Stawell veteran runner Gary Saunders took the winter conditions in his stride, streeting the rest of the field to win Stawell Amateur Athletic Club’s T-Life Handicap by nearly a minute.
Thirteen runners tackled the 6.5km circuit along the banks of Horsham’s Wimmera river. With water levels up this year, runners were unable to cross the river bed as in previous years, but it was great to see some water finally flowing down the river.
Front marker Gary Saunders set the early pace, with the rest of the field in hot pursuit. Gary Howden and Ted Zgainski wasted no time in starting to pick up the runners in front, while further behind Ray Scott and Susie Ellis were also making their presence felt.
However, Saunders was unstoppable, holding off all the other runners, and taking out the win from Gary Howden, with Patrick Ellis coming in third.
Gary Howden recorded the fastest time of the day with 27 minutes 14sec. Susie Ellis was the fastest female with 29 minutes 54sec.
The juniors tackled a 3km out and back course. Ebony Darnell led the field away with Tobias Blair hot on her heals. Further back Liam Scott was running hard but Blair was too strong for Darnell and held on to score a good win, with Darnell second and Scott third.
A special thanks to the Howdens for the use of their house to stage the run.