Photos from left: David Stocks, Paul de Jongh, Shannon Jones, Rob Walter
In possibly the closest finish in the 26-year history of the Runners Shop Twilight Series, less than two seconds covered the top four places after the age/gender handicap factors were applied to the results of 2022-23 Series race two at The Pinnacle on Wednesday.
Competitors were faced with the physical challenge of long grass and some moderate to steep climb on some legs, and the added navigational challenge of courses, which included a maze mid-course, by highly-experienced course planner David Hogg.
The across the line results for the two Moderate courses were:
- Moderate 1: 5.0 km: 185 metres: 18 controls: Men: 1. Paul de Jongh 27 min 25 sec, 2. David Stocks 29 min 08 sec, 3. Rob Walter 31 min 18 sec; Women: 1. Shannon Jones 37 min 45 sec, 2. Allison Jones 40 min 22sec, 3. Kathie Dent 44 min 02 sec.
- Moderate 2: 3.2 km: 130 metres: 12 controls: Men: 1 Dean Davies 29 min 13 sec, 2. Ross Stewart 29 min 27 sec, 3. Ari Piiroinen 30 min 48 sec; Women: 1. Sanda Halpin 29 min 27 sec, 2. Monique Jeacocke 34 min 57 sec, 3. Ariadna Iskhakova 35 min 38 sec.
The full results by course are here, the Winsplits are here, and the maps and photos are here.
After the handicap factors were applied junior David Stocks finished with a handicap kilometre rate of 5 min 26.66 sec, with just 0.38 seconds faster than Paul de Jongh, a further 0.78 seconds to Shannon Jones, and just another 0.64 seconds to Rob Walter, an overall 1.9 seconds behind Stocks.
The top ten on corrected time were:
| Competitor | Handicap | Corrected km rate |
| David Stocks | 0.9400 | 5 min 26.66 sec |
| Paul de Jongh | 1.0000 | 5 min 27.04 sec |
| Shannon Jones | 0.7280 | 5 min 27.82 sec |
| Rob Walter | 0.8800 | 5 min 28.56 sec |
| Sanda Halpin | 0.6080 | 5 min 38.91 sec |
| Allison Jones | 0.7040 | 5 min 38.98 sec |
| Eric Morris | 0.8100 | 5 min 48.48 sec |
| Geoff Lawford | 0.6640 | 5 min 53.39 sec |
| Tate Needham | 0.8600 | 5 min 54.43 sec |
| Andy Hogg | 0.8500 | 6 min 09.23 sec |
The top five placings after two events are
- 244 Shannon Jones AO A
- 240 Hayden Dent RR A
- 239 Sanda Halpin PO A
- 236 Paul de Jongh BS A
- 233 Kathie Dent RR A, Eric Morris BN N
The full standings after race 2 are here
The third event in the 2022-23 Runners Shop Twilight Series will be on Wednesday 2 November 2022 at Campbell Park.