After an absence of about 60 years, the Lancefield Gift is well and truly back as a major athletics fixture in Victoria.
This was the overwhelming conclusion after the very successful Community Bank Lancefield Gift meeting was staged on Sunday.
The 1980 Stawell Gift winner John Dinan predicted that Lancefield could eventually become the second largest athletics meeting in the state, only behind Stawell.
“Just outstanding” was how Victorian Athletic League chief executive, Shane Wylie, summed up the day’s activities at Lancefield Park.
He labelled women’s $6000 Lancefield Gift winner Bella Pasquali, from Wangaratta, as “a future Olympian”.
Wylie said it was great to see Lancefield back attracting so many runners from Victoria and interstate.
From noon onwards to about 7.30pm, there was an almost continuous stream of heats, semi-finals and finals of races run over distances varying from 70 metres to 1600 metres.
Hundreds of runners participated.
The men’s and women’s Lancefield Gifts were the richest 400-metre events on the Victorian professional calendar.
There was $28,100 allocated in prize money, with the organising committee headed by Gina Morgan praising generous sponsors for their support.
Many events produced thrilling finishes, illustrating the handicapper had generally “got things right”.
Very windy conditions tested athletes, particularly in the distance races around the arena.
The straight sprints produced fast times with a variable tail wind aiding runners.
Lancefield Football Netball Club played a major role in reviving the Gift, and other sporting clubs in the town and the park committee had members helping in the lead-up, and on Sunday.
Angela Dickins, senior manager of the Community Bank at Lancefield and Romsey, emphasised that local people and businesses supporting the branches enabled the Bank to provide greater sponsorship to community organisations and deserving individuals.
The Community Bank had been very keen to get behind the Lancefield Gift as a major sponsor.
Channel Nine television provided a live segment from the meeting, and 87-year-old Gerald Walsh — winner of the 1964 Lancefield Gift — made a special trip to be there.
Chris Dynon, football club vice-president and organising committee member, said for a small town in the Macedon Ranges, Lancefield managed to stage plenty of drawcard events.
Like many, he also predicted the Lancefield Gift had a great future.
The history of the Lancefield Gift was documented in the official program by local historian, Fay Woodhouse.
“Most of all, today is about our mighty athletes. We’re so pleased that you have come back in such numbers.
Thanks for coming, and we wish you all the very best in the exciting season,” the organising committee stated.
The first final on Sunday was for runners aged under 14, with the winner being limit marker Alicia Crowley, from Bendigo.
From a family of runners, it was her first win, in a time of 14.4 seconds.
Her 15-year-old sister Sarah later won the final of the Vedure 120 metres for under 18 girls.
In a blanket finish, Cameron Moss won the $6000 men’s Lancefield Gift over 400 metres with limit marker Lachlan Milligan a brave second, with Chris Vi in third place.
Moss has been one of the most consistent long-time runners on the circuit and was applauded for finally breaking through in a Gift final.
Assumption College student Christian Pasquali, running from nine metres, won the final of the 70 metres Lectrix Open.
His older sister, Bella Pasquali, who has just completed studies, was the favourite from the back mark of eight metres in the women’s Lancefield Gift.
She has already represented Australia overseas, winning gold at the Under 20 world championships in Peru.
Versatile at many distances, Bella finished strongly over the 400 metres to beat Alex Tsilantonis, with Jessica Payne in third place.
Canberra runner Claire De Salis made her long trip worthwhile by winning the North Western Property Valuers $5000 women’s open sprint over 120 metres.
The Lost Watering Hole 120m $5000 men’s final was won by Newcastle runner Jasper Thomas, from Ash Koswattage and Dash Muir.
