Gift marks Bendigo’s links to gold

GOLD nuggets will be among the loot for 400m winners at the Bendigo Gift athletics carnival to be run on the Labour Day holiday weekend in March.

The Victorian Athletics League will team up with City of Greater Bendigo to keep the Gift tradition rolling on March 8 at Tom Flood Sports Centre.

First run as the Bendigo Thousand in 1947 the Gift,run across 120 metres, became part of the Bendigo International Madison athletics/cycling carnival in 1972.

Rising costs and several other factors led the Bendigo International Madison committee to ditch plans to run what would have been the 51st carnival this March.

VAL board member and Athletics Bendigo president Craig Burnett said keeping the Bendigo Gift going was crucial for the sport.

“The Victorian Athletics League was determined to keep the Bendigo Gift on the race calendar.

“It’s more than just the history of an event that began more than 75 years ago.

“The Bendigo Gift plays an important part in the build-up to the Stawell Gift at Easter.

Burnett said there was plenty of enthusiasm, especially from younger athletes about gold nuggets being among the prize pool for the men’s, women’s and under-18 400m finals at the Bendigo Gift.

“The collective value of the nuggets is about $3500,” Burnett said.

Among those chasing victory will be Harrison Kerr who won the open 400m at the BIM in 2017 and last year and reigning women’s champion Declyn Tanner.

Sponsorship packages are available. Contact the VAL at [email protected]