Athletes chase glory at Lar Birpa

HUNDREDS of athletes will make their way to Lar Birpa in Bendigo for this weekend’s Victoria Country field and track championships.

Three big days of action at Athletics Bendigo’s home in Flora Hill’s Retreat Road starts with field events from 10.30am on Friday and the first of the track races at 2pm.

Competition on Saturday starts at 8.30am and Sunday’s finale rolls on from 9am.

Eaglehawk will be gunning to hold the Margaret Saunders Country Cup for an eighth consecutive year.

The Hawks have been in hot form across the Athletics Victoria Shield League.

A major strength of the Borough’s squad is its depth of talent in many disciplines.

Athletes to watch for Eaglehawk include Cooper Richardson, Catherine Monahan, Tim Sullivan, Olivia Graham, Jorja Morrison, Terry Hicks, April Wainwright, Daniel and Dave Chisholm, Millie McIntosh, Lucy Richard and Fletch Watchman.

The Hawks also hold the Ex-Athletes Cup and David Kitt Memorial Trophy after being number one women’s and men’s teams at last year’s titles in Ballarat.

Medal tally for the Two Blues a year ago was 41 gold, 35 silver and 41 bronze.

Major challengers to the Hawks’ reign in the 80th edition of the championships are likely to be Geelong Guild, Chilwell, Wendouree and Ballarat Harriers.

Sixth in last year’s title race, South Bendigo will be determined to perform well on home turf.

The Bloods won 65 medals at last year’s championships.

Two of the key members in South Bendigo’s squad are Emma Berg who will be aiming for a ninth consecutive women’s open shot put title and Greg Hilson at his 40th country championships appearance.

Also competing in the red and white will be Emma Orme, Kai Norton, Jordyn Lewis, Leigh Browell, Carol Coad, Rhys Hansen, Joan Self, Oliver Muggleton, Keely Trew and Tyler Fynch.

Bendigo Harriers, Bendigo University and Echuca Moama have strong medal chances across many disciplines.

The Harriers’ squad includes Anne Buckley, Reeve Evans, Hailey Stubbs, Neil Shaw, Jill Wilkie, Geoff Jordan, Hunter Gill, Rebecca Soulsby and Lachlan Carr.

University’s representatives include Grace Mulqueen, Avery McDermid, Milanke Haasbroek, David Cripps, Abbey Reid and Billy Meade.