It seems everyone agrees on two main points with this new Bacchus course - first that it is an enjoyable track, scenic and fun - but second that it is a long, hard uphill finish. The 35 degree temperature made the finish just that little bit harder this week. Just about everyone run a slower time and a significant number chose to walk all or part of the course.

Adrian Baird improved from 2nd last week 1st this week, Shane Howells moved up from 7th to 2nd, and Feral debutante Leighroy Kress managed 3rd. Vince Restagno, Roy Binks and Ashley Pianca continued in top ten mode.

In the short course, Anthony Trafilo was again 1st stretching his lead in the competition to 41 points. Maggie Croce was in form for 2nd, and Connor Bourke back after a year, not at his best but still 3rd.

Reporting on competition winner's week after week can give the impression that the Feral's are a competitive group. Far from it, there are some very good runners, however most are just average participants. Some start by walking the short course, then graduating to walking the long course. From there some may commence to run while others are happy to walk. The point is there is no pressure to perform, the real competition is with the goals you set yourself.

New members are always welcome to join us for a 5:30pm start at the green water tower opposite Pioneer Park.

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On Sunday in just over an hour 1 tonne of rubbish was removed from Scenic Hill fire trails 12, 29 and 30 by members of the Griffith Feral Joggers. Griffith City Council provided free tip passes for the day.

The Feral's are currently using fire trails 29 and 30 as part of the Bacchus competition leading up to the 3C Tech Shop Bacchus on the Lake on Good Friday, 2nd of April. When committee member Allan Jones suggested the Feral's clean up the rubbish instead of just running past it and complaining about the eyesore, the committee agreed "why not".

There were three trailers and a band of willing helpers decked out in protective gloves, hats and boots. Volunteers were broken up into tree working parties.

In addition to dumped household rubbish there were car and bike tyres, other assorted rubber items, numerous beverage bottles and assorted takeaway containers plus metal and masonry scraps. Feral secretary Anthony Salmon reflected "it's hard to fathom how much rubbish must be up there given what we collected in such a small area.

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