Despite the wet and windy conditions, 97 athletes as well as keen officials and volunteers braved the elements for one of Athletics Bendigo’s classics at Woodvale.

Preston and Jamie Cook, from Bendigo Harriers, had a great duel a week after both raced the Athletics Victoria XCR 15km at Ballarat.

Preston took the lead just after the start of the third of the 5km loops and went on to win in 51.13 as Cook was runner-up in 51.42.

Third in the open class was University’s Greg Carter in 1:04.47.

A regular visitor for Bendigo events, Bird ran brilliantly to win the women’s event in 58.39 and was third overall.

Nadene Macdonald, from Bendigo Harriers, was runner-up in the women’s open in 1:24.59.

The consistent Anne Buckley from Bendigo Harriers achieved a time of 1:12.04 to win the 50-plus title.

Buckley’s club-mate Wendy Stibbe was second in 50-plus, but showed great sportsmanship as she and daughter Taylor stopped to assist the injured Kathy Heagney.

A newcomer to the cross-country scene, Julie Marr, from University, won the 60-plus in 1:22.56.

The race for the men’s 40-plus title was a University trifecta as Andrew Creer led the way in 1:01.38 from David Cripps, 1:06.31, and Ben McDermid, 1:07.10.

University’s big improvers David Lonsdale, 1:03.59, and David Heislers, 1:14.15, had a great duel as

Eric Baker, from Harriers, was third.

The 60-plus event was won by University’s Charles Chambers, 1:08.37, ahead of Eaglehawk’s Brian Cornell, 1:20.17, and Garnet Rodda from Harriers in 1:32.14.

South Bendigo’s Yazmin Hayes starred in the 3km.

Hayes ran a time of 10:033 to win the under-18 girls and overall honours.

The open-age was won by University’s Tullie Rowe in 12.17.

University’s Phoebe Lonsdale ran 12.16 to win the under-15 girls event.

Overall winner and the under-18 boys titleholder was University’s Harry Wright in 11:03.

The men’s open 3000m was won by Harriers’ Luke Matthews in 11:25 as club-mate Harrison Boyd ran 11:19 to win the under-15 boys.