Two previous champions of the Red Cross Herald Sun Murray Marathon have stamped their authority on the race for the Margaret Baker trophy for handicap honours.

Tom Simmat, 57, (total time 11:14:21) from Sydney, won the handicap event in 2003. Willy Morris, 53, (total time 11:17:12) from Beveridge (VIC) last won the event more than a decade ago. Simmat currently holds a lead of less than three minutes over Morris who was a clear leader after day one of the endurance event.

Judy Clark, 47, (11:35:31) of Echuca who is competing in her 19th Murray Marathon, steamed past Queensland’s Erin O’Keefe, 22, to become the leading woman in the race on day two.

Meanwhile Camberwell Grammar is dominating the schools’ competitions with their teams holding first place in the Open School Relay (13:13:09) and the Under-16’s School Relay (14:12:16).

Day two also saw the continued domination of Simon Stenhouse in taking line honours with the defending champion claiming his seventh consecutive yellow shirt (he claimed all five in 2004). The Canberran seems on track to meet his goal of an historic 10 consecutive line honours.

On a different note, Ray Harkness, 55, of North Essendon is placed third in the Recreational Kyak Men’s Half Marathon with his craft made of deconstructed Australia Post mail crates.

Day three will see paddlers make their way 78 kms downstream from Picnic Point to Echuca. The weather bureau is predicting more warm weather with the mercury set to top 40 degrees as the fleet makes its way to Swan Hill for the conclusion of the event on New Year’s Eve.