Pacific National Race the Rattler, 18.5k individual,
4.5k each teams of four
13 June 2005, Gympie, Qld
For the third time in the Pacific National Qld Race the Rattlers’ history the mechanical beast has been beaten. This has not happened since the inaugural Hyundai Race the Rattler back in 1999 when Phil McClure crossed the finish line ahead of the Rattler.
This year the day commenced with close on 200 runners registering for the event. The Valley Rattler departed the Old Gympie Station at 8am with all the competitors aboard for the start of the race at Dagun.
Dagun Station was a hive of activity as the competitors performed their warm up routines and the spectators feasted on the provided sausage sizzle and boarded the train to view the competitors on their journey back to Gympie.
The stage was set and battle commenced on the course. Our M.C Graham Gould kept everyone back at the Gympie Station informed with exact race positions courtesy of our course marshals throughout the event.
The finish was tremendous as Mark Hutchinson of Caboolture came into view with no sign of the Rattler. Exactly one minute later, with Ted Mitchell at the helm, the Rattler steamed across the finish line to secure second place.
Mark Hutchinson took out the overall individual winner with a time of 1:04.16. The overall individual women’s winner was Verity Tolhurst of Newstead with a time of 1:21:10.