BENDIGO teacher Ingrid Douglass won the richest race on the Victoria Cross-Country League's country circuit in Sunday's $3000 classic at Woodvale.
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Douglass took the lead of the Flack Advisory-backed 6400m winter classic at just over 1500m to go.
The Bendigo Athletic Club member raced to the finish on the outside of the oval at Woodvale Recreation Reserve ahead of Melbourne athletes Mark Andrews and Leon Brooks.
Bendigo clubmates Jacob Nolan and Adam Parker fought on to be fourth and fifth.
Fastest time honours went to Bendigo's Timon Dooley in 21.35.
The event, previously known as the Eaglehawk to Bendigo, was switched to Woodvale for the first time.
Douglass earned $1250 for the victory and a bonus for being the first Bendigo athlete.
"This is the most money I have won in any race," said the mother of three.
"To win is fantastic, but cross-country is all about a sense of achievement, no matter the placing.
"It's painful during the race, but to win, run or personal best, or finish is an amazing feeling."
Her build-up to Woodvale included third placing in the recently-run Caruana Classic at Woodlands near Tullamarine.
Douglass has plenty of support in her athletics pursuits from husband Roger and their children Isabella, Imogen and Lavinia.
Away from athletics, Douglas is a teacher at Girton Grammar in Bendigo.
In a few weeks she and some students and teachers from Girton will be bound for Cambodia and Laos for a World Challenge.
