Belinda Ross, Denmark Bulletin

More than 150 athletes from across WA participated in the second ever Denmark Half Marathon held by the Denmark Running Club on Sunday, September 26.

There were three distances for participants – 2km, 10km and 21km.

More than 70 athletes took on the challenging, but arguably the most spectacular, 21km course in Australia.

The newly-developed lookout area at Lights Beach created a healthy vibe of excited runners who travelled to attend the event.

The event started with the 2km junior race in a fast and furious hill sprint along the WOW trail.

The race was taken out by Albany athlete Oliver Pass, in the incredible time 7.53.

Promising young Denmarkian Thea Taylor, 8, displayed a bright future in distance running with 9.47.

With prize money and athletic challenge, the event attracted some of the State’s best and strongest runners.

The course record for the 21km race was comfortably broken by Scarborough athlete Ciaran O’Kane in a blistering pace of 1.23.52.

Katherine Stockwell from Nedlands also comfortably broke the female course record in 1.39.24.

First local athlete across the line was Denmark Running Club member Chris Kirkwood in 1.48.26.

First female Denmark athlete was Stevie Donohoe in 1.54.25.

The 10km race was won by Peter Gatenby in 45.53 with Lizzie Von Perger taking out the female 10km event in 53.32.

In the 10km, third-placed Simon Shanks was the first local in 46.58 as the race timers imagined how good he would be if he did some training.

Kelly Gadsby was the first female local in 1.02.14.

Athletes were kept safe and hydrated with some excellent support from the Denmark Surf Life Saving Club members along the track and at aid stations.

The club volunteers looked brilliant in their uniforms and provided a welcome sight for runners.

A group of Denmark drummers added to the atmosphere with uplifting finishline beats.

Mark Adams and shire councillor Kingsley Gibson excelled as event timers.

Local Businessman Jeff Collen provided athletes with a complementary bus ride to and from the start line.

A hard-working Denmark Running Club Committee was grateful to the Shire for its support in allowing the club to host the event at the Lights Beach precinct which is becoming a ‘must do’ on the racing circuit.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 30 September 2021.