Stawell Amateur Athletic Club runner Steve Baird put his seal on the Club Aggregate last Saturday, when he took out the second last race for the season, the 5km Garry Rice Handicap.
With many good performances over the season, including some minor placings, Baird went into the race 6 points ahead of his nearest rival, Nathaniel Warren, with Gary Saunders 1 point behind. However, Saturdays win gave Baird an unassailable lead.
The two lap race was held over a course set amongst the vineyards on the outskirts of Stawell. However, the constant rain resulted in a very small field of only 12 runners.
After the first lap, Keith Lofthouse was in a commanding position, but took a wrong turn going into second lap, loosing 10 or 15 vital seconds. With 500m to go, he still held a slender lead over Baird, but Gary Howden and back marker Kieran Ryan were also closing in fast.
With 200 meters to go, Baird hit the lead, finishing 3 seconds ahead of Lofthouse. Kieran Ryan overtook Howden to claim third place, and also run the fastest time of the day of 18 minutes 34 seconds.
Susie Ellis was the fastest female in a time of 24 minutes 41 seconds.
Once again, with only one junior runner showing up for the 5km junior event, Emily Parnaby was awarded first and last place, and also fastest junior time as well!!
In the sub-junior 1000m event Liam Burns backed up his win last week with another one this week. Burns ran hard to hold off fellow backmarker Tobias Blair by 7 seconds, with Scarlet Burns coming in third.
Liam Burns also posted the fastest sub-junior time of 5 minutes and 3 seconds.
A special thank you to Garry Rice and Rhonda Clark for the wonderful afternoon tea.