Wine-ding Road To Victory For Craig
By Brian Marantelli 17 September 2015
A small but select field of VCCL and Bendigo athletes contested the fourth Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery Handicap on Sunday. After a very consistent, but winless season, Craig Harris handled the tough hill climb finish of the 6.5km event to win by a convincing margin. Craig, with a recent second at Churchill Park and a top ten finish in the Norm Charles Classic, held out Grant Penney by nineteen seconds to record his fifth win with the club. Craig’s previous wins include the prestigious Flack Advisory Classic in Bendigo and two Westgate Park 5km events.
Grant Penney, completing the season in career best form, has finished runner-up at his last two runs and heads to Westerfold Park this Sunday with an excellent chance in the season’s final event. Adam Parker in finishing third was Bendigo Athletic Club’s first runner home. Adam hasn’t missed the top ten in his runs with the VCCL since Murchison 10km in 2012. In fourth place Jacob Nolan was the first of the backmarkers home, a few seconds to the good of Cody Williamson. As good as Jacob’s 22:42 effort was, Cody was able to gain the fastest time award with a run of 22:09. Cody was also the first placed male novice home, adding another $50 to the day’s prize money. Greg Hilson, another of Bendigo’s ultra consistent runners, was sixth across the line with Janine McKerron seventh and first female home. Ian Cazyer and Mark Hipworth staged a stirring finish up the hill with Ian holding onto eighth place and Mark ninth. Andrew Lane, gaining more valuable Club Aggregate Award points, completed the top ten. Ingrid Douglass, from Bendigo, was the fastest of the ladies with her run of 29:17.
Many thanks to John and Pauline for their hospitality and use of their winery to stage Sunday’s event. The VCCL have the pleasure of competing at many scenic locations throughout the Melbourne suburban area and country Victoria, Kyneton Estate Ridge Winery is certainly as pleasurable as any.
This Sunday is the 6.5km President’s Handicap which is the final event for the VCCL season and takes place at Westerfold Park with a 10am start.
