Veteran athlete Kevin Shanahan has produced his best run for a number of seasons to take out race 12 of the Bendigo Athletic Club’s cross country season.  The Carl Barkmeyer Electrics 5km handicap event had proven hard to predict a winner however in the end Shanahan won convincingly and fairly comfortably too holding out another pre race favourite Kane Ellis by 24 seconds.  Rounding out the top three was Rick Ermel who is another veteran athlete enjoying some return to form after being held back with injuries.

Shanahan’s run was even more impressive given that he ran 7 seconds quicker per kilometre in this race than in race 8 where the distance was only 3km!  He is certainly hitting his straps at the right time of the year and it’s great to see athletes getting great reward for effort.

As well as the $250 first prize and the all important sash, Shanahan also claimed top points in the Flack Advisory Veterans Award just in front of second placed Kane Ellis with Rick Ermel third as well as being third overall.  In fact it was a good day for the veteran athletes as they took the top 5 placings overall.

In the Bendigo Bank fastest time award it was Michael Preece who took the honours with his best run with the club, clocking a very impressive 16.14 minutes for the 5km course.  Current club champion leader Josh Sait had to settle for second on this occasion running a solid 17.12 minutes ahead of Adam Parker 17.54 minutes.

Preece’s great run also earned him top points in the Liz & Mark Findlay sponsored U23 Award just ahead of Gab Sait who put in another solid performance.

One of the pre race favourites Daniel Plowright might not have finished as high up as he would have liked however he did manage to take out maximum points in the Bridge Hotel Open Award.  Adam Parker and Josh Sait filled the placings.

Ingrid Douglass fresh from her great run in the City to Surf in Sydney last week was back to her best coming out on top in the Bendigo Original Pie Shop Ladies Award.  Youngster Gab Sait was next in after another improved effort followed by the consistent Rhonda Schultz.