The Bendigo Living Plant Hire-sponsored event at No.7 Crusoe Reservoir in Kangaroo Flat was a different type of race as all athletes handicap marks were reset.

Victorious earlier in the season, Ermel started off a mid-mark in the field of 22.

On the approach to the first hill, Ermel made his way past a group of runners being led by Rod Stewart.

At the top of the hill, Ermel could see the next group just a few hundred metres clear.

Race leaders Tony Sait and Mark Perdon looked far away, but this didn’t deter Ermel who quickly gained on the leaders going around the lake.

The final gruelling hill was when Ermel surged clear to finish 20 seconds clear of Sait.

A first-year competitor with BAC, Matt Sullivan was third across the line. Fastest time went to Jacob Nolan, 10.51, from Adam Parker. Tabitha Goode won the juniors 1km event in a time of 8.18.

BAC’s finale to the cross country season is this Sunday’s running of the Dick Kitt Memorial 6.5km at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange in Huntly from 10.30am.

Bendigo Bank club champion award after 13 rounds: 55 Jacob Nolan; 43 Adam Parker; 31 Dan Ryan; 26 Ben Goode; 10 Reza Azimi; 9 Matt Sullivan; 2 Rick Ermel and Greg Hilson.

Rebel Sport aggregate award: 134 Kevin Shanahan; 124 Rick Ermel; 123 Mark Perdon; 121 Jacob Nolan; 120 Rod Stewart, Rhonda Schultz, Richard Schultz; 115 Adam Parker, 113 John Bailey, Ben Goode; 110 Reza Azimi, Dan Ryan; 101 Ingrid Douglass; 91 Ryan Shelton; 90 Kane Ellis; 81 Carol Stewart; 80 Matt Sullivan; 74 Lachlan Perdon.