Athletes chase win on home turf

THERE are plenty of Bendigo contenders across the athletics card at this weekend’s running of the fiftieth Bendigo International Madison carnival.

Two big days and nights of athletics and cycling at the Tom Flood Sports Centre in Barnard Street starts at 1pm on Saturday.

Day one includes 70, 800, 120-metre dashes for under-14, masters, under-18 boys, under-18 girls.

There will also be the heats of the City of Greater Bendigo-backed Bendigo Thousand over 120 metres and the women’s Gift, along with the Bendigo Scaffolding Black Opal 400 metres and City of Greater Bendigo Black Pearl women’s race of 400 metres.

Sunday’s action starts at 2pm and includes under-18 400 metres, masters 300 metres, the Gift semis, masters 300 and 800-metre final.

From 6.05pm there will be the women’s Gift final at 6.05pm, and Bendigo Thousand at 6.10pm.

There’s plenty of Bendigo chances in the Red Lion Advisory open 1600 metres at 6.25pm.

Among those in the race are young guns Harrison Boyd, Jake Hilson, Jayden Padgham, Lachlan Perdon and Logan Tickell, and experienced campaigners Nathan Crowley, Greg Hilson, Glenn McMillan, Phil Noden and Ingrid Woodward.

It’s been 21 years since Bendigo’s Glenn Stephens won the Bendigo Thousand over 120 metres and 16 since his Black Opal victory on home turf.

Stephens is still competing on the VAL circuit and will race the masters 120, masters 300, and 800 metres at this weekend’s meet.

Mitch Whitham is also in the open 1600-metre at a carnival where Bendigo athletes Neil Brennan, Kirrily and Lonain Burnett; Brett Gilligan, Kyle Hilson, Antony Langdon, Luke Matthews, Gordon Muir, Genevieve Nihill, Matthew Noden, Ben Powell and Sam Storer will compete at various distances.

The Black Pearl final is at 7.40pm on Sunday and Black Opal at 7.50pm.

Action then rolls on to the women’s madison and then men’s madison.

Tickets are available via the BIM website.