It was a race in two at the Wellsford Rifle Range for the Bendigo Athletic Club’s seventh event of the season on Sunday.  Wily veterans John Bailey and Paul Bennett started from the same handicap and spent the race dueling each other before Bennett finally prevailed, crossing the line 3 seconds ahead of Bailey.  Paul started the season slowly but has worked his way into form and must now be rated one of the best chances for the BAC’s season-long Aggregate Award.

As well as the $250 first prize in this race Bendigo physiotherapist Bennett also claimed top spot in the Flack Advisory Veterans Award from Bailey.  The Bendigo’s Original Pie Shop Award was taken out by Ingrid Douglass by 9 seconds from Rhonda Schultz.

In another close finish Josh Sait won the Bendigo Bank Fastest Time Award by 6 seconds from Michael Preece.  Brett Gilligan took out this week’s Bridge Hotel Open age-group category from Ben Goode, and the Liz and Mark Findlay U23 Award went to Reza Azimi ahead of Gabrielle Sait.

Bendigo Athletic Club’s next race is a 3Km event on Sunday, July 19th at No. 7 Reservoir in Kangaroo Flat.  There will also be a children’s 1km race at 10am, with the main race again starting at 10.30am.