Everything fell neatly into place for Ian McCready when he broke through for his first win this season with the Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club, but when it actually happened the Ararat sheep shearer was more surprised than anyone.
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A rare three-time winner in 2016, McCready had managed only one podium finish in nine starts and had only finished sixth over the same distance when last in club colours.
The eight-kilometre Trounson Family Handicap, however, presented a new set of challenges on a tough course strewn with hazards.
A relative newcomer, McCready’s maiden win was in the Trounson in his first year (2012).
McCready had anticipated that the ever-consistent Peter Gibson would reel him in early but was unaware that the pre-race favourite was being hampered by a groin injury.
First to pass was Paul Fenn, the reigning club champion, who was having his first start for the season after recovering from a persistent Achilles injury.
That left race sponsor Jack Trounson as the premier chaser, but Trounson as always refuses to win his own race and, for the third time in the past four years, Trounson was the sporting runner-up four seconds behind the winner, with hill specialist Simon Gallagher recording best time in third place.
Graeme Eldridge is proof positive that everyone can run, even those who say they can’t.
After winning the eight-kilometre at Stawell on Saturday, the 58-year-old Eldridge couldn’t believe what he had just achieved.
“I’ve always been a walker, but never a runner,” he said.
Eldridge started to jog 18 months ago but had never given competitive running a thought until his Horsham-based club mate Col Barnett told him about the Stawell Amateur Athletic Club.
“I started taking small steps, running a kilometre or two here and there and lost 14 kilograms in the first 12 months. Col and Vicki Tyler encouraged me to join the club, and here I am, after just six races with the first trophy I’ve ever won in my life!”
He had only finished eleventh the week before on a twisting and turning five-kilometre course.
The more experienced Tyler had closed to within striking distance with a kilometre to run, but with the sniff of victory Eldridge found hidden reserves and stuck on grimly to win by a mere seven seconds with greybeard Gary Saunders back in third place.
In the one-kilometre sub junior division of the race, Kayla Membrey finished strongly to defeat Johnno Baker and third-placed Olivia Hunter.
The club’s longer races begin with the 10-kilometre run on Saturday.
