Craig Harries In Final Charge

By Greg Hilson 17 June 2013

Melbourne athlete Craig Harris has triumphed in the final running of the Flack Advisory sponsored Eaglehawk to Bendigo classic. In the closest finish in the history of the event, Harris caught front marker Janine McKerron right on the line to win, leaving top placed Bendigo runner Jacob Nolan just a few seconds back in third place.

The win over the hilly Eaglehawk Road course pocketed Harris $1250 in total, running a time of 22:30. The win completed a sequence for the letter ‘H’, with Hipworth, Heagney and Harris winning the last three years of the event.

For the second placed Janine McKerron, also from Melbourne, there was no disappointment as she claimed $450 for second overall, plus cash for being the first female & first over 40.

Jacob Nolan ran a brilliant race to clock a personal best time of 21:54. Other Bendigo runners finishing in the top ten, were Phil Noden 7^th & Adam Parker 10^th, whilst Bendigo’s top placed female was Jessica O’Hara, 11^th over the line. Melbourne athletes Richard Banks in 4^th and Daniel Veith in 5^th look likely to have VCCL wins in the near future.

Fastest time on the course was recorded by Bendigo’s Phil Noden in 21:30, ahead of Melbourne athlete Luke Searle in 21:40. Corina Kapusta clocked the fastest female time of 24:04. Fastest Bendigo girl was Shai O’Brien in 26:18. Local athlete Phil Noden was the fastest over 40 in 21:30, whilst the fastest over 50 was 2011 winner Mark Hipworth in 23:47. Luke Kneebone claimed the prize for the first novice athlete to cross the line on handicap, recording 24:09.

Photos

Thanks to Leanne B and Leanne C for photographing the final race. Check out the huge photo gallery.

Next Sunday

The VCCL’s next race will be the 20^th Independent Signs Handicap held at Woodlands Historic Park over 10km on Sunday, 23 June, 10am.

---

Recent News