Col Barnett continued his dominance of the Stawell Amateur Athletic Club Championship races by winning the Timekeepers Sealed Handicap Championship race on Saturday, held in the Ironbarks at the Three Jacks Reserve, near Stawell.
A good field of twenty-four senior runners lined up for the 5km event. As per his usual form, Col Barnett went straight to the lead and was never threatened, running strongly all the way to take out line honours and the Championship in a time of 18min 16sec.
Jacinta Collier took out the women’s Championship in a time of 20min 41sec, and leads the Women’s Open Championship comfortably, with both Fiona O’Brien and Sharon Howden leading the Vets.
The handicap side of the event saw a great battle between Sharon Howden and Graeme Sudholz, but it was Sudholz who emerged the victor, with, you guessed it, Fiona O’Brien finishing third for the fourth time this season.
Fiona now leads the Aggregate by a clear margin of ten points from Sharon and Gary Howden equal second.
A special mention should be made of the excellent time run by invitational runner, Steve Page, who completed the 5km in 16min 29sec.
The junior 5km event saw young Marcus Scott produce a magnificent run to take out the Championship race in a time of 19min 27sec. In his fathers words, “It just proves he can run when he puts his mind to it!”
The girls Championship went to Naomi Jamieson in a time of 23 min 13 sec.
After handicaps were applied it was Hugh Scott who claimed his first win for the season from his older brother Marcus in second place, and Alastair Dugdale third.
The sub-juniors ran a 1km scratch out and back race with Liam Scott running well to cross the line with the fastest time of 6min 41sec.When handicaps were applied, however, it was Fraser Steggall who came out the winner from Liam Scott in second place, and Richard Dugdale third.