Campbell Park - January Vet's Handicap

Today:
Distance: 7.7 km
Time: 49' 26"
Rate: 6' 25" per km
Weather: sun/part cloud, temp 18-23 degrees, humidity 45%, wind SE at 25 kmph
Week: 68.6 km
Jan & Year: 42.8 km

A quick look at the start area for this month's vets handicap last Saturday showed and the first and last 200 metres of the course has become very rough and rutted from recent rain. I met Stuart ( Alan, new handicapper failed to front) at the start area this morning to find suitable changes. We have come up with a Plan A, Plan B and in need a Plan C. All will depend on January rain.
We needed to bypass the first 200 metres around the back of the office block, so will instead go right from the start to the fence line and on to the horse stile. After that, a decision will be made in a few weeks depending on any rain whether we go the usual way to the right or in need go left up to the Mt Ainslie track.
The main concern is the amount of water in the small dams just after the current short course turn. With the change at the start, the distance to the turn around point will now be beyond the dam. At present, both the dams are full with some water over the track with mud either side. No rain, this area will be OK. Any January rain means this area will be too hazardous for all three events to negotiate out and back.
If that is the case, all three events will run to the left from the horse stile up on the Mt Ainslie track, the short course turn some 200 metres on the main track and the long course turn 200 metres beyond the current 3 km turn. We are hopeful of still using the current course.
Short run today, making the plan from yesterday just a little bit harder to achieve.