Backmarkers dominated Race 3 of the Bendigo Athletic Club cross-country season.  Three of the first four placegetters in the Kel Pell handicap started from the back mark.

The event was held at the No. 7 Reservoir at Kangaroo Flat in perfect distance running conditions – cool, clear and calm.  The day certainly suited Michael Preece who took out the event nine seconds clear of Josh Sait.  Rhonda Schultz, who had led the field into the last kilometre, held on for third.  Preece also took out the Bendigo Bank Fastest Time Award, recording 22:07 for the 6.5k distance, from Josh Sait with Kyall Britten seventeen seconds adrift as third fastest.

Sait also took out this week’s Bridge Hotel Open age-group category from Kyall Britten, and the Liz and Mark Findlay U23 Award was taken out by Michael Preece ahead of Reza Azimi.

First home in the Flack Advisory Veterans Award was Rhonda Schultz, comfortably clear of Greg Hilson with Rhonda’s husband Richard Schultz two seconds back in third.  Rhonda also claimed top spot in the Bendigo Original Pie Shop Ladies Award from Ingrid Douglass.

In the Children’s 1k Race Matthew Noden single-handedly held off an avalanche of Findlay’s.  He was followed home by Sydney Findlay who caught her sister Arabella on the line, fourth was their cousin Connor holding off their brother Harry in fifth.  Matthew  Noden’s 3:51 for the kilometre was fastest time for the event.

For times and placings of both races go to the 'Results' page.

Bendigo Athletic Club’s next race will be the Vin Drechsler Memorial Handicap to be held on Sunday, May 24 at the Woodvale Recreation Reserve.  Vin, who passed away recently, was a long-standing and generous sponsor of the BAC so this event will have special meaning for the Club.  There will also be a children’s 1km race at 10am, with the main race again starting at 10.30am.