Beer mile WR attempt, Saturday 27th April

World's best on show as National Beer Mile Series reaches climax

Three of the worlds top 10 beer milers, and the winners of Rounds 1 and 2 of the National Beer Mile Series shall toe the line at the 2013 Autumn Classic this Saturday at the Rawlinson Track. Josh Harris (#2 in the world and winner of the Tasmanian Beer Mile Championship), Ash Watson (#6 in the world), Kevin Craigie (winner of the Stawell Beer Mile) and Charlie Blanch (#9 in the world) headline a field full of talent and passion. Harris, with an unofficial 5:02 to his name, will rightly start favourite ($1.20 in the betting) and much of the speculation is around whether he can claim the world record of 5:09 and even dip under the magical five minute barrier. Watson should not be discounted, having triumphed at his last meeting with Harris and Blanch, the Parkville Beer Mile in September 2012, and has put in a solid four months of training in South America (though not much running). Blanch's presence as one of the favourites demonstrates the inclusiveness of beer milling. His lack of pace around the track is mad up for by an astonishing capacity to inhale beer. Watch for him to be last in and first out of transition for the first few laps. Kev Craigie, from a storied family of beer milers, again claimed the win at round 2 of the National Beer Mile Series at Stawell on the Easter weekend. The two redheads Mark 'Sir Pasty' Kirwan and import export specialist Paul Munro are highly credentialed campaigners and cannot be ruled out.

Sarah McSweeney, fresh from a Bronze medal at the Australian Athletic Championships and a Gold Medal at the New Zealand Athletics Championships, both in the 3000m Steeplechase, should have no trouble taking out the women's race and will likely put most of the men to shame.

The 2013 Autumn Classic, organised by the Parkville Beer Milers Club, is race 4, and the final event, in the National Beer Mile Series, the pinnacle of beer miling in Australia. The NBMS committee will meet after the conclusion of the series and award the premier athlete the title of 2013 Australian Beer Harrier.

2013 Autumn Classic

6pm, Saturday, 27th April

Rawlinson Track, Melbourne University

Spectators are welcome.

Further details of the event can be found here (http://pbmilersclub.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/2013-autumn-classic.html).

All media enquiries should be directed to

parkvillebeermilersclub@gmail.com

I hosted the Simi Valley Beer Mile for a few years and we had an 'empty can' judge to ensure the cans were empty enough, you might wish to have someone do that if you don't have that organized already.

Second, we added a 'soda pop' mile for the non-drinkers. I realize you are in Australia so finding a non-beer drinker in the population might be asking a bit much, but ours was quite popular.

In fact, almost everyone in the 'soda pop' mile puked due to the sugar and extra carbonation - yet, they came back for more.

I had trophies made for the top three men and women in each division, classic runner profile sitting atop an empty beer can. The local trophy shop did a great job and I enjoyed drinking the beer to make available empty beer cans they could use.

In year two, we had a World Record scored in the 50+ Masters age group. I wish you great success!

Can't wait to see results/video of this. Going to be pretty College!

Pretty Boy Paroissien has somehow escaped scrutiny in the discussion of the Autumn Classic. Why isn't he running? Too busy going to the ballet?

Beer mile only picks you up 10 hipster points.

Pretty Boy Dave is leading a discussion on the influence of bow ties on 1930's New York fashion in his own back garden on Saturday afternoon. 5000 hipster points earned.

Melb Uni need to tighten up this event, there's disgraceful and flagrant cheating at play - looks like only half a beer is all that needs to be drunk!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=iMiC4lwa9X8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DiMiC4lwa9X8

Also some sub-size bottles out there!

Johnny,

After the non certification of the 2012 Autumn Classic race, the rules and procedures were tightened up (empty bottle/can over head).

The 2012 Parkville Beer Mile, held in September last year (http://www.pbmilersclub.org/2012/09/2012-parkville-beer-mile-race-video.html) was race under these rules and was fully certified.

I'm confused. Why is Nick Symmonds in Australia and is he really doing this race?

I have to bump this! College!!!

Perfect conditions on race morning.

Mild temperatures, light winds, no clouds in the sky, visibility virtually unlimited.

Racing begins just after 6pm in Melbourne. Stay tuned to @parkvillebeermi for all the latest news.

??

World Record for Mr J Harris.

5:04

http://www.pbmilersclub.org/2013/04/2013-autumn-classic-results.html

Any videos?

Congratulations to Josh Harris. What a run!

The PBMC hopes to have a full race video up in the next 24hrs.

It'll be posted here:

http://www.pbmilersclub.org/2013/04/josh-harris-makes-history-at-autumn.html

Race video, report and photos are online.

http://www.pbmilersclub.org/2013/04/josh-harris-makes-history-at-autumn.html

dude probably lost 15 seconds trying to open bottles. maybe use ones that aren't twist off next time

Great run by Harris, incredible event as a whole. Would be nice to see a competitive race though.