A REVIVED Warrnambool Gift will form part of a double-header of athletics action next weekend.
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The Warrnambool Gift will be held on Saturday, November 30 for the first time since 2000 with the annual Terang Gift scheduled for the following day.
More than 400 entries have been received for both events and Victorian Athletics League director Brian Marantelli said the numbers were “very encouraging”.
“Having a double-header weekend in the same district has attracted strong interest in both events,” he told The Standard.
“It’s very encouraging, especially for the Warrnambool event which will be held for the first time in 13 years.
“To have such strong entries for that is fantastic and it obviously has a flow-on effect for Terang on the Sunday.”
He said many of the competitors registered for the Warrnambool Gift would also race in Terang, meaning there would be economic benefits for the region.
A $500 bonus is also on offer for an athlete who can win a race at both Terang and Warrnambool. If no athlete wins at both, the bonus will jackpot to next season.
“A lot of the entrants will be using these events as an opportunity to get some runs in early in the season ahead of the major gifts over the Christmas period in Adelaide, Maryborough and Burnie (Tasmania),” he said.
Marantelli said the revival of the Warrnambool event was designed to give the Athletics League a bigger presence in the south-west region.
“We have 25 gift meetings around the state, but only one of those was in the south-west area,” he said.
“We wanted a greater representation in the region so the Warrnambool and Terang double-header is a part of that.”
Terang Athletics Club spokesman Richard Wearmouth said entries, which closed yesterday, were up about 70 on last year.
“The idea of a Warrnambool Gift on the same weekend as our meeting has been mooted for a few years. We’re thrilled it’s finally happening,” he said.
“We will have five or six local people at the Terang Gift which is great to see.
“A lot of places a lot bigger than Terang don’t have as many people representing them at their home gift.”
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au