Runners reign as train puffs out

By Tania Martin
OUT-OF-TOWNERS have again taken finish-line honours in the Puffing Billy Great Train Race.
Thousands of runners both young and old put their best foot forward on Sunday for the popular fun run.
The 13.2-kilometre race is still known as one of the biggest endurance tests of the marathon calendar.
Northcote’s Matthew Johnson took out the top prize in the men’s section, out-running Puffing Billy by more than 24 minutes.
Johnson crossed the line at Emerald Lake Park in an impressive 42 minutes and 44 seconds, a full minute faster than last year’s winner.
The iconic tourist train lost a bit of steam this year dropping a full ten minutes on last year’s time.
It crossed the line in 66 minutes and 46 seconds compared to 2008’s run of 55 minutes and 15 seconds.
Surrey Hills’ Hanny Allston was also a winner taking the female prize.
She crossed the line not far behind Johnson recording a good run of 47 minutes and 7 seconds.
Lloyd Morgan, 82, again proved that age was no barrier taking on the great train as the oldest competitor.