| Stawell Gift |
Website Links For Stawell |
Information AboutStawell Gift |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT STAWELL GIFT | |
| athletics in australia | |
| short distance running | |
| 1878 establishments | |
|
HISTORY The first Stawell Gift was in 1878 , as a fun race between miners at the end of the Gold Rush . It has been raced every year since, except for four years during the Second World War . Originally it was the townspeople putting together an entertainment package to happen over Easter, complete with 'special trains' to the event. Today it is the most prestigious footrace in Australia , with a $35,000AUD first prize. The event is sponsored by Australia Post and the finals are televised live around Australia. FORMAT On the Easter Saturday there are 24 heats, with the winner of each heat going through to the semi finals, and the fastest runners making it to the final. The Gift is run on a grass track in front of the 100 year-old Stawell Grandstand, and the athletes run in lanes that are separated by lane ropes. The idea of the Handicap system is that all runners would thoeretically cross the line at the same time. The handicapper works out what mark or handicap the runner will have according to their previous performances in the sprint, currently the most a runner may be handicapped is 11 metres. The handicapping system usually ends up pitting local runners against international professionals. Gambling is allowed in the venue, and there is an extensive Bookmaker 's compound. RECORDS Only two people have ever won the race without any handicap, Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa in 1975 and Joshua Ross in 2005 . Only three sprinters have won the race more than once, Bill Howard (1966, 1967) Barry Foley (1970, 1972) and Joshua Ross (2003, 2005). Recent Winners of the Stawell Gift are:
EXTERNAL LINKS
REFERENCES
|
|
|