A field of 50 people from all over Australia participated in fine autumn weather. Some very close finishes were produced in different age groups with the younger runners setting a very fast pace and leading the way.

First to finish was Matthew Fahey from Glencoe with last year’s winner, Byron Smith of Armidale in a close second. Matthew and Byron ran together until the steps below the Standing Stones when Matthew drew clear providing spectators with a fight to the finish.

Matthew’s fast finishing time of 10 minutes 46 seconds did not break the record but was one of the fastest times recorded for the event. Second place Smith finished in a time of 11.17 with John Schaab of Brisbane rounding out the top three in a time of 11.30.

Local runner Mitchell Cook finished first in his age category and fourth overall.

First in the female section was Krystal Cagney from Bundarra with four time winner Pauline Smith in second place. Krystal, entered in the 16 and under age group, finished in a time of 13.26 in nineth place overall.

Category winners were:

Boys 10 and Under

1st Nick Alley

2nd Ethan Bailey

3rd Zane Salmon

Girls 10 and Under

1st Genevieve Whitehead

2nd Cleo Abbott

3rd Lily Dulhunty

Boys 12 and Under

1st Mitchell Cook

2nd Michael Alley

3rd Liam Salmon

Girls 12 and Under

1st Mhairi Gorman

2nd Dominique Bryant

3rd Bridget Jones

Boys 14 and Under

1st Kieran Smith

Girls 14 and Under

1st Honey Abbott

Boys 16 and Under

1st Matthew Fahey

2nd Byron Smith

3rd Alex Kovacs

Girls 16 and Under

1st Krystal Cagney

Boys 18 and Under

1st Rhys Davidson

2nd Patrick Cooper

Ladies over 35

1st Annabel Dulhunty

2nd Anya Salmon

3rd Kylie Baker

Men over 40

1st Tony Wood

2nd Ian Smith

3rd Ross Haron

Ladies over 45

1st Margaret Walford

2nd Julie Martin

3rd Pam Foote

Men over 50

1st John Schaab

2nd Robert Guller

3rd Ron Woods

Ladies over 50

1st Pauline Smith

2nd Loretta Kelly

3rd Dorothy Higgins

Men over 60

1st Denis Haselwood

2nd Gordon Abbott

3rd Fred Turner