Shar Balogh is undeniably one of the fastest female cross-country skiers in the city.
On Sunday she just about eclipsed the male speed demons in the 30-kilometre event at the Stride and Glide Sports Spirit of the Rivers Loppet.
Balogh, 34, stuck with the lead group of three men which included Barry Nakahara, Tom Skinner and Pat Turner for the entire race. Balogh, who won the Prince George Iceman women's title a month ago, grabbed the lead at the 28km mark but could not hold off Nakahara and Skinner, who passed her about 1.5km from the finish.
Nakahara, 59, captured the 30km event in 1:27.09.5, 12.4 seconds ahead of Skinner (1:27:21.96) and 19.07 seconds in front of Balogh (1:27:28.49). Sarah Champagne (1:27:34.9) and Terra Young (1:46:38.05) were second and third respectively behind Balogh in the open women's class.
Turner (1:27:34.9) was the third-fastest male 30km skier.
Thirteen-year-old Liam Connon, the youngest 30km skier, took 18 minutes off his time from last year when he finished in 1:43:50.01, the fifth-fastest male open time.
Course conditions at Otway Nordic Centre were fast in the early part of the race but softened considerably as the race progressed. Eighty-eight racers took part in the annual event, the final race of the season for the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club.
In the 15km event, Rob Vogt clocked 43:08.81 to win the men's race ahead of second-place Stefan Widmer (45:01.14) and third-place Ben Pelto (45:31.94).
In the women's 15km, Emily Osmond won in 52:49.96, ahead of Beanne Reinheimer (1:00:41.39) and Darcy Russell (1:03:44.09).
Other category winners and their times were: Natalie Hoehn, bunny on skis 2.5km, 19:28:03; Eric Paulsen, skier with bunny, 2.5km, 25:23.76; Cortney and Tessa Shier, skier with chariot, 11:28.21; Oskar Dewar, male 10-and-under 2.5km, 21:43:48; Hadley Maclachlan, female 10-and-under 2.5km, 13:41.94; Nicholas Veeken, male 13-and-under 7.5km, 25:42.79; Grace Turner, female 13-and-under 7.5km, 25:37.06; male recreational 7.5km, Andy Maclachlan, 25:42.79; female recreational 7.5km, Belinda Hanlon, 36:09.55; Damian Georgyev, 17-and-under male 15 km, 47:32:13; Mackenzie Connon, female 17-and-under 15km, 51:19.91; Roger Wheate, men's 15km classic, 1:31:42; Ann Godon, female open 15km classic, 1:41:41.59; Maja Jacob, female 40-59 30km, 1:42:43.20; and Bill Warner, male 60-plus, 30km, 50:59.21.
