The courses at Brown[ridge]’s Reef today presented different challenges from those at Korong last week. The fifty-eight competitors were treated to some fast spur-gully terrain, but had to keep their minds switched on to deal with the route choice and some tricky legs. Clare Brownridge set the courses from Melbourne, and left the hard work of the event organisation to her father, Charles. Ben Goonan was the only person to take advantage of the free entry available to those arriving at the event by bike. Look out for the next time this is on offer.
Bryan Keely had a swift run on course 1 (7.5 km) to come in four minutes ahead of David Brownridge. There was a good contingent of out-of-towners, with Simon Rouse, Paul Liggins (making a rare appearance at a Bendigo event) and Ted van Geldermalsen taking the next places. Laurina Neumann and Leisha Maggs both had solid runs. Richard Goonan decided the course wasn’t difficult enough and covered the map with a blank piece of paper, leaving only small circles of map visible around the control circles.
On course 2 (5.8 km), young guns Louis Cameron and Lachlan Cherry finished in first and third, with Louis winning every split bar the first control. Steve Bird finished in second between the juniors, after taking a long track route to the south on the long leg. The long leg was shared between courses 1 and 2, and Louis took fifth place out of all competitors. It was good to see the Gavens/Shaw family making the trip to their first Bendigo event. Margi Freemantle was the quickest of the women, in front of Jenny Ball and Rebecca Shaw.
Tavish Eenjes and Andrew Cameron had clean runs to place first and second on course 3 (3.4 km), only 7 seconds apart. Phil Robertson recovered from a mistake on the second control to finish third. Serryn Eenjes blitzed the course to take out fourth place overall and be the first female. The results then took on a particular pattern, with Cameron-McMillan-Cameron-McMillan-Cameron filling the next places.
Solomon Cameron raced around course 4 (3.3 km) for the win, while Fergus Selkirk-Bell beat his father by almost five minutes for second place. Caitlyn Steer and Rick McDonald weren’t far behind Cameron Bell. Newcomer Nick Otten enjoyed his first Bendigo event. The Claxtons were the only competitors on course 5 (2.5 km), with young Annie having a good run by herself.
Thanks to everyone who participated on the day or helped with the running of the event – either by manning the computers or collecting controls.
Results and splits are on our Results page Check how you are going in the overall standings. Best 10 of 19 scores to count
C(lare) Brownridge
