Evergreen athlete leads local charge at Country Champs

February 7, 2025 BY Adam Carswell

Full steam ahead: The next big comps for Greg Hilson are the Victorian Masters Track and Field Championships in March in Doncaster and the remainder of the Victorian Athletics League season, which culminates at the 143rd Stawell Gift over Easter. Photo: ADAM CARSWELL

BENDIGO track and field competitors turned in a fine series of performances at the recent 2025 Victorian Country Athletics Championships at La Birpa Athletics Complex in Flora Hill, with Eaglehawk YMCA Athletic Club dominating the teams awards.

The Borough took home the Margaret Saunders Country Cup for the overall highest scoring club, plus the (VWAAA) Ex Athletes Cup and David Kitt Memorial Trophy for winning the women’s and men’s divisions.

South Bendigo Athletic Club life member and local builder Greg Hilson took away an astonishing ten medals from ten events in the 40+ and 50+ men’s categories.

The youthful 55-year-old won gold medals in the male 50-plus high jump, 1500 metres, pole vault and 40-plus 4×400-metre relay, silver medals in the 50-plus long jump, 400-metre hurdles, 3000 metres, 800 metres and triple jump, plus a bronze in the 40-plus 4×100 metres.

It was the 39th time Hilson has competed at the Championships. He competes all over Victoria (and sometimes further afield) during track season in amateur and pro competitions, and said the annual Country Championships are one of his favourite events.

“It’s hard to say why, but everybody knows and supports each other, and it just has a great feel about it,” he said. “I think that’s the reason.”

He said to be able to maintain a high level of performance over the three days and ten events required a certain amount of extra focus.

“I didn’t even think about work, I just concentrated on being a professional athlete for three days,” he said.

“I ate at the right time, slept at the right time, rested at the right time and tried to do everything as well as I possibly could. It did make a huge difference.”

After a long and prolific career, Hilson said he never thought he’d still be running at this stage of his life.

“While I can, I won’t stop,” he said.

“While I’m still moving – even though I’ve got some aches and pains – I can’t see why I wouldn’t be still running in 20 years’ time.”

The next big event at La Birpa is the 5km Frenzy from 5pm tonight.