Sydney Summer Series

"The Rodd Report" - better late than never! Yes cunning runners, Pork Pie is back on the Olivetti to report round two of the mighty 08/09 Summer Series as yet another excellent event.

Steve Flick had the pots and signage out early at Neild Park last Wednesday, and surpassed all records south of the harbour with an amazing roll up of 212 nags on the lolly! Once again we saw the starter dealing with an enthusiastic queue, as runners couldn't wait to test themselves on what seemed at first blush, a 'get-em-all' course. The bunching near the start was classic Flick, and as I predicted - puzzling the 'flow men' in getting plenty of about turn antics happening. Working 25,12,16,2, and 3 whilst wondering about #11 saw lots of missed street turns and lost time. As it turned out, only one runner did the lot in time, the Veteran Mike 'The Blacksmith' Burton managing the clean sweep in 44.18. Plenty of others got close, including our regular course 'sweeper', Glenn 'The Hitman' Horrocks, who on this occasion, made an uncharacteristic boo-boo, visiting #26 three times! They say things change when you enter the senior categories.....

The Porkster also noted great runs in the OM class, with Richard Morris 'Oxford' and Adrian 'The Drain' White dead heating on 580 points. Tim 'Over & Out' Rogers in Masters was another stallion to dead heat (with Glenn), this time on a tantalising 590 points. In the Open Filly's, Sue 'Class Action' Davis pulled clear on the turn for an excellent 520 points, well clear of Tsalina 'Drip' Phang on 490. Wendy 'Why' Stevenson, went with Sue in clocking 520, despite carrying the extra weight of Masters Class. Another excellent run from The Bendy who seems in great form so far this season.

Houn and Michele in the Junior ranks both excelled, as did 'The Tedster' with an equal win (with TKF Cox 'Plate') in the Legends. There were many other fine scores as runners enjoyed the relatively flat course and the chance to stretch out.

Big thanks on the night go to the fisherman at control 23 who obligingly held up the pot to arriving runners so they could get the pencil happening without the need to hit the brakes. Another classic bit of news was another (yes!) open house on the course. How many SSS nags followed last weeks lead and dropped by for a looksee (between controls 8 and 15)??!!

So, after two events we have pencilled in 424 starts, up 19% on last year! An excellent beginning to what will be another classic programme of navigation on the run. This week we move to the ever popular Meadowbank with it's great riverside and open park running. Steve Holloway and the Western & Hills crew know how to entertain, so we can expect a bit of fun on the grass and in the mangroves. Dave Lotty probably won't start running over the railway bridge to Rhodes again, but there will be other puzzles to keep him, and the rest of us, honest at this great SSS location. Oil up the Volleys and drag out the 70's T shirt as we get on the fly at the 'Bank'. As always with the Wednesday arvo fix, it's not to be missed.