On what started as a cold frosty Sunday morning, soon became a scorcher for athletes in race 6 of the Bendigo Athletic Club cross country season.  The race, sponsored by Purtill’s Nursery, featured an undulating 8km which started and finished at the Huntly Livestock Exchange.

While many runners produced sizzling times it was classy athlete Phil Noden who saluted in the end giving his family the double as his son Daniel had earlier won the children’s race.  After coming back from niggling calf injuries Phil has worked his way back well this year, improving with each run culminating with this hard fought victory.  Coming into the last kilometre of the race, Phil still had plenty of work to do with over half the field still in front of him.  However with only a few hundred metres left to travel it was Phil’s for the taking as he zipped past the last half a dozen runners to record a convincing win just in front of John Bailey and a little further back to Ingrid Douglass in third.

As well as the $250 first prize and the all important sash, Phil also claimed top points in the Flack Advisory Veterans Award.  Filling the placings were John Bailey and Ingrid Douglass.

Ingrid Douglass also took top spot in the Bendigo Original Pie Shop Ladies Award ahead of the ever consistent Rhonda Schultz.

As was mentioned earlier many athletes produced some great times but none better than Michael Preece’s effort today.  His time of 26.41minutes for the 8km earned him maximum points for this year’s Club Champion, well clear of Josh Sait 27.24 minutes and Phil Noden 28.34 minutes.

In the Bridge Hotel Open Award Josh Sait took top honors just in front of Daniel Plowright and Ryan Shelton.

While in the Liz & Mark Findlay sponsored U23 Award it was Michael Preece claiming top points ahead of Reza Azimi.

In the Childrens 1km race Daniel Noden ran his best time for the year to take out the race in convincing style.  Young Daniel worked very hard in the early part of the race and then fought on well to win in a very quick 3.41 minutes.  Second was Ava Stewart in front of Daniel’s brother Matthew who also ran the fastest time of 3.39 minutes.