YARRA Ranges Shire councillors did battle in Upwey last Saturday in the third annual Upwey Billy Cart Races.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff claimed victory in the councillors’ event, defeating Samantha Dunn in the final.
Cr Dunn easily accounted for competitors Monika Keane and Mayor Tim Heenan in the first heat of the council standoff.
The mayor blamed a flat tire and faulty breaks for the loss and spent the rest of the afternoon moaning the result.
“I was gutted,” he said.
The second heat featured Len Cox, Graham Warren and Noel Cliff.
There was some push and shove as the competitors set off.
“It’s the sort of tactics you’d expect from the men,” Cr Dunn said. Event organiser Mark Addison noted the race as a highlight of the event.
“It was good to see the councillors involved,” he said.
Mr Addison said this year’s event had 85 entrants, slightly down on last year.
Monbulk MP James Merlino flagged off the first race of the day
There were a few tumbles, a broken axle, and one competitor overshot the safety sandpit at the end of the track, but the day was injury and incident free.
The winners were presented with a trophy and a prize.
