Mccready king

It did not surprise anyone that taekwondo black-belter, sheep shearer and musical comedy performer Ian Mccready won the Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club’s King of the Hill race at Ararat on Sunday after a somewhat unorthodox preparation.

It’s well known to club-mates that the popular clubman is ‘different’.

“I’ve had no time to train,” the fifty-one-yearold part-time runner admitted after winning the three-kilometre slog up Ararat’s One Tree Hill for the second time in the past three years.

“The only running I’ve done since last week was catching rams out in the paddock. I’ve been busy on the farm.

“I’ve got a minor part in Ararat Musical Comedy Society’s production of ‘Curtains’. I’ve been building sets and rehearsing.

“As a matter of fact,” Mccready said after receiving the winner’s sash from race sponsor Steve Baird, “I’m off to perform at a Curtains matinee right now.”

First to the top of ‘heartbreak’ hill in what has become almost an annual ritual was Simon Gallagher, who is also a six-time winner of the race on handicap.

But this time, once times were adjusted, Mccready enjoyed a 0.40 minute advantage over Gallagher with 563-start veteran, Adrian van Raaphorst, always as tough as teak on hills, squeezing into third place ahead of Andrew Reynolds.

Mccready lamented the fact that his winning time, a creditable 19.19 minutes, was significantly slower than the 18.08 he clocked in 2016.

“That’s what happens when you cannot train as you might like,” he said.

“But I’ve never been one for thinking about winning. I’m just happy to cross the line knowing that I’ve had a good run.”

The club travels to Concongella on Sunday for the Garry and Rhonda Rice 6.5-kilometre handicap, which is a unique experience, twisting and turning through the vineyards. Fun runners are welcome.