Dan Ryan has made a great start to the Bendigo athletic club cross country season with a convincing win in the 5km sealed handicap event at Wellsford rifle range. Dan’s handicap time smashed the nearest competitor by a huge 1:09 margin. Dan’s actual race time of 18:29 is nearly a minute and half quicker compared to his best time of 19:55 in the previous season showing the results of a hard summer of training. Distance runner legend, Rick Ermel was second in the handicapped event in front of Paul Bennett with both men also receiving first and second in the veteran’s category respectively.

Jacob Nolan has started a campaign for the club champion title, taking line honours and therefore fastest time in the sealed handicap event with a time of 17:10 ahead of Dan Ryan and Ben Goode. Nolan was also the first under 23 runner ahead of Reza Azimi and Caleb Ellis.

Dan Ryan also took out 1st in the open category with Ryan Shelton and Ben Goode claiming second and third.

Fastest amongst the women was Ingrid Douglass in a time of 21:50 ahead of Jess O’Hara and Demi Goodall-Hoffman.

Next Sunday's race will be a 6.5km at Mandurang cricket ground starting at 10:30am with former club champion Rick Ermel boldly claiming he has the race in the bag.