This Saturday promises to be a momentous occasion with athletes and supporters from near and far coming to the Macedon Ranges for the running of the Community Bank Lancefield Gift meeting, carrying a total of $28,100 in prize money.
The seven-member local organising committee headed by Gina Morgan is elated that the revived Lancefield Gift meeting — last held in the mid-1960s — has attracted 553 entries.
This is many more than the Victorian Athletic League initially anticipated when Saturday, November 16, was allocated.
Chris Dynon, vice-president of Lancefield Football Netball Club and organising committee member, said the support of so many runners was “really amazing”, and all involved were hoping weather conditions were favourable on Saturday.
Some entrants intend to compete in more than one event, and Dynon estimated there would be about 250 to 300 individual runners competing.
The two 400 metre ‘Gifts’ for male and female runners each carries stake money of $6000, more than any other Victorian meeting — including Stawell — this season.
The 120m sprints each carries $5000 in prize money.
Strong financial support from the Community Bank — Lancefield and Romsey — has been instrumental in the revival of what was once a major drawcard in Lancefield across generations.
Bank manager Angela Dickins and bank staff will be there on Saturday with a marquee, and there will be various refreshment and entertainment outlets in the picturesque Lancefield Park.
Initial heats of the various running events are anticipated to be starting around noon.
Overall there are 13 different races on the program.
These include a ‘Junior Gift’ for Under 18 runners, and an 800m Open and 1600m Open.
Finals of the two $5000 sprints are to take place around the 5.30pm mark.
The men’s $6000 Gift over 400 metres around the oval perimeter is scheduled under lights for 7.23pm, with the women’s $6000 Gift at 7.37pm.
The idea of reactivating the Lancefield Gift meeting after so many years came from Lancefield sporting enthusiast Chris Jolly.
After the VAL was “sounded out” the Lancefield Football Netball Club convened a meeting and the local organising committee was elected.
The $28,100 in prize money is far in excess of many other venues where professional running takes place in Victoria each year; the Essendon Gift meeting at the weekend carried less than $10,000 in stakes.
One runner keen to be competing at Lancefield is Bella Pasquali, a young Wangaratta sprinter who won the 2023 Women’s Stawell Gift, and represented Australian Under 20s in Peru.
She won the 70 metres sprint at Essendon at the weekend.
Stawell stars running
The 2024 Stawell Gift winner Jack Lacey and the next three placegetters — Jack Ireland, Endale Morrison and Maki Loukeris — as well as dynamic young Ryan Tarrant who won the 2023 Stawell Gift, are competing at the Lancefield Gift meeting tomorrow (Saturday).
They are among the top contenders in the $5000 Lancefield Watering Hole sprint.
There will also be plenty of top young women running — the first heat over 120 metres features Chloe Kinnisley and Commonwealth Games rep. Maddie Coates.
This weekend sees the annual Budburst wine festival in the Macedon Ranges as well, adding to the large number of visitors.
Morgan and Dynon both emphasised Saturday represents a great opportunity to show off Lancefield and its popular park to people from all over the state.
There promises to be a very welcoming atmosphere on Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults, with those aged under 14 free.
The original Lancefield Gift is believed to have been run in the late 1800s.
