A fine clear day greeted the 22 senior runners who fronted for the Troopers Camp Handicap, held from Troopers Camp on the Roses Gap to Wartook Road, in the Grampians.
Run as a sealed handicap, all runners set off together to tackle the challenging 11km course, which took in a very steep climb over one of the foothills of the Grampians Ranges.
Adrian Tyler soon took the lead, with Owen Roper, Nathaniel Warren and invitational runner Chris Barlow not far behind. However, the gradual uphill climb soon started to sort the field out, compounded by the steep climb over the ridge.
Tyler remained in the lead, and came home first, with Barlow gradually working his way into second place, followed by Warren, then Ray Scott and Gary Howden.
Tylers time was 44 minutes 51 seconds. Susie Ellis came home in 6th place, and was the fastest female in a time of 51 minutes 55 seconds.
After handicaps were applied, Bob Freeland was awarded first place by just eight seconds, from Susie Ellis in second place, just one second ahead of Nathaniel Warren in third place. This is Bob’s first win for several seasons.
The junior runners ran a 5 kilometre out and back race, with Bianca Robertson taking the honours ahead of Liam Scott. Emily Parnaby came home third.
Scott ran the fastest junior time of 23 minutes 49 seconds.
A good field of seven sub-junior runners competed over a one kilometre out and back course. Somer Darnell ran hard to come home first, ahead of Aleesha Robertson, who always is a consistant performer. Georgia Barnett got those arms working hard to come home third.
Tobias Blair ran the fastest sub-junior time of 4 minutes 11 seconds, just one second ahead of Aleesha Robertson.