Crowe emerged victorious in Sunday’s Warrnambool Athletics Club Flaggy 5km charity run, edging out prolific race winner Ella Gill.

Crowe played down his achievement, attributing it to the handicap format.

“I’ve been running on and off for the past 30 years,” he said.

“I do more stuff on the bike because running is no good for the joints.”

The win added a new chapter to a friendly rivalry with Gill, which Crowe described as a subplot to the story.

“She beat me at the Surf ’T’ Surf by a minute, I beat her at the Noorat to Terang run, she beat me at the Mother’s Day Classic by about 10 metres and I beat her on Sunday. It’s two-all.”

He said the rivalry was by chance.

“It’s the old (saying) you don’t want to get beaten by anyone. She is a great runner and if I can keep up with her it’s not bad for someone my age.”

Crowe said his fitness regime involved cycling at 6am on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings.

“I tend to do the fund-raising runs,” he said.

“If it’s a good cause, I will generally get out there. It’s justification for hurting the body.”

Crowe, who completed the course in a handicapped time of 30.15 minutes, said the pace was hot. His race time was 18.10, 15 seconds ahead of Gill.

Clinton Hall covered the course in the fastest time, a blistering 15.59.

Warrnambool youngster Thomas Hynes, who has emerged as a rising star, had the second fastest time of 16.12. On handicap, he was 16th, one place behind Hall.

Warrnambool Athletic Club spokeswoman Tracey Kol said more than 70 runners took part in the third staging of the event, which raised more than $350 for south-west cancer care centre campaigners Peter’s Project. 

The 5km event is part of the club’s build-up to the Koroit to Warrnambool half-marathon, which is on June 16.

The club holds a 10km event this Sunday.