The event comprises of a short 70-kilometre course and a long 100 kilometres course, both of which start in the small Central West town of Blayney and end at the top of the world famous Mount Panorama in Bathurst.

Out of more than 1000 competitors, Griffith featured highly, with Leanne Kennedy winning the women’s 35-49 category in a time of 2.12.40 hours.

The time also earned Kennedy the honour of being the fifth woman across the line overall, which was well complemented by an ex-Griffith rider Alison Perosin who finished 1.09 minutes behind Kennedy.

With heavy rain and strong cross winds, Jo Polkinghorne also battled onwards to collect fifth in a time of 2.29.07 hours.

Jen Blake, who finished seventh overall in the 35-49 women’s division, said Kennedy and Perosin did well to stay with the classy pack of riders, with down hill speeds reaching 70km/h.

“Lan (Kennedy) and Al (Perosin) were able to hang onto the front of the pack as it began to split up the hill, tucking themselves in behind the more experienced and professional riders to get themselves up over the hills,” Blake said.

“The pace soon picked up and the professional front female riders were able to accelerate and jump onto the back of the fast junior men’s bunch and scoot away.

“Al and Lan continued to work together as a team and keep up a strong cadence eventually collecting another rider to share the furious pace they had set and help propel them towards the finish in hot time.”

Blake said herself and Polkinghorne struggled to find a bunch which suited their race pace, but paid tribute to Polkinghorne’s ability to pick off individual riders to set herself up in the best position to make a push for the line.

That push had to come in the final one kilometre, where the riders rose a crippling 230 metres in elevation.

Griffith was also represented in the men’s 35-49 division with Nigel Kennedy battling back hard to finish seventh overall, after suffering a flat tire only 20

kilometres into the race.