After 23 years in the wilderness the Mt Arthur Challenge made a spectacular return on Sunday and organisers said the race by foot and bike over the hills of the reserve was a shining success, bringing in more than 250 entrants.
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The youngest of them all was five-year-old Cameron Ross from Orange who took part in the 5km run, while the oldest competitor was a 72 year-old member of the Orange Runners Club who took on the 9km run.
Bathurst local Wes Gibson was crowned king of the mountain in the 9km run, the Wedgetail Challenge, with a time of 39 minutes and 27 seconds.
He takes part in 20-30 races a year and is more used to marathons, but enjoyed the challenge of the Wellington track immensely and now he is hoping to come back and defend his title.
"Hopefully it gets more people. It's important and good for the community, it gets mums, dads and kids running. It's good to know you've pushed yourself."
The first female to finish the Wedgetail Challenge was Dubbo's Emma Packer who ran a time of 45 minutes and 53 seconds.
Kellsey Melhuish of Hard Nox Gym, the main sponsor of the event, managed to take out second place in the women's section of the 5km run. She said it was great to see so many people out embracing the cold start, and she put her win down to extra work on the treadmill as well as practising the track along Brennan's Way in the weeks leading up to the event.
Results are as follows:
50km Limestone Ride
Male all ages: Toby Martin on 01 hour, 48 minutes and 30seconds
Female all ages: Heather Ticehurst 01.48.34
Iron Duke Challenge 110km ride
Male all ages: Adam Mitchell on 3.08.05
Female all ages: Laurelea Moss
Wallaby 5km Run
Male all ages: Scott Duffy, 00.20.09
Female all ages: Lucy Holland, 00.28.25
Wedgetail Challenge 9km
King of the Mountain: Wes Gibson, 00.39.27
Queen of the Mountain: Emma Packer, 00.45.53
Female Junior Challenge: Maggie Smith, 01.01.08
Male Junior Champion: Isaac George, 01.01.39
Female Veteran Champion: Sally-Anne Clunes, 00.51.58
Male Veteran Champion: Scott Stevenson, 00.45.48
