Flying Foxes claim sprint double at Bendigo International Madison carnival

RACING in conditions more suited to ducks and drakes, husband and wife Nathan and Patricia Fox captured the sprint double at the weekend’s Bendigo International Madison athletics-cycling carnival.The Ballarat athletes were in hot form on a sodden Tom Flood Sports Centre track.Nathan Fox, 27, sprinted to the biggest victory of his professional running career in the $5000 City of Greater Bendigo Thousand (120m).Racing off a mark of 9.75m, Fox withstood the challenges of Corwin Pusch, 7m, and Douglas Greenough, 9¹/₂m, to win in a time of 12.78 seconds.“I was second in the Keilor Gift a couple of weeks ago, so I was reasonably confident going into this meet,’’ Fox said.The Robert Lehmann-coached athlete had won a novice 120m on his home track at Ballarat, but the latest win is the most significant.“I have been competing for more than seven years, and like any athlete there have been highs and lows along the way.Fox said the conditions were the toughest he had raced on the Victorian Athletics League circuit.“There were so many factors going into this race.“The nerves because of the occasion, the competition, and the wet track.’’Gift finalists had also contested heats and semi-finals to advance to one of the blue riband sprint races in the state.“Trish’s (Patricia) win last night was inspirational,’’ Fox said.Lehmann won the Bendigo Thousand in 1998 and was rapt with the stable’s success on the Labour Day holiday weekend carnival.The victory was less than 24 hours after Patricia Fox celebrated victory in the WIN Television women’s 120m classic.There was plenty to smile about as Narelle Lehmann, wife of Robert, was runner-up.This summer is the first time Nathan Fox and Robert Lehmann have teamed up as athlete and coach.“We trained together a few years ago, and Rob has helped me improve so much.’’For Fox the next hit-out will be at Cranbourne on Sunday in the lead-up to the Stawell Easter Gift and the VAL season finale at Ballarat.