SA Long DistanceAlice Springs Marathon 2011, by Gavin Harris (Secretary)
The 2011 Alice Springs Marathon event was very successful with an increase in bird numbers from 145 in 2010 to 270 in 2011, an increase of 86%.
The returns were sensational and what a great achievement by the winner flown by Ken & K Watson of the Elizabeth club to clock the bird early on the second day at 6:53 am in the morning after flying 1300 kms and picked up $1,500 first prize. The bird flew in darkness for at least 3 hours, second place went to Manuel Magro at Moonta who had three birds placed in the top 12. The third bird flown by Dennis Cornish won the Pool prize, it was a pretty well placed bet by Dennis as the same bird was placed 11th from Alice Springs in 2010. Barry Murphy who won the race in 2010 was placed fourth and eighth and had three birds in the top 20. Bronte Andrewartha was 5th and 7th and Adelaide Race Lofts 6th. I was lucky enough to be placed 9th and Robin Brown 11th, his birds always fly a good Alice Springs. Overall we had 88 birds presented on the second day and some flyers chose not to clock all their birds that returned.
The total prize money for the event was $4,105, plus we had $825 paid out from the Loft Calcutta and $300 in pools.
We are expecting next year to be bigger and better.
