Satchell, 22, was a member of the five minute second scratch bunch, which along with riders from third scratch, was able to take the race lead on the outskirts of Casterton and go on to provide the top four placegetters.

Of the original 73 nominations 67 riders faced the start line, dispatched in six groups, with the ten rider scratch bunch conceding a 27 minute start to the 12 rider limit bunch. Riders endured wet and windy conditions for the entire event.

The initial fast 16 kilometre run on the Dunrobin Road saw the 15 minute bunch as the most progressive, making significant inroads into the front group while putting time into the bunch behind. Scratch had made up a minute on second scratch at this point.

It was virtually a three bunch race when the riders turned at Digby. The limit group held a slender lead over the combined 15 and 20 minute bunches, with a five minute gap to the combined five and 10 minute bunches and a further three minutes back to the scratch group.

A seven rider lead group remained together after the final climb on the Sandford Hill, where Mount Gambier's Matthew Opperman took out the Fred Ick Memorial sprint.

With eight kilometres to go the seven rider lead group appeared to have the race under control, but the hard chasing Satchell bunch was not about to give up. With the town insight the race came together along the "drag strip" inside the final two kilometres.

The bunch finish on Casterton's Henty Street saw Todd Satchell sprint to a clear win ahead of co-marker Thomas Allford (Mildura-Coomealla), Mark Kelly (Horsham) and Jack Bell (Camperdown).

Next to finish and round out the top ten were Marcus Braszell (St Kilda), Nick Kennedy (Coburg), Robert Mann (Mount Gambier), Ashleigh Key (Ballarat Sebastopol), Lachlan Davidson (St Kilda) and George Vallins (Geelong).

Despite the classy line up on paper the scratch bunch never caught the winning group and Norwood champion cyclist Glenn O'Shea led in the backmarkers to claim fastest time honours in overall 19th place, finishing two minutes and 23 seconds behind the race winner.

Race presentations were conducted on the Casterton Town Hall steps at the conclusion of the race. The award presentations were conducted by the Wal Smith Cycling Foundation and assisted by Mrs Betty Collins, the sister of the late Wal Smith. Noel Sens, representing Sens Jewellers from Bendigo, presented the winner with the specially struck winner's medallion.

Race winner Todd Satchell had only competed in the Casterton 50 on two other occasions and both times off a tight mark. This year Satchell brought solid form into the race after he contested last week's tour of Adelaide, part of the National Road Series where he achieved three top 20 finishes in a field of 160 riders. Satchell's recent district results include fastest time in the 2013 T.J Goodall Memorial, winning the 2014 soldiers Memorial in Mount Gambier and a second placing in the 2014 Mount 100 open event.

Satchell attributed his success at the weekend to his coach Mark O'Brien who he has worked with since October last year. Satchell also said he couldn't have come home for the win without his teammates from the Anchor Point South Coast Cycling Team, particularly Hamilton rider Clive Silcock and his brother Allan Satchell. Silcock did a big turn to chase a break and bridge the gap, and his brother got him going from the pack to hit the lead for the finish.

Satchell was very pleased with his win at the weekend.

"The winner's medallion is awesome and added a special feel," Satchell said.

He will definitely be back next year for Wal's weekend of cycling and will be aiming to defend this year's win and again add his name to the impressive honour roll of champion cyclists.

Satchell is hoping to continue his good form for the remainder of the road season where he plans to ride in the national road series. Satchell is currently building up for the tour of the Murray and the tour of the South Coast, with hopes of joining the pro ranks in the future.