WHAT a difference three months makes.
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While it was devastating at the time, the cancellation of the annual Highlands Sports Society Ararat Gift may have proved to be a blessing in disguise for organisers.
A record number of entries have been received for Monday’s Ararat Gift meeting at Alexandra Oval. The grand total competing in the eight-race program is 549. Joe Perry, president of the Ararat Highland Sports Society, was thrilled with the figure.
“It’s the biggest number we’ve had as long as I can remember – and the VAL (Victorian Athletic League) have never had a bigger country meeting,” he said.
“We’ve been blown away by the amount of entrants this year.”
Mr Perry acknowledged that while it was disappointing to lose the December 19 meeting due to an unprecedented heatwave, it was excellent to see athletes take up the opportunity to compete in the last Gift before Stawell.
“We’re on the same weekend as Bendigo (Gift) and the athletes from interstate going to that may be calling in to compete at another event before going home,” he said.
“Everyone’s taking up the opportunity, which is excellent to see.”
There are examples of just how popular the Ararat Gift is this year. At the last meeting, there were two heats of the women’s 100 metre event. On Monday, there will be six. While in the vet’s women’s 300 metres, there are nine heats in 2016 compared to just two at the previous Gift.
The Ararat Gift event over 120 metres has 82 professional athletes from all over Australia competing.
Also featuring heavily on the program is Little Athletics. Children from Ararat, Stawell, Horsham, Hamilton, Ballarat and Werribee will all be competing in 100, 200 and 400 metre events.
“The Little Aths contingent is astronomical,” Mr Perry said.
“We’ve also had runners asking if their kids can enter on the day. That will be a spectacle – the crowd will be seeing the future of the sport compete.”
Highland dancing will kick off the day at 11 am, with dancers from across Victoria on show. The Ararat Gift carnival starts at 12 pm and the final is set to run at 5:55 pm. Entry into the event is free.