Desperate Housewives capture relay crown

AN EARLY morning initiative has helped Desperate Housewives capture the annual SportzBiz Australian Ekiden Relay on Saturday.The team, named after the hit American drama, trains together weekly at White Flat as an informal running group.Desperate Housewives won the title for running closest to their predicted time in the road relay around Lake Wendouree.The women carried a handicap of 10 minutes and completed the marathon-distance event of 42.195km in three hours, 44 minutes and 47 seconds - 1.33 minutes off their predicted time.Captain Cathy Gibney said it was a thrill to claim the Ballarat City Shield."It was a total surprise but we knew we were fairly close in the end," Gibney said."A couple of new girls ran well-under their predicted times and then as the day grew hotter we slowed down."Overall, it was amazingly very close in the end."Desperate Housewives took out the title above 20 community, manufacturing, professional and government teams.Each team member took home a new pair of Asics runners for their efforts.Gibney said they could not wait to try them out at their next running session."It's great to have new runners. The girls who weren't here today will be so jealous," Gibney said."We also welcome any new runners to join us 9am on Wednesday mornings at White Flat."We aren't super athletes but we have a lot of fun," she said.Hospitality-Communities team Action Potential placed second after blitzing the course in a time of 3:04.4, and 1.6 minutes off their predicted time.Manufacturers-Retail squad Laser Electrical ran third.Schools also took part in the event with a scratch race.Teams had 14 runners, who each raced three kilometres of the marathon distance.Ballarat High School won the secondary school division with a time of 3:03.27.Damascus College topped the middle school category in 3:05.14, while Alfredton Primary School raced 3:13.31 to claim the primary school title.