The old line of Melbourne’s ‘Four seasons in a day’ was never more evident than at the first weekend of the Victorian Athletic Championships held over Feb 14-16. From cool and windy to warm and humid, from wet and cold to sunburn conditions – we had it all!

Collingwood Harriers had 18 athletes taking part over the three days, twelve of them from the junior ranks while six of our overage members had a go in their various categories in a number of events.

The Club’s reps managed to pick up six Gold Medals along with four Silvers and seven Bronze.

Not a bad haul for the weekend! There were also three new Club Records set over the weekend.

(For a full photo gallery of all the photos we can find, please head to our website:)

Photo Galleries – Collingwood Harriers

The Friday evening session saw the heats of both the 100m and 400m events.

Ruby Ozougwu, Wolfgang Curry, Jarrad Vandenberg and Finn Quinn all progressed through the heats of the 100s, while Lucy Delbridge comfortably made it through in the 400m.

Our silverware in this session was a bronze from Natasha Gurtler in the 1500m.

Summary of Friday’s results:  Some quick stuff!

100m Heats

• U17 100m – Ruby Ozougwu: 2nd in heat (12.78s)

• U17 100m – Wolfgang Curry: 3rd in heat (11.81s)

• U18 100m – Jarrad Vandenberg: 2nd in heat (11.36s)

• U18 100m – Finn Quinn: 2nd in heat (11.38s)

• U20 100m – Isaac Malamatinas: 6th in heat (11.46s)

400m Heats

• U17 400m – Greta Zabotto: 4th in heat (64.31s)

• U20 400m – Lucy Delbridge: 2nd in heat (57.22s)

• U18 400m – James Edgar: 5th in heat (52.69s)

1500m Final

• U18 1500m – Natasha Gurtler: 🥉 3rd place (4:48.49)

Saturday’s athletes started early in the morning with the first on show at 9:30a.m.

Jim Hopkins was our first rep of the day in the 2000m Steeple. At the age of 76, Jim had to compete in the 60+ age category as the competition does not cater for the specific groups past that level. Isaac Malamatinas (long jump) was the only other Magpie in the morning session – there was a much bigger cast in the p.m. Alex Collie gained our first Gold in his discus event while Jasper Louey grabbed our second win in his long jump not much later. Lucy Delbridge took the first of her two Silvers in the 400 mid afternoon and a couple of races later, dad Adam gained a similar result in his one lapper.

The finals of the 100s followed the 400s. Jarrad Vandenberg grabbed a silver with Azain Raban and Andrew Dodd getting a Silver and Bronze respectively.

Not long after the finals of the short sprint, the heats of the 200s were conducted. The Club was again well represented with a couple of extras thrown in! Finn Quinn and Jarred Vandenberg both won their heats over the metric furlong with Thomas Follis-Kirby looking set for a big final after a very comfortable qualifier.

Lucy Delbridge was another to have a quick back up with her 800m heat not too long after the final of the 400. James Edgar was our only other 800m participant – a brave effort in very hot field.

Saturday’s Summary: History in the Making?

• Jim Hopkins – 4th, Final (60+) 2000m Steeplechase – 11:28.54

• Isaac Malamatinas – 7th, U/20 Long Jump – 6.26m

• Alex Collie – 🥇 1st, Final (45-59) Discus – 30.10m

• Jasper Louey – 🥇 1st, Final (U/18) Long Jump – 6.87m (Club U/18 Record)

• Lucy Delbridge – 🥈 2nd, Final (U/20) 400m – 56.32

• Adam Delbridge – 🥈 2nd, Final (50-54) 400m – 58.49

• Wolfgang Curry – 8th, Final (U/17) 100m – 11.82

• Jarrad Vandenberg – 🥉 3rd, Final (U/18) 100m – 11.24

• Finn Quinn – 5th, Final (U/18) 100m – 11.34

• Azain Raban – 🥈 2nd, Final (50-54) 100m – 12.92

• Andrew Dodd – 🥉 3rd, Final (55-59) 100m – 13.15

800m Heats:

• Lucy Delbridge – 2nd, Heat (U/20) 800m – 2:18.15

• James Edgar – 7th, Heat (U/18) 800m – 2:02.19

200m Heats:

• Wolfgang Curry – 3rd, Heat (U/17) 200m – 23.86

• Finn Quinn – 🥇 1st, Heat (U/18) 200m – 22.98

• Thomas Follis-Kirby – 3rd, Heat (U/18) 200m – 23.37

• Jarrad Vandenberg – 🥇 1st, Heat (U/18) 200m – 23.37

• Isaac Malamatinas – 4th, Heat (U/20) 200m – 24.08

A couple of the older members in attendance were quite excited after the 200 heats when it was realised that the Club was to have three runners in the final of the U/18 event. Although it may take a little while to check it out, it is thought that it is the first time in the NINETY-NINE year existence of the Club that this has occurred.

Another early start to festivities on Sunday saw the program begin with the walks. It is a rare day when Collingwood does not have at least one walker on show – but this year it happened!!!!

Although not all of them were on too early, our first five competitors of the third day all gained medals. Azain Rabin picked up his second piece of jewelry with a bronze in the javelin. Evergreen Chris Boylen took gold in his Pole Vault, despite having had a less than ideal lead up to the competition through injury and illness. Lucy Delbridge ran a very brave race, leading most of the way, before succumbing just short of the line in her 800. Jasper Louey completed the jumps double ‘again’ in winning the triple jump. Jasper has also been in trouble with a bad back and has done very well to get the two golds in two days.

Wolfgang Curry also won his triple jump with a very good performance. However there was a touch of drama as the jump was on at the same time as the final of his 200m. Wolfgang chose not to run the 200 but was informed that unless he had a medical certificate, if he did not do the 200, he would be DQ’d from the triple jump. He was only informed of this DURING the triple jump.

So….. after two jumps (which had him third place), Wolfgang went to the 200, ran well, but with his mind elsewhere, then returned to the jumping pit. He had missed his third jump, but because he was in the top six a fourth jump was available. Wolfgang’s final jump, the last jump of the competition, saw him improve by 95cm to take the lead and the gold. A great performance indeed!

The 200s saw Andrew Dodd grab his second medal where only .11 of a sec separated the three place getters.

The U/18 event was bitter/sweet.  Great because Collingwood scored two of the medals, but a little disappointing as Thomas Follis-Kirby was unable to run on the day. Jarrad Vandenberg and Finn Quinn grabbed the Gold and Bronze.

Ruby Ozougwu also made the final of the long sprint, but couldn’t quite match her heat time.

The Club had four participants in the 3000m events and picked up two medals. Ruby Callahan ran well and stormed home to pick up an extra placing on the line, while Natasha Gurtler picked up her second Bronze of the meet. Max Luke ran well in a pretty hot event – they didn’t muck around.

After starting Saturday’s program, Jim Hopkins was also our last competitor for the weekend and put in a blinder in the 60+ 3000m. A medal and a 22 second reduction in his own Club 75-79 record for the distance was the reward. Well done Jim.

Sunday Summary: GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!

• Azain Raban – 🥉 3rd, (50-54) Javelin – 29.78m

• Chris Boylen – 🥇 1st, (60-64) Pole Vault – 3.20m

• Lucy Delbridge – 🥈 2nd, Final (U/20) 800m – 2:09.31

• Wolfgang Curry – 🥇 1st, (U/17) Triple Jump – 13.88m

• Jasper Louey – 🥇 1st, (U/18) Triple Jump – 14.03m

• Ruby Ozougwu – 8th, Final (U/17) 200m – 27.18

• Andrew Dodd – 🥉 3rd, Final (55-59) 200m – 26.37 (Club 55-59 Record)

• Wolfgang Curry – 8th, Final (U/17) 200m – 24.68

• Jarrad Vandenberg – 🥇 1st, Final (U/18) 200m – 22.53

• Finn Quinn – 🥉 3rd, Final (U/18) 200m – 23.00

• Ruby Callahan – 6th, Final (U/17) 3000m – 10:38.92

• Natasha Gurtler – 🥉 3rd, Final (U/18) 3000m – 10:53.19

• Max Luke – 7th, Final (U/18) 3000m – 8:48.82

• Jim Hopkins – 🥈 2nd, Final (60+) 3000m – 14:43.75 (Club 75-79 Record)

Thanks to the Collingwood Officials who worked at the Championships over the weekend. Some of them were on duty for every minute of the two and a half days. Sometimes the efforts of these people are often overlooked. They are out there in the weather – all day – they don’t get to go home after an event is finished.

The usual suspects were at Albert Park:

Christine Dell, Kevin Wigmore, Brian Moore, Ian Fisher, Matthew Webster and Tony (Rocket) Williams.

Collingwood were again called on to supply ‘Club Helpers’ for the weekend. Fortunately Tony Dell and Allison Bruce put their hand up to cover our requirements.

The Club is required to supply one ‘Helper’ next Friday for the evening session and two for the afternoon session on Saturday.

Any Vounteers?

 It is interesting to get an idea of just what goes into the organisation of an event such as this.

To AV’s credit, the Association does look after its volunteers very well with meals and drinks etc.