RINGWOOD sprinter Cam Dunbar hopes a return visit to Friendly Societies’ Park — the venue for his first Warrnambool Gift win 13 years ago — will provide him with another memorable result on Saturday.
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Dunbar, 34, was second in the revived Warrnambool Gift 120-metre showcase last year at Jetty Flat.
It was the first time the gift — a Victorian Athletic League event — was run since his victory in 2000.
“It’s been an on-and-off gift for a while,” Dunbar said.
“I think the previous gift before then was in the ’80s.
“After I won in 2000 it didn’t run again until last year and now it’s back on the track I won it on.”
Dunbar is one of the leading contenders for Saturday’s race, having finished second to Mount Waverley’s Carl Morehouse, who won’t be back to defend his title, last year.
But the heats will be his first 120m test this season after focusing on 300m events in the opening month of the VAL campaign.
Dunbar, though, is quietly confident he can better his 2013 runner-up finish.
“I missed out last year by one place,” Dunbar said.
“If I am lucky enough to win it again that’d be great.
“I won the Rye Gift 10 years apart. As far as patterns go it’d follow suit.
“I am always trying to make finals and win races.
“The main focus on Saturday in Warrnambool is the 300 metres, what I have been training for in recent weeks. I’ll take my chances in others.
“I’ve made two 300m finals already this year.”
Dunbar will also compete in the Terang Gift on Sunday.
He said the south-west double was ideal for travelling athletes.
“Being in the same area allows people in the metropolitan areas to make a weekend of it and it’s easy for Ballarat, Stawell athletes to come down as well,” he said.
“And having two meetings together so early in the season helps too.”
Running is in Dunbar’s blood and he travels extensively throughout the VAL season: “there are not too many meetings I miss”.
“My dad (Rick) has been running all his life and is 75 this year and I can envisage myself doing the same thing,” he said. “He enjoys it and it keeps him fit.”
Two-time Stawell Gift finalist Kevin Brittain will be one of Dunbar’s main challengers this weekend.
The Geelong-based runner is aiming to improve after he “didn’t run too well” in the 2013 south-west double-header.
“I am hoping to place in both events, top three at a minimum,” Brittain said.
The Warrnambool Gift final is scheduled for 4.15pm on Saturday and the Terang Gift decider is pencilled in for 3.40pm on Sunday.