Gary Saunders, whose long flowing grey beard is emblematic of the Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club’s most enduring runners, broke a three year drought to easily win the five kilometre Clem Hall Memorial at Deep Lead last Sunday.
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The sprightly 76-year-old had raced 55 times, most times not finishing in the top 10 since winning the Seppelts eight kilometre event at Great Western in 2015.
He’d been struggling for form, fitness and motivation for more than three seasons but finally in a race that he had won three times before since 1997, the planets aligned with some favourable handicapping and the veteran of 424 club runs trundled to a 1.15 minute win over New York marathon-bound club-mates, Sue Blizzard and Shevahn Healy.
“I’m always more competitive this time of the year with some match fitness under my belt,” Saunders said, who was having his 15th start for the Ararat club this year having already completed a full season with the Stawell Amateur Athletic Club.
“When you know you are close to a win, you start to think about a plan of action and my aim today was to stay focused and be far enough in front not to have to sprint at the end.”
Saunders, who was in contention to win at Warrak last month before a heavy fall with a kilometre to run, wears the scars of battle from many a tumble, but managed to stay upright this time.
“My problem is I don’t pick my feet up enough and that might be down to fatigue, but hopefully I’ll solve that problem with a longer pre-season and improved fitness next year.”
The cross country season ends on Sunday with the five kilometre President’s Handicap on a user-friendly course at Ararat. The event is free to all fun runners.