Mark Raymond from Team Lake Mountain walloped the field in the opening race of the season at Falls Creek today. The 26 year old from Alexandra broke away after only 500m in the 10km Birkebeiner Classic and never looked back, going on to win by over a minute and a half. Second place went to Paul Murray (Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club), who had been widely tipped as the race favourite but struggled with poor grip and glide and just couldn't match Raymond's pace. Nick Grimmer (BNSC) was in third place for most of the race, but was knocked down to fourth on the last lap by former National Junior Team member James Rickard, who steadily climbed through the field after a slow start. The first woman in the 10km was Clare-Louise Brumley from Templestowe, who finished in 8th place overall, well clear from Falls Creek local Belinda Phillips.

"My race plan was to get the wax right and then try and lead the field for the first 2-3km", said Raymond after the race. "Then I found myself alone and feeling good so I kept going." Also a member of the Australian Biathlon Team, Raymond has relocated to Mt Beauty/Falls Creek for a month to train with other Australian XC Team members based at the National Team Training Centre for the winter. Brumley is another team member who has made the move to Mt Beauty/ Falls Creek (that is, living in Mt Beauty, training at Falls Creek) this winter

Despite heavy rain late this week there is still plenty of snow at Falls Creek and the cross country tracks are in very good shape. Full results from the Birkebeiner Classic are up in the 2005 Results section.

Courtesy XC News