The veteran missed out on running the event last year after confusing the dates of the race.

The winery race brings together the Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club and the Stawell Amateur Athletic Club and each club take turns in hosting the race on the club’s preferred days.

“I’m so used to running on Sundays that I got confused last year, completely forgetting that the Amateurs race on Saturday,” he said.

“Best’s was the only race I missed last year and if I had have run, the timing would have been perfect because I’d have won today at my 550th run with the club.”

He was able to claim his second win of the season after a confidence boost due to a couple of pre-race scratchings, including that of Ian McCready.

The runner was able to push aside a sore back he complained of during the week to edge out seventy-five year old Gary Saunders eight seconds.

In a race dominated by veterans, 66-year-old Keith Lofthouse was 0.14 minutes back in third place.

In the Amateurs race, Jess Cass continued her steady improvement to win for the second time this season and deny Mark Whyte his first.

Cass, who enjoys the challenges of endurance racing, will join the 70,000 runners who are expected to line-up for Sydney’s iconic City to Surf race in August.

And in September, Cass will be hugging Victoria’s coastline with club mates Nathaniel Warren, Kayleen Urquhart and Matilda Iglesias who will each take on a 25 kilometre leg in the 100 km ultra-marathon that starts in Anglesea and takes in the sights of the Great Ocean Road.

In the Sub-Juniors race over one kilometre, Chloe Hunter prevailed over Kayla Membrey and sister Olivia.

The clubs go their separate ways this weekend with the Stawell Amateurs at Concongella Vineyards on Saturday and the Ararat Club at Stawell on Sunday, with fun runners welcome.