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25.01.2022 BAC committee would like to thank both members and members of the community for their patience and understanding whilst the clubrooms were closed during the covid-19 pandemic. Your cooperation was much appreciated. We are now pleased to announce the clubrooms are now back open. We value the health, safety and well-being of the Bendigo community so please adhere to the covid -19 safety measures and procedures that have now been put in place. For further clarification please do...n’t hesitate to reach out to our covid compliance officers Peter Hayes and Michael Preece who will be more than willing to guide you and answer any concerns you may have. Our next social run will take place on Sunday 22nd Nov at 10.30am at Tom Flood clubrooms followed by a mini working bee or cleaning bee - All welcome - BYO drinks and nibbles on the lawn post cleaning bee At this stage unfortunately the Flack Advisory Distance Series can’t resume due to the fact that we don’t race in individual lanes and therefore don’t remain 1.5m apart for the duration of the race so therefore its classed as a contact sport which currently does not comply with current restrictions. On a positive note Greg and Michael have developed a program for the Flack Advisory Distance Series and once restrictions are eased enough to allow the competition to resume we will be ready to Until then mask up and stay healthy and once again we thank you for your patience See more

25.01.2022 Bendigo Athletics Club rd 8 Results: Congratulations to BAC New comer Jay Major on a great Ru. Jay has been a regular runner throughout the season and well and truly deserves his spot up the top after this weeks run. Well done Jay :) 5000m Results: Jay Major 23.40... Aaron norton 20.22 Greg Hilson 20.46 Peter Hayes 30.39 Justine Graham 26.26 Kylie Stevenson: 28.46 Kelvin Niblett 21.24 This will be the last club virtual race . I would like to thank everyone who has participated in the season. It's great to see so many enthused with everything going on around us. Keep on running everyone :) Michael Preece ps i will be posting the club aggregate during the week

22.01.2022 Bendigo athletics club Round 5 virtual 4km handicaps: Tony Fahy 0 Rhonda Schultz: 4.00 Lynley Mcdonald: 4.00... Peter Hayes 6.40 Jen McArthur 8.25 Gab Sait 9.55 Ryan Shelton 10.30 Chloe Turner 10.40 Melinda Gilligan 10.50 Rod Stewart 11.10 Jay Major 11.10 Donna Todd 11.20 Scott Nelson 11.25 Kylie Stevenson 11.30 Justine Graham 11.30 Seb Rossi 12.40 Mark Perdon 13.10 Jessica Ballard 13.25 Dale Lowe 13.50 Peter Le Busque 14.15 Rick Ermel 14.25 Rhianna Wik Gamble 14.55 Ingrid woodward 15.10 Kelvin Niblett 15.20 Greg Hilson 15.25 Aaron Norton 15.30 Dan Ryan 16.20 Andrew Sait 16.20 Luke Mathews 16.35 Myk Baker 17.15 Josh Sait 18.50 Michael Preece 19.10 See more

20.01.2022 BAC legends week. Over next two week I will be honouring some legends of the club who achieved greatness to and of the track. Todays legend is Ricky Ermel: Rick started pro running back in the early 80s. It didn't take Rick too long to find success on the track, winning back to back Stawell 3200m in 84+85. Since then Rick has claimed many other victories on the Pro circuit. He has won an incredible 18 club championship and 2 club aggregates with the BAC and puts it down to h...ard training and listening to his body. In Rick's later years as a runner he has helped guide and support up and coming runners and given them tips that were handed down to him from his long time coach John Burke. Thanks rick for your dedication to the club and the sport. If anyone else would like to nominate a legend send it through to admin Michael Preece.

20.01.2022 BAC RD 7 2.5kmbResults: Congratulations to BAC photographer Abby Person on this week's win. Well done Abby great running :). Abby Person: 13.25 Ingrid Woodward: 9.11... Rick Ermel: 10.27 Kelvin Niblett: 9.44 Aaron Norton: 9.42 Michael Preece: 7.50 Greg Hilson: 10.07 Peter Let Busque: 10:51 Justine Graham: 12.13 Kylie Stevenson: 12.52 Peter Hayes: 14.21 Ryan Shelton: 14.35 information on the next race to come. Michael Preece :)

19.01.2022 Attention all club members!!! I'm after numbers on people who would like a club hoodie? The club is at the moment finalising the design. It will cost $50. Please send Michael Preece a message or comment below if you want one :)

18.01.2022 Ingrid 17.17 for 4km on O’Keefe rail trail - nice change going up hill!

18.01.2022 Two incredible runs

14.01.2022 Rd 7 of the BAC Virtual Run will be a 2.5km sealed handicap and a 10km fun run for those who want to challenge themselves with a longer run. Once again you have all weekend to complete your run. Good luck :)

13.01.2022 Friendly reminder: 22/11 - Social Run - 10.30am followed by working bee @ clubrooms - All welcome - BYO drinks and nibbles - new fridge safely delivered by Mark F and with a helping hand from Mark Pit is now waiting to keep your beverages cold 29/11 - Xmas lunch - 12.30pm @ Rising Sun Hotel - All welcome - please rsvp to this post or pm Kane/Kerry or Justine

12.01.2022 BAC committee would once again like to thank athletes and members of community for your patience during the Covid-19 restrictions. We take your health seriously and have followed government guidelines. As of 11.59pm last night the government lifted the restrictions on Adult Contact Sport, so the great news is we will have an update very soon on the BAC Flack Advisory Distance Series returning ...stay tuned ...

12.01.2022 Rd 8 of the BAC Virtual runs will be a 5km. Good luck all runners. Once again you have all weekend to complete your runs :)

12.01.2022 Today’s Club Legend is Neil Macdonald. Neil Started his running career in 1955 at the age of 12 competing for the Bendigo Harriers in the under 15 juniors on a Saturday morning (At that stage Little Athletics had not been invented yet). Neil was coached by his older brother Murdock who had had great success in professional running. Neil Ran for the harriers in the amateur comp for five years before turning Professional in 1961, winning his first Pro race in the mile race at t...he Bendigo 1000 in 1961. Between 1961-1999 Neil had a combined total of 35 professional wins, including 5 wins at the famous bay Sheffield race in South Australia as well as a win over the mile at the World Famous Stawell Gift. Neil Began running with the Bendigo Athletics Club in its infant years in the early 1970s. In 1977 Neil took on the role as club president helping build the club and putting pro running on the map in central Victoria. Neil handed over the presidency in 1980. One of Neil’s notable accomplishments with the club was winning the 1998 club aggregate. During the 90’s and throughout the early 2000s Neil represented Australia in a number of world masters athletic championship around the world. In 1993 Neil broke the indoor world record for over 50 years 800meters smashing the previous record by 4 seconds at Boston USA running a time of 2.04.11. Unfortunately Neil was beaten by 11/100ths of a second by USA athlete Ken Sparks giving him the record at the time. In 2001 Neil won the 800m World Masters Athletics Championships outdoors at Brisbane in a time of 2.12 at the age of 56. In 2006 Neil won the 800/1500 double at world Masters Athletics indoors Championships in Linz Austria. To go along with Neil’s magnificent master career he also won 7 USA Championships over 800m/1500m indoors and outdoors. He dedicates all his masters success to his long-time friend and coach John Burke (John coached me from the early 80s until I retired. He Masterminded all my masters success. He was the best coach I ever had). Neil now works alongside John Burke in coaching up and coming athletes ( some who compete for the BAC) helping them strive to become the best person/athlete they can be. All Neil’s athletes speak highly the man he is such a positive role model for us runner. His attitude is always positive. You can’t help but smile and laugh when you’re around him. Since retiring from running Neil has played a big part as the chair of the Bendigo Prostrate support group having fought and conquered the terrible disease. I encourage all middle aged males to get checked. Early detection is the key. Neil is also chair of Bendigo’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch which raises money for Prostate cancer research and awareness. Over the ten years the lunch has been running over $700,000 has been fund raised. On behalf of the Bendigo athletics club Thanks Neil for what you’ve done for the club, the sport and our community.

11.01.2022 Today’s legend is Brady Threlfall. Brady didn’t have a whole heap to do with the athletics club but the accomplishments he has achieved as a professional athlete and his association with John Burke over the years make him worthy of a nomination. Brady is an athlete who many admire, look up to and aspire to be. He has achieved great results over the distances ranging from 800m- marathon and at the age of 32 is still eager to better some of his personal bests. Brady began runni...Continue reading

11.01.2022 If your free for a 5km charity fun run, walk or coffee please join us in supporting such a wonderful cause Righteous Pups Australia Thanks to A.L. Parker Electrical for being the sponsor. Everyone welcome. To register for the event just click on the link; https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=600968&

11.01.2022 Todays Club Legend is Peter LeBusque. Pete first caught the running bug when he was 10, chasing the big grade 6 kids on a cross country run for footy training. Pete started doing regular training runs after that. Just a few kilometres in the bush after school. Pete Began competitive running when he was 20. His first race being the 1979 18 km Super run from the Melbourne Cricket Ground to Flemington Race track. In his second race a month later he ran the Big M Melbourne Marat...hon. 30 degrees and 24 kms longer than he had ever run. In Pete’s words It didn't end well but I did finish in 4.09. Pete joined Old Paradians athletics club the following year and started training properly. He ran approximately 30,000 kms over the next 5 years (115km a week). With Personal bests of 2.06 for 800m.16.02 for 5km. 33.09 for 10km. 68.04 for 20km during those years. In 1984 Pete competed in his first mountain race the Bright Alpine Climb. He finished 3rd in the overall standings after the 4 days of racing. That was enough to get Pete hooked on mountain running. He competed in a further 34 times in the alpine climb. Pete’s best result came in the 1987 Bogong to Hotham race, 63 kilometres across the mountains Where he won the race in a time of 7 hours 57 mins. To this day Pete still enjoys going on his mountain runs alongside his crazy and long-time buddies Greg Mandile and Gary Taylor. In the 90s Pete joined the Victorian Cross country League (VCCL) and raced regularly, often mixing it with the Bendigo Runners as well. He picked up a few wins along the way with his best result being the George Perdon 10 miler at Princes Park (16.1km). In 2004 Pete left the city and moved to Heathcote. That was where he joined the BAC and alongside his son Joel. Since then Pete have has had quite a few win with his last win being at Mandurang a few seasons back. Pete’s most exciting win was not one of his wins but when his son Joel won the iconic Eaglehawk to Bendigo 11 years ago. Pete was more excited about that one than any of his own wins. My faster days are behind me but I still love racing and enjoy the pre and post-race banter and camaraderie that the Bendigo athletics club bring. Thanks Pete for sharing your story with us and thanks for what you’ve brought to the club. Michael Preece

11.01.2022 Today’s BAC Legend is John Burke. John is one of the founding members of the of the Bendigo athletics club which began back in 1974. John began his running career in the 1950s making the decision to run as a professional over amateur. He won the Maryborough mile in 1959 at the young age of 21. In 1978 John became the first club member to be awarded life membership. John also has a BAC race named after him. Some may say John’s best work was done after his running career when... he transitioned from athlete to coach. John coached many athletes over distances ranging from 100m to the marathons. Many of them have gone on to represent Victoria at national competitions, win races at Stawell/Professional circuit and even represent Australia at an elite level. Week in week out you see John rock up the Tom flood sports centre on a Tuesday and Thursday ready to train his athletes. He treats every individual athlete the same whether they’re the fastest or the slowest athlete. His aim is to see each athlete he coached reach their full potential and enjoy the sport. John has always had the attitude of not overloading his athletes, instead slowly nurturing the athlete so they don’t burn out and get sick of the sport at a young age. John is always happy to give advice to help individual athletes reach their full potential. To top off all of Johns wonderful achievements. On Australia day 2014 John was awarded an order of Australia medal for the work he has done as coach and as a founding member of the Bendigo athletics club. See more

10.01.2022 Today’s legend is long time member and sponsor George flack. George Joined the Bendigo athletics club in its infant era in 1976. George was coached Fellow BAC life member John Burke for the entirety of his running career and owes a lot of his success on the Track to Burkey’s training guidance. In 1979 Flack tasted success with during the BAC winter season winning the 6.5km race at one tree hill and a very tough 8km at Mandurang. In 1980 George had his most successful seas...on with the Victorian athletics league winning 4 races in the one season (3 in the space of 8 days). George won the Avoca novice mile earlier on in that season before taking out the Bendigo restricted mile and the Bendigo 3200m on the Labour Day weekend, a week after that George backed it up with a win at the Burramine mile. In 1990 George was part of the Bendigo team that claimed victory in the Otway classic. The Otway classic was a relay event that consisted of 7 runners in each team running over the queen’s birthday weekend finishing on Monday in the main streets of Lorne. In 1991 George had his most consistent season with Bendigo athletics club winning the club aggregate. George received a flights voucher as his award and used it on a holiday to Perth. In 1993 George was elected vice president a role that he would carry on till the end of the 1997 season. During that time George won back to back best clubman awards in 1995 and 96 for the ongoing work he did to promote the club and help financially to keep the club afloat. At the end of the 1997 winter season George was elected as new Club President, a role that he held till the end of the 2002 season. During that time George was awarded with club Life membership and also got the club honour board named after him (displayed in the BAC clubrooms). During the early 2000s George transitioned into Veterans competition where he claimed victory in the Meadowglen veteran’s mile in 2006. In that same year George won the Murchison 10km club race which back then was considered one of the clubs biggest race of the season. During Georges amazing running career he has also been one of if not the most dedicated sponsor the clubs has ever had sponsoring The BAC veteran’s award for the past 44 years and a number of years as the club aggregate sponsor. George also the local favourite Eaglehawk to Bendigo race over 6.4km form 1980 till its final run in 2014. Other notable races that George has sponsored over the years are: - Richard kitt memorial (Labour Day weekend) - QEO race at the Bendigo football league grand final. - 1600m at the Stawell gift Thank you George for being a great servant for the club over so many years. The work you have done for the club does not go unnoticed and we solute you for all your work. Michael Preece See more

10.01.2022 Great morning for a social run followed by working bee The rain was welcomed, it made it pleasant to run without being steamy. Massive thanks to all those that could spare some time, many hands make light work. Your efforts were greatly appreciated. Friendly reminder Wednesday 25th Nov Committee meeting @ 7.30pm Xmas Lunch Sunday 29th Nov @ 12.30pm @ The Rising Sun ... All welcome - please rsvp to Kane/Kerry or Justine See more

09.01.2022 BAC Round 6: 5km results: A big congratulations to Club legend/life member Peter Hayes on taking home a hard fought win. A special mention to newcomer Jay Major on his improvement narrowly missing out on the win. Great run :) Peter Hayes 30.15 Jay Major: 25.10... Ingrid Woodward 20.35 Aaron Norton: 20.38 Kelvin niblett: 21.10 Luke Mathews 19.40 Scott Nelson: 26.34 Lynley Mcdonald: 31.06 Justine Graham: 26.05 Greg Hilson: 21.55 Donna Todd 27.23 Kylie Stevenson 27.50 Rick Ermel: 25.10 Mark perdon: 27.15 Ryan Shelton: 32.00 Enjoy next weekend off everyone. I will be sending out a voting poll for our next race :). p.s I wont be putting the aggregate up until the end of the virtual season :). Michael Preece

08.01.2022 Hungry or need a coffee? Highly recommend you check out BOPS

07.01.2022 In these uncertain times it’s great to see you remain so motivated and positive Michael

07.01.2022 Does this weather make you hungry? If it does why not grab a scrumptious pie for tea from Bendigo Original Pie Shop/ BOPS catering as a way of thanking Bendigo Original Pie Shop for kindly being a sponsor of BAC

07.01.2022 How can someone be that fast

05.01.2022 Looking for an alternative to cooking tea? Highly recommend Bendigo Original Pie Shop/ BOPS catering

03.01.2022 BAC round 5. Virtual 4km Results: Congratulations to newcomer Lynley Mcdonald on a huge win the 4km on the weekend. A huge improvement this weekend :) well done Lynley. 1: Lynley Mcdonald 24.54 2: Peter hayes 23.59... 3: Abby Perdon 23.51 4: Kelvin Niblett 16.20 5: Aaron Norton: 16.12 6: Scott Nelson:21.35 7:Ryan Shelton 21.33 8: Michael Preece: 12.57 9:Justine Graham: 20.42 10: Jay Major 21.13 11: Ingrid Woodward 17.17 12: Andrew Sait 16.09 13: Rick Ermel 18.14 14: Greg Hilson 17.37 15: Luke Mathews 16.35 16: Kylie Stevenson: 22.12 17 Donna Todd 23.24 18: Seb Rossi 22.13 Next weeks race will be a 5km race. Keep up the amazing running everyone :) stay motivated :)

02.01.2022 BAC Round 6 Virtual 5km handicaps: Tony Fahy: 0 40.00 Peter Hayes 6.30 Lynley mcdonald 9.00... Melinda Gilligan 9.00 Abby Perdon: 9.00 Jen McArthur 10.00 Gab Sait 11.40 Ryan Shelton 12.20 Jay Major 12.30 Chloe Turner 13.00 Scott Nelson 13.30 Kylie Stevenson 14.00 Donna Todd 14.00 Justine Graham 14.30 Mark Perdon 16.00 Jessica Ballard 16.00 Seb Rossi 16.30 Dale Lowe 17.00 Rick Ermel 17.00 Peter Le Busque 17.20 Rhianna Wik Gamble 18.30 Ingrid Woodward 18.30 Kelvin Nibblett: 18.40 Aaron Norton 18.50 Greg Hilson 19.00 Dan Ryan 19.35 Andrew Sait 20.00 Luke Mathews 20.15 Myk Baker 21.00 Jake Hilson 22.00 Josh Sait 22.45 16.45 Good luck all runners :)

01.01.2022 Rifle Range Ratte 5 km for Ingrid today