HUNDREDS of athletes will race around the St Anne\u2019s Winery layout in this Saturday\u2019s second round of Athletics Victoria\u2019s cross-country series.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first time in more than 20 years that AV will run a state event in Bendigo and marks a return to the nearby Belvoir Park Golf Club where the national cross-country championships were run in 1995 and 1996.<\/p>\n
Athletics Bendigo\u2019s teams, dubbed the Bendigo Bats, will aim to capitalise on home-ground advantage and chance to run before a home crowd.<\/p>\n
Bendigo marked its return to men\u2019s premier division by being number one in the XCR22 series opener in the Jells Park team relays.<\/p>\n
The Bats line-up of dual national 10-kilometre cross-country champion Andy Buchanan, the experienced Brady Threlfall and Brian McGinley, and rising stars Matt Buckell, Archie Reid and Nathan Stoate will aim to reign supreme.<\/p>\n
Regions from as far afield as Ballarat, Geelong, Collingwood, Richmond, Mornington, St Stephens, and Western Athletics will be represented on the Big Hill course.<\/p>\n
After round one the Bats saw their division four men in first, division seven men in second and third, division four women also in first, under-20 women in second, under-18 boys in first, under-18 girls hold ninth, the 40-plus men are in first, with the 50-plus men in 12th 50-plus women in sixth.<\/p>\n
Racing at St Anne\u2019s in Big Hill begins at 12.20pm with the four-kilometre for under-14 boys and girls, whole athletes in the other four-kilometre events take to the course at 12.40pm.<\/p>\n
The day includes a family run\/walk of three kilometres from 1pm and action in the eight-kilometre events goes from 1.40pm.<\/p>\n
Away from the cross-country course, St Anne\u2019s will have a fully licensed bar in The Big Shed, food available by St Anne\u2019s and Big Red Food Van, music by Harlequin, as well as complimentary wine tasting.<\/p>\n
The cellar door will also be open.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HUNDREDS of athletes will race around the St Anne\u2019s Winery layout in this Saturday\u2019s second round of Athletics Victoria\u2019s cross-country series. It\u2019s the first time in more than 20 years that AV will run a state event in Bendigo and marks a return to the nearby Belvoir Park Golf Club where the national cross-country championships […]<\/p>\n