Lord Recalls Burnie Breakthrough

She sensed the event was going to be a feature on the Australian running scene and was determined to add her name to the winners list.  So it became a clear goal for a 25 year old Lord in 1986.

"I had never raced in many fun runs and 1986 hadn't been a great year running wise for me.  I had raced in 1985 finishing second to Kerith Duncanson,  so I knew about the Burnie 10 and its philosophy of gathering the top Australian runners to the race.

“I remember being contacted by Mike Boss-Walker and I was very excited to be invited. Mike and the Burnie 10 certainly put the athletes first looking after us all very well pre and post race,” Lord said of the local hospitality the event was becoming known for.

The Melbourne based Lord, who went on to become an Athletics Australia board member and member of the IAAF (now World Athletics) cross country committee, travelled to Tasmania as the underdog.

“Both Carolyn Schuallow and Andrew Lloyd (husband and wife at the time) were promoted as 'doing the double' so I did upset the apple cart there.

“I had woken up on the morning of the race with a wry neck so when I passed Carolyn there was literally no looking back,” taking line honours in 35:09.

“The time was slow compared to my past 10km road races, but the win was a significant one for me and I am very proud to be on a winners list that includes the best distance runners (and some of my best friends), in Australia."

Lord, who represented Australia on numerous occasions, included 4 world cross country championships, certainly remembers the prize money, stumped up by then sponsor computer company Wang.

“I had been running since 1975 but had never 'earned' or 'won' any money from running. Winning the 1986 race was not only a great thrill but also pocketed me $1000 - which I considered a fortune!!!” she recalled fondly.

Still running recreationally and a regular in board rooms and trackside at events around Australia, Lord thinks back on the Burnie 10 with a smile.

"The Burnie 10 has continued to attract Australia’s best runners because it puts the athletes front and centre," she reminisced.

Andrew Lloyd that day went on to take the men’s overall first place in 29:19.  With Devonport’s Leigh Taylor the first Tasmanian male in 30:24 and Doris Trueman of Oldina the first female in 37:23.

The second edition saw an increase to 1200 starters on the inaugural 809 starters.

There are 38 weeks until race day, the event is offering a unique incentive to enter.  Receive 38% off entry prices in the first week of entries being open.  The discount lowers by 1% each week until race day.  Enter early and save the most money; https://www.burnieten.com.au

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