He's hoping it's third time lucky for the 2020 edition.

The Gift, originally scheduled for November last year, was postponed until January due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

The January 2 event was then called off half-way through the day because of a storm.

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All events will be offered again for athletes this Saturday despite some being completed in early January.

Wearmouth said the men's 120-metre race had attracted some speedsters, including Queensland's Fejiro Omuvwie, who recently ran a 10.4-second 100m.

He won the 2020 Maryborough Gift and the 2020 Queanbeyan Gift.

Parkdale Gift winner Jack Boulton and Wangaratta Gift victor Jake Ireland are also in the mix.

Wearmouth said the women's 120m could produce a south-west success with Warrnambool young guns Grace Kelly and Grace Carter in the running. Hannah Duynhoven is also returning for her home gift.

Another race which will capture attention is the Aged Graded 300m which is back for a third year.

"This is easily the best field we've had," Wearmouth said of the run.

"It's not very often three world champions are in the one event and adding Australian champions makes this an intriguing race," he said.

He explained the event was, in horse racing parlance, a weight for age race, compared to all other Victorian Athletic League events which are handicap races (based on past performance).

Andrew Wilcox, who won the 2019 50-54 years world championship 400m, Irishman Colm Rothery and Nathan Crowley are current or former world-beaters. Wearmouth said Sonya Pollard was another runner to watch out for.

Wearmouth said there was a misconception it was a masters race. He is keen to have quality runners of all ages involved.

Wearmouth said the south west would be represented by: Grace Kelly, Hannah Duynhoven, Grace Carter, Millie Smith, Jane McMeel, Anna Kasapis, Layla Watson, Jacob Taylor, Josh Drysdale, Carl McMeel, Richard Wearmouth, Chad Ryan, Zac Norton, Oscar Robinson, Nicholas O'Connor, Jai Perry, Aubery Watson, Patrick Meade, Hannah McMeel, Hudson Downes, Will Main and Sam Carter.

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