THE callout for the region\u2019s athletic elite will soon be answered with the return of the Ballarat Gift next weekend.<\/p>\n
Running on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February at City Oval, Ballarat Gift committee vice-president Daniel Martin said the event is being expanded with new additions.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the Ballarat Gift, there\u2019s a lot of changes this year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot more food and vans this year set up and we\u2019ve got a market this year which is really new with about 15 to 20 stalls over both days.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got some major raffles running too so it\u2019ll be great for people to get out and support it, and we\u2019ve made it free entry this year. People can just walk in and enjoy the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The athletics carnival will feature more than 20 running and sprinting events with more than $20,000 in prize money available to contestants.<\/p>\n
Martin said the Ballarat Gift\u2019s football and netball club component, introduced last year and open to members of the region\u2019s sporting teams, is also being expanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year we had a football relay but we really want to get the girls involved so for any men or women that play football or netball, we want to make this separate and grassroots,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe trialled it last year with three or four teams. I can\u2019t recall if there were any women then so the aim is to make this more inclusive and to highlight some of the skills out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hoping for 16 competitors so we could have two heaps of eight and then into a final. We\u2019ve got about eight of each so far but we\u2019ve only just started promoting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Entrants must be over 18 years old to compete in either the men\u2019s or women\u2019s 100 metre sprint with cash prizes including $1000 and $500 available for individual winners and their club respectively.<\/p>\n
Many of the events closed to applicants on Friday last week but Martin said the Ballarat Football and Netball Gift will remain open for entrants until Thursday 8 February.<\/p>\n
To enter, contact Mr Martin on 0428 892 716 or register at bit.ly\/3u9u7gv.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE callout for the region\u2019s athletic elite will soon be answered with the return of the Ballarat Gift next weekend. Running on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February at City Oval, Ballarat Gift committee vice-president Daniel Martin said the event is being expanded with new additions. \u201cFor the Ballarat Gift, there\u2019s a lot of changes […]<\/p>\n