Stawell 2015

We are here safely and all settled in. Chairs are set up in our usual place. Weather is beautiful. Nice BBQ fish and salad for tea. Now time for bed to dream of winning sashes. 

Wangaratta Carnival

Overcast but very warm and a bit muggy. The oval is in beautiful condition. Cal ran in the 70m heats and won't run in anything else today. Lach's running in the gift and 400m but they aren't on until later today or this evening. Will update again late this evening. 

Rye Gift

Don't let the grey sky fool you. It really is quite warm, with not a breath of wind. A very, very pleasant day to run. We keep hearing about flooding rain all over the state, but the weather has certainly been kind to us here in Rye. 

Burnie - done and dusted

Cal ran a superb heat of the 400m to win his way into the final for the second year in a row. The final was won by a young man who had to improve his heat time by over half a second to win. Cal battled on well but fell away a little on the line to finish sixth. Given that he was running off 40m here in Tassie when his mark in Victoria is 48m, he did exceptionally well. 

The gift was won by Simon Fitzpatrick who is trained by Adrian Mott. It looked like a dead heat on the line it was that close. 

Overall a great day. The weather was unbelievably warm, the sky the most beautiful azure blue and the racing (both bikes and runners) very exciting. 

Burnie Update No. 2

Lach ran well in his semi but didn't figure inthe finish. The final will be run at about 8.00pm with Jocab Despard from Tassie (he also won the gift at Devonport two days ago) with time up and looking the winner although John Howe will push him all the way. 

Where did you get that hat? Where did you get the tile? Isn't is a nobby one, just the proper style!

Burnie Update

Lach is through to the semi finals of the Burnie Gift. Cal runs in the 400m much later this evening. 

Lach relaxing as he waits and Cal having a nap. 

Burnie Gift Day

Very overcast but warm which is a real change.

Devonport Carnival - Day 2 (but really Day 1)

Don't let the sunshine and blue sky fool you. What you can't see in the photos is the wind. I truly think that Devonport and Burnie are the windiest places in Australia. Both runners and bike riders struggled when they headed into the wind. Some of the poor Little Athletes were blown backwards as the struggled down the straight. Lach and Cal competed in the 400m and competed well. Neither made it through to the final which was won by Tasmanian Jacob Despard. They both also ran in the 70m and both made it to the semis but again failed to progress to the final. It was a good fun day as always. Just a pity that the shortened program didn't allow enough time for the 200m and the Two Fat Men on Bikes race. (Always a favourite of mine!) 

Devonport Carnival - Day 1

After beginning the bike program and getting through a couple of junior running events the day has been declared a wash out. It has rained fairly consistently making it far too dangerous for the bike riders. Apparently the radar also suggests that there is more bad weather on the way. In fact there are storm warnings all over the island with Hobart expecting a battering. So much so they have actually closed down The Taste of Tasmania and the wharf area around Constitution Dock. So the two day program becomes one - tomorrow. Lach is very disappointed because they have cancelled his favourite event in the 200m.  

Easter Monday - Finals Day

Lach ran well in the 200m held very late in the day yesterday. Under the lights he ran on well to finish third in his heat. He did not progress to the semis so Monday will be spent relaxing by the track watching all the action. 

No.1 Grandstand - Stawell

The site for the grandstand was decided in December 1898 after the first Easter Gift held here. The contractor took less than three months to build the grandstand at a cost of £593. It was ready for the 1898 Easter Sports. 

The stand was restored in 1990/1991 at a cost of $80,000. With access to the original building plans, the stand is now as near as practicable to the original. 

Memorial Gates - Stawell

The magnificent Memorial Gates at Central Park, Stawell were designed and built at the local foundry of George Kay & Co. and were erected in 1903 "to commemorate the patriotism of those who from this town and district served in the Boer war 1899-1902." Out of 40 entries to an Australia wide design competition the local entry was judged the most appropriate. The gates cost £170 and were paid for by local effort. 

Stawell - Day 1

Lach competed in the gift in Heat 14 however he couldn't match the pace of some of the true sprinters. 

Cal was next on the track in the 400m Frontmarkers. He started very well and took the lead early, however Travis Pike, was able to pass him in the home straight to win. This meant a tense wait to see if Cal would make it through as one of three fastest qualifiers. Unfortunately he just missed out. 

Lach ran in Heat 1 of the 400m Backmarkers. He raced well but finished towards the back of the field and will not progress to the final. 

In other results Anna won her heat of the veterans 100m so will run in the final on Monday. She also finished second in her heat of the women's gift and should make it through to the semis. 

Kevin Brittain and Dav Tinney both won their heats of the gift and will run in the semis on Monday.

Images of Stawell

A particular Aussie tradition - claiming and naming your own stand. Just fantastic!

Central Park looks spectacular in the sun. 

Sunny Stawell

Even if a little cooler than usual Stawell is fine and sunny and Central Park immaculate. The rain stopped just east of Beaufort which made the latter part of the drive much more pleasant. After unpacking we headed to Central Park to set up our campsite, which will be our trackside home for the next three days. 

All (very wet) roads lead to Stawell

All roads lead to Stawell

Packed and ready to go. 

Burramine Gift

A great day of racing. Lach ran in the semi of the gift and well in his heat of the 400m. Cal finished second in his heat of the 400m and progressed to the final where he ran on very well to finish second. He was very pleased with his pay day of $150. 

Madison Results

The much fancied O'Shea and Edmonson could not hold off a very fresh Crome (Bendigo boy) and Pieters (Dutch champion) who were riding for the local Giant bike supplier. O'Shea and Edmonson lead until the last 30 laps when the Giant team peddled exceptionally hard to get a lap up. In the end last year's winners pipped O'Shea and Edmonson on the post to take second.

Bendigo - Day 2

Beautiful day in Bendigo. Cal ran a sensational semi but they were just a bit quick for him in the end. The Opal was won by Cameron Moss. Now relaxing watching the Madison on a very balmy still evening. Glen O'Shea and Alex Edmonson are the favourites and so far are performing well.