Hanny Allston dominated the elite prologue at the Australian 3-Days, whilst Dave Shepherd scored a narrow win over Grant Bluett to take a 7-second lead into Saturday.

Allston was a commanding winner, having 1.37 in hand on the 3km course on the fringes of Bendigo. She was already 40 seconds up by the fourth control, and never looked like being challenged thereafter. Anna Quayle, 2005 Australian sprint champion, was next in line, with Grace Elson completing the placings. Jo Allison, along with Allston the favourite for the overall title, is in fourth place and still in touch.

Shepherd and Bluett fought out a close contest. Bluett was narrowly in front for much of the way, but his lead was rarely more than 15 seconds. Shepherd did not finally hit the front until the final section of the course in the California Gully school grounds, and was a little too fast for Bluett in the closing stages. Kerrin Rattray was in third place a further 24 seconds behind.

Clare Brownridge took advantage of her Bendigo upbringing to have a slightly unexpected win in W20, ahead of Kellie Whitfield, whilst Simon Uppill was almost as commanding in M20 as Allston had been in W21, and had a time fast enough to place sixth in the seniors as well.

It was also a good day for the Canberra Cockatoos as they wrested the National League lead away from the NSW Stingers. Tasmania remain in third, but will be tested over the next three days as most of their better men are running juniors.

Results from prologue (Winsplits)