Sport
29 December, 2022
Big names on the Gift race card for the 2023 Maryborough Highland Gathering
After a two-year hiatus, the 2022 Maryborough Gift is set to return, with one of the biggest editions promised, given the bumper fields and big prize money on offer. For the first time in the race’s history, the Leech’s Mitsubishi & JM Leech...
After a two-year hiatus, the 2022 Maryborough Gift is set to return, with one of the biggest editions promised, given the bumper fields and big prize money on offer.
For the first time in the race’s history, the Leech’s Mitsubishi & JM Leech Jewellers Women’s Gift will be contested for a $10,000 cash prize, with the view to increasing it to equal the Max Martin Memorial Maryborough Highland Men’s Gift purse of $15,000 from 2024.
More than 80 runners are currently listed to take on their respective Gifts at Princes Park for the illustrious New Year’s Day event, which has been a constant on the calendar since 1891 — with the exception of the last two COVID-affected years.
However, Victorian Athletic League racecaller Oliver Wurm believes the absence of the Gift over the past two years could lead to a more exciting edition on Sunday.
“There are some pretty good entries in the men’s and women’s competition, and with the prize money boost there for the women’s, it’s got some quality female sprinters there. But it’s good to have it back on the calendar, and it certainly makes it big with the Highland Games as well. It’s one of the highlights of the Victorian Athletic League circuit,” he said.
Wurm is excited about the potential of both men’s and women’s Gifts to come right down to the wire, given the talent that is spread across the entry list.
“There’s one in particular, Anas Abu Ganaba, he is the backmarker, running off 0.5 metres, he has an impressive 100 metres personal best, running from peg to peg. He was scheduled to run in the Bay Sheffield recently, but he runs 10.28 for the 100 metres, which is pretty impressive,” he said.
“Luke Mitchell is another one, he is one of the front markers, but he’s building to a good race like this. He is trained by a gentleman named Nick Fiedler, who has a good squad.
“Nick Antonino is another one to watch, who has recently been a place-getter at the Geelong Gift and is a talented young sprinter. Chris Vi won the 200 metres at Essendon a few weeks ago and ran second in the 70 metres in the same event, and there is a talented young South Australian by the name of Corey Baker.
“They are a few of the athletes to watch, but it also depends on who performs strongly on the day.”
Wurm was impressed by the Maryborough Highland Society’s decision to boost the prizemoney in the women’s Gift, as it has reflected on the entries with some of the best talents around the country attracted to the event.
“It’s good to have the prizemoney boost, as it’s attracted the likes of Bree Masters, who runs from scratch. She ran in the 4 x 100 m in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, where they came fourth, so she will be interesting to see running as the backmarker,” he said.
“Another who will be interesting is Ellie Keratianos, who runs off six metres. She’s had a couple of podiums at Geelong and Waverley.
“There’s a youngster by the name of Bella Pasquali, who is from Wangaratta, who is a talented athlete. If she’s there, she is definitely one to watch.
“Akshaya Iyer runs off 10 metres, she is a placegetter at Waverley as well.
“If Olivia May runs, who is a Victorian based in Queensland, she has won the Bay Sheffield women’s 70 metres and the Stawell women’s 70 metres previously, so she is well handicapped.
“Danielle Shaw is another one to watch, she’s a very good junior hurdler and a previous Stawell Gift finalist.”
Weather is also set to play a significant factor in the day’s running, with a hot and humid day forecast for Sunday, with an expected top temperature of 35 degrees.
Wurm says that preparation and conservation will be key for runners who will be looking to join the history books as winners in the Maryborough Gift, given the conditions on offer.
“There are some of those days where there are a few runs, so it’s imperative that you look after yourself on a day like Sunday where it is forecast to be hot. You don’t want to have too much racing across the day, as by the time the finals come, you want to make sure you have a bit left in the tank to fire. You have to be on your game. Hopefully it’s not too hot and the athletes don’t get cooked on the day, but I would think the athletes would be well accustomed to it,” he said.
Wurm is excited about the upcoming event, saying that the Maryborough Gift is truly one of the great events of the calendar, and one that is certainly unique.
“It’s a very unique day with the Highland Games going on around it, and with the increase in prizemoney in the women’s competition, and the fact that it hasn’t been on the calendar for a couple of years, it should be a pretty big edition this time around,” he said.
Sunday’s proceedings will begin with the heats for the The Maryborough Advertiser Open 70 m Final at 10.00 am, with the final to be held at 10.59, while the men’s and women’s 400 m events will round out the day, with the day to be completed by 5.56 pm.
The main event, the Women’s Gift and Men’s Gift, will be held at 2.07 pm and 4.04 pm respectively.