Race 11 of the Bendigo Athletic Club’s cross country season has been run and won by first year athlete and club rising star, Reza Azimi. 16 year old Azimi has taken to cross country running like a duck to water and has been able to improve with each race that he has contested. The Mandurang Cricket Ground (MCG) provided a tough hilly course in which athletes competed over the traditional 6.5km. The race kindly sponsored by The Rising Sun Hotel, was always going to be a demanding one on this course, however Azimi once again managed to show his improvement to record his fastest time with the club to date. The youngster is constantly seen with a beaming smile on his face, and will now have even more reason to grin as this win catapults him up the leader board for the Rebel Aggregate Award which is worth $1000! But his rapid improvement seen this year means he may well be contesting for Club Champion in the not too distant future as well. Azimi is well liked within the club for his friendly and enthusiastic nature and this win is great reward for this and also his strong discipline and determination.
As well as the $250 first prize and the all important sash, Azimi also claimed top points in the Liz & Mark Findlay sponsored U23 Award ahead of another improving youngster in Gab Sait.
Rob McDonald is another athlete who is having a season where every race is better than the last. So much so that he might be a sneaky chance to take out next week’s race! This week’s run earned him top points in the Bridge Hotel Open Award, just six seconds in front of Daniel Plowright and further back to Brett Gilligan.
In the battle to be the quickest it was once again Josh Sait who took top honours in the Bendigo Bank fastest time award. Sait who is still acclimatising from his holiday in Noosa recently, nevertheless managed a swift time of 23.38 minutes for the challenging course. Second fastest was Daniel Plowright 23.52 minutes in front of Adam Parker 24.08 minutes.
Gab Sait is having a good solid year and this week also came out on top in the Bendigo Original Pie Shop Ladies Award. Gab finished 3rd in a recent 3km event and could test a few over the shorter 5km next week. The ever consistent Rhonda Schultz was next in for the ladies.
While in the Flack Advisory Veterans Award it was the overall second place getter, Kevin Shanahan securing maximum points ahead of club legend’s Rick Ermel & Chook Stewart. Kevin will be another to watch for next week.
The Bendigo Athletic Club’s next race is the Carl Barkmeyer Electrics 5km handicap event on Sunday the 16th of August to be held at the Wellsford Rifle Range. For the children there looks to be a battle looming between Baxter Parker, Isabella Ellis and Ava Bibby. The race commences at 10am and new runners are welcome. While in the main race there are a host of athletes that could take this one out. Kane Ellis will be the favourite but if he is just slightly off then expect Kevin Shanahan, Ingrid Douglass, Rob McDonald, Daniel Plowright and perhaps Gab Sait over the shorter distance to be breathing down his neck when the whips are cracking! This race commences at 10.30am after the children’s event and new runners are welcome.