Inaugural Docklands Gift a huge success

By David Schout

The first ever Docklands Gift has been run and won, to acclaim from all involved in the excit- ing afternoon on March 20.

On a sunny, early autumn day, competitors and spectators from across the state converged on Ron Barassi Snr Park for an action-packed afternoon of racing.

Starting with events for children from the newly-opened Docklands Primary School, events of varying length and age group were held throughout the day at the picturesque park just below the Bolte Bridge.

Dion Paull took out the inaugural Men’s Gift, while Isabella Antonio went home with the Women’s crown.

One of the event’s organisers Robbie Spencer told Docklands News that things could not have gone much better.

“It was a great day. We were lucky to be sandwiched in between bad weather either side of the Saturday. It was perfect from sunrise to sunset,” he said.

“Everything went to plan and how we wanted it to. The competitors loved it and the ground came up a treat. We were slightly wor- ried that the ground might be a bit uneven but the groundskeeper from the City of Melbourne did a great job getting the ground ready for an athletics event.”

The first-time athletics event — delivered in partnership with the Victorian Athletics League (VAL), Docklands Primary School and the Docklands Sports Club — is the only in- ner-city Gift on the calendar.

Speaking of the Primary School, Mr Spencer said, “We almost got full attendance from the kids which was amazing given it was an option- al event. They all seemed to love it.”

Greens state MP for Melbourne Ellen Sandell was there to officially open the event, while City of Melbourne councillor and Docklands local Jamal Hakim signed off the day’s proceedings.

“Gift” is an historical term from the late 1800s for running events held in regional towns where the winner would traditionally receive a gift.

Mr Spencer said the event brought country charm to an inner-city environment.

“Usually, these races are in country Victoria, so some people were really grateful they could just drive down the road. They were really happy with a central-Melbourne Gift, and they know it’ll grow,” he said.

He said the positive feedback from the day, where those in attendance reported a positive, carnival type atmosphere, was “great to hear”.

Mr Spencer said the Docklands Gift would be back bigger and better in 2022.

Organisers hoped for higher prize money, greater local awareness of the event, races for vision-impaired athletes, and kid-friendly carnival-type activities that proved difficult to organise within COVID restrictions.

Docklands News is proud to support the Docklands Gift and thanks organisers for their contribution to the community.

Docklands Gift (March 20): Results

(*handicap next to runners)

Docklands Junior Gift Winner

Anthea 6m

Carter 31m

Oliver 14m

Dockland Primary School Gift

Blake 17m

Devonish 28m

Reuben 14m

100m Men’s Gift (Sponsors: Optus, MAB)

Dion Paull 9.00

Harrison Kerr 6.75

Dominic Mah 5.00 Time: 10.50

70m Open (Sponsor: Dual Heating)

Dion Paull 6.75

Mitchell Tucker 5.75

Taylah Perry 11.75 Time: 7.47

100m Women’s Gift (Sponsors: MAB, Moonee Ponds Plumbing)

Isabella Antonio 14.25

Taylor Perry 4.50

Ellie Keratianos 5.25 Time: 12.00

100m Masters 35+ (Sponsor: Damn Fit Strength and Conditioning)

Paul Tancredi 3.25

Mohamad Zeed 4.25

Daniel Martin 9.00 Time: 11.18

100m U18 Boys (Sponsor: Victorian Athletic League)

Liam Denner 19.25

Jack O’Farrell 24.00

Jack Ramsay 13.75 Time: 10.53

100m U18 Girls (Sponsor: Fast ’N Fearless Coaching)

Jacinta Mcfarlane 10.75

Jazmyn Cartledge 14.75

Halle Martin 7.25 Time: 12.32

300m Masters (Sponsor: Damn Fit Strength and Conditioning)

Carl McMeel 42.00

Rob Irwin 51.00

Katie Moore 44.00 Time: 38.01

400m Women’s (Sponsor: Barry Plant Docklands)

Megan Mcmahon 52.00

Danielle McDowell 58.00

Laura Mcdougall 43.00 Time: 57.55

400m Men’s (Sponsor: Docklands Sports Club)

Mitchell Palmer 34.00

Nick Howard 46.00

Cam Dunbar 36.00 Time: 49.86

1600m Frontmarkers (Sponsor: Harry’s Cabinets)

Paul Viney 265.00

Ingrid Woodward 340.00

Tony Moran 280.00 Time: 4:28.45

1600m Backmarkers (Sponsor: Victorian Cross Country League)

Alistair Strutt 100.00

Seamus Graham 100.00

Troy Atkins 195.00 Time: 4:26.04

800m Men’s (Sponsors: Financial Life Balance, The Osteopathic Clinic)

Liam Hanrahan 70.00

Neil Brennan 72.00

Ryan Antidormi 84.00 Time: 1:57.50

800m Women’s (Sponsor: ROOZE)

Emily Dalziel 120.00

Martine Beer 120.00

Alice Platten 102.00 Time: 2:13.90

1600m Restricted (Sponsor: Victorian Athletic League)

Nicholas Callanan 160.00

Hamish Dobie 140.00

Ingrid Woodward 310.00 Time: 4:37.00