 8 km\, 8 km and 4 km respectively. Old Scotch and St Kevin’s had some epic contests during these years\, with Old Scotch leading 3:2 at that point. \nAfter a few years\, the race came to be named in honour of Jim Williamson\, a physical education master at Haileybury from 1956 to 1975. Jim\, who passed away in 1983\, was the person mainly responsible for the rise of athletics at Haileybury\, being master in charge of the sport from 1956 to 1969. In the mid-1960s\, he\, along with like-minded teachers from other APS schools\, inaugurated the school winter cross country competition. \nFrom 1996 to 2004\, the race become a 6 km scratch race\, still at Keysborough. The Old Scotch men and Old Wesley women dominated this period\, with Paul Patrick (OS) and Anna Thompson (OW) leading the way with outstanding times of 18:14 and 20:57 respectively. In 2005\, the event moved to the school’s Berwick campus\, a move that coincided with Haileybury’s and Old Xaverians’ rise as powers in the open and women’s competition respectively. The race distance was later shortened to 5 km. The change of venue gave APSOC another true cross country course of grass\, mud and hills. \nCourse records: \nMen/Women \nTom Thorpe (OW) 15:00.8 2017/Anna Kasapis (OW) 18:26.1 2019
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/williamson-5k/
LOCATION:Haileybury College\, 138 High Street\, Berwick\, Victoria\, 3806\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APSOC
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250418T143000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250418T160000
DTSTAMP:20260503T194320
CREATED:20240217T010043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T052116Z
UID:6230-1744986600-1744992000@apsoc.net.au
SUMMARY:Churchill Park 6/12k
DESCRIPTION:The Churchill Park Handicaps have been held in the Churchill National Park\, Lysterfield\, since the establishment of the event in 1987. The park is located approximately 35 km from the Melbourne CBD via the Monash Freeway and is a remnant of natural bush and an example of the original landscape before the development of the south-eastern suburbs. Native flora and fauna\, including kangaroos\, flourish in the park. \nAthletes have the choice of running a single lap of the 6 km course or two laps in order to complete 12 km. Runners traverse a challenging circuit of dirt and gravel trails\, including a climb to a hilltop which provides a magnificent view over the suburbs to the city\, although it is likely that few athletes are paying much attention to the view by the time they have laboured up the very steep hill. \nSeveral of the Association’s best known athletes have prospered in the Churchill Park Handicaps. Richard Hope (SK) holds the 12 km course record and has recorded fastest times on four occasions. Greg Lyons (OS) has also been the fastest runner four times. Anna Thompson (OW) holds the women’s records for both distances and has recorded the fastest women’s time on five occasions. Somewhat controversially\, Craig Couper (OH) won the 6 km handicap four years in succession from 2006 to 2009. \nOld Carey and Old Geelong Grammarians host afternoon tea in the park’s picnic shelter after the racing is over for the day\, continuing a tradition that has been greatly enjoyed by the athletes. \nThe Churchill Park Handicaps commence at 2.30 pm and athletes should check in no later than 2.15 pm. Parking is tight\, so it is a good idea to be early. \nCourse records: \nMen/Women \n12 km \nRichard Hope (SK) 38:22 1995/Anna Thompson (OW) 44:26 2000 \n6 km \nDarren Wilson (OS) 18:39 2001/Anna Thompson (OW) 21:08 2001
URL:https://apsoc.net.au/events/churchill-park-612k/
LOCATION:Churchill National Park\, Churchill Park Drive\, Lysterfield South\, Victoria\, 3186\, Australia
CATEGORIES:APSOC
END:VEVENT
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