Oscar Furniture Handicap & Grand Prix
After a delayed start to the season and struggling for early form, Stawell Amateur Athletic Club runner Ivan McDonald finally found his rhythm in last Saturday’s Oscar Furniture 8km Handicap, scoring an impressive win from the 22 strong senior field.
Front markers Carolyn Lehmann and Marg Hyde led the field away, with McDonald giving chase from his mid field mark.
By the half way point he still had plenty of work to do, with five runners remaining ahead of him. Gary Saunders had taken the lead, and was proving had to catch.
With only 500m to go, McDonald reeled in Saunders, but had Paul Atherton hot on his heals. The back markers Jon Dugdale, Col Barnett and Ray Scott were also closing in fast.
With 200m to go the backmarkers had the leaders in their sights, but McDonald found something extra to propel him to the line, and take out his first victory for the season, and also the final race of the Grand Prix series as well.
Paul Atherton just withstood a final dash from Jon Dugdale to hold onto second place, with Gary Saunders relegated to fourth.
Col Barnett ran the fastest race time of 29min 2sec, and Fiona O’Brien was the quickest female in 37min 24sec.
The juniors set off over a 3km course, with Hugh Scott setting the early pace. Try as they might, the rest of the field could not peg him back, and he crossed the line for a clear win.
Thomas Blair worked his way through the field to claim second place, with Ilana Jorgensen holding off some late challenges to take third place.
Alastair Dugdale was the fastest junior in a swift time of 11min 1sec. Emily Parnaby was the quickest junior girl in 13min 7sec.
The sub-juniors ran a 1km course, with Tobias Blair scoring a good win from Elly Barnett, with backmarker Liam Scott scorching through the field to claim third.
Liam Scott was the fastest sub-junior in an great time of 3min 55sec. Stacey Faravoni was the fastest sub-junior girl in 4min 12 sec.