Athletics body strives to keep tradition running

THE Victorian Athletic League has already begun working toward the Bendigo Gift carnival being run in ’25 and beyond.

Increasing costs, competition for sponsorship and a new road cycling classic were among the reasons why the Bendigo International Madison committee has quashed next year’s carnival.

The BIM’s call comes after this year’s 50th anniversary.

Since it was run in 1972 the Bendigo Madison carnival incorporated cycling and athletics.

COVID-19 meant the carnival was not in ’21 and ’22 and then trackworks at the Tom Flood Sports Centre in ’23 also derailed the BIM.

Athletics which includes the Bendigo Thousand, first held in 1947 as the richest footrace in the world, was run by the VAL at the Flora Hill athletics complex, now Lar Birpa, in 2023.

A long-time competitor on the professional athletics circuit and now member of the VAL board, Craig Burnett said the athletics body would do it all could to ensure a carnival is run next March.

“We are trying to engage the City of Greater Bendigo and community groups to have athletics in Bendigo on the Labour Day holiday weekend next March,” Burnett said.

“It’s a big commitment by the VAL to ensure the tradition keeps going.

“There is so much history attached to the Bendigo Thousand and the many other races that have been run for decades.

“It’s incredibly sad the Bendigo International Madison will not happen, but we want to ensure athletics is still on in same way.”

Burnett said the Tom Flood Sports Centre is the preferred venue for the carnival.

“All of our racing is on grass tracks,” Burnett said of a calendar that includes Warrnambool, Maryborough, Rye, Wangaratta and Stawell.

There have been record entries at some of this season’s VAL meets which cater for athletes from 14-years and above.