Stalwart honoured at fun run

THE 41st annual Terang and District Lions Club Fun Run and Walk proved a success despite soaring temperatures.

By Support Team

The family of Warrnambool athletics stalwart Clinton Hall, pictured with overall winner Ben Wallis (third from right) holding the trophy named in Hall’s memory.

THE 41st annual Terang and District Lions Club Fun Run and Walk proved a success despite soaring temperatures.

Around 300 participants braved the blistering temperatures, which peaked in the mid-30s on the day, to complete the 5.92 kilometre trek from Noorat to Terang last Friday evening.

Fun run coordinator Stephen O’Connor said he was pleased with the turnout despite the scorching weather during the day.

“It was clearly a warm night and that spooked away some people who registered but decided against participating,” he said.

“It was still a good night and our numbers were not too bad; we’ve certainly had better numbers, but we’ve also had worse.

“We’re quite pleased with the way the night went and we’re excited to return again next year.”

The event was a special occasion for the family of Warrnambool athletics stalwart Clinton Hall.

Hall competed in the event 17 times over 26 years, recording five wins in various age categories and notching six overall male runner wins, prior to his death in 2022 aged just 43.

In his memory the trophy presented to the 2023 Open Male Category winner was named the ‘Clinton Hall Memorial Trophy’.

The honour was the second occasion the trophy has been re-named, with the first coming in 2015 when the Open Male Category trophy was named after four-time winner John Paatsch – which was won by Hall himself.

Hall’s family were out in force at the fun run this year, including his sister Nadia and son Will both participating in the run.

“We’re honoured,” Nadia said.

“This was a race Clinton loved and competed in many times.

“We’re truly grateful for the Open Male Category to be named after him for this year.

“He would have been extremely humbled by it.”

Mr O’Connor said all involved were proud to honour the memory of Clinton Hall.

“It was certainly a good night for his family and they were very grateful,” he said.

“We asked Clinton’s son (Will) if he would like to be the official starter, so he did that and was pretty chuffed to officially start the walk and then take part in the run.

“Thank you to the family for coming along on the night.”