Ian Burrows and Michael Marantelli led the charge of AFL boundary umpires competing at Stawell over the Easter weekend.
Ian, finished first in the University of Ballarat Grampians 3200 metre back markers event in 8.55.09 (300m) while in the same race SA based boundary umpire Matthew Konetschka finished fifteenth, in 9.18.5 (210m). Michael Marantelli, won his heat of the 800m back markers and finished ninth in the final in 1.53.9 (34m). He finished sixth in the 1600m invitational handicap.
Shane Thiele and compatriot Matt Konetschka finished nineteenth and sixteenth respectively in the 1600m back markers event. John Morris and Life Member Gordon Muir, finished sixth and fourth respectively in the front markers 1600m.
Matt Konetschka also ran in the 550m back markers heats.
Adam Coote made the semi finals of the 120m Stawell Gift but was a scratching in the semi final.
It is a tough ask for our umpires when you think about the demands of conflicting sports. Instead of tapering and focusing on the racing, our boundary boys have to train hard and run a full game, then head to Stawell. Boundary umpires are still tracked by GPS devices running between 16 and 19 kilometres per game, much of it at a very high intensity.
Well done again boys