The Dubbo Stampede has crowned it's Rhino Ramble champion for 2019, with last year's winner Alexander Matthews turning in an incredible repeat performance and securing the coveted first placing.
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Matthews, an emergency unit doctor from Sydney, beat the record he set as last year's winner by nearly a full minute, coming in two hours, twenty nine minutes and thirty one seconds after setting off from the starting point.
"I think I broke a record last year at 2:30 and set a new one, so with 2:29, obviously, this year was a little bit quicker, maybe each year I'll try and take a minute or so off, if that's the way it goes."
The win is worth an $800 cheque for the first place finish, and a further $200 bonus for breaking the previous year's record.
Matthews was followed by brothers Gerald (final time 02:36:49) and Keith (final time 02:38:06) Macpherson, who took second and third place respectively after a hard fought final stretch.
The result was an impressive one, especially given Matthews had only arrived in Dubbo for work and had only decided to compete after his schedule lined up.
"Yeah, it feels very good to win," Matthews said.
"I came up for the weekend and did a few day's work at the hospital, and decided to do the race as well, and it's all turned out well."
"I don't really have a coach or anything like that, I just run in between work and family and stuff, luckily I had the day off today, so, that worked out."
Much more pleasant and even conditions met Matthews in Dubbo this year, after the race had been lashed with rain and bad weather at last year's event, and were very welcome.
"It was great, slightly less wet underfoot, it was very dry today, which helped make it quicker, but it was beautiful conditions, no winds and cool weather, so it was great to have a good hit-out in the weather today."
After the time was recorded, Matthews was met by congratulations, and even a few other runners inspired by his abilities who asked him to pose for photos and Matthews is someone who knows how the sport has been growing in the region.
"I think I did the first Dubbo Marathon in 2014 and I think it's grown a lot in that amount of time, there's a lot more runners, I think the numbers have grown each and every year, this year they had the Marathon maxed out with a hundred competitors, which is really good to see," Matthews said.
"Dubbo put on such a good race, so they definitely deserve the thanks," Mathews said.
"It's great to see all the volunteers and sponsors that allow the race to be put on each year and it's great to have the ability to let them fund raise and put that money back into the community."
