General News
11 October, 2023
Inaugural gift set to race
THE inaugural Origin Mortlake Gift is expected to draw visitors from far and wide this Sunday.
THE inaugural Origin Mortlake Gift is expected to draw visitors from far and wide this Sunday.
The highly-anticipated event will feature 11 races, woodchopping and a pipe band in a blockbuster addition for the Mortlake community.
This weekend marks the inaugural Cobden Gift (Saturday, October 14) and Mortlake Gift (Sunday, October 15) which will jointly open the 2023-2024 Victorian Athletic League calendar for the season.
Terang athlete Jacob Densley, who has played a pivotal role bringing both the Cobden and Mortlake gifts to life, said a field of more than 320 runners was expected to descend on Mortlake.
As an athlete, Mr Densley said back-to-back events in Cobden and Mortlake could strategically draw in star athletes and establish both gifts for long-term success.
“Events are spread all over Victoria all over the Summer but we knew having two events nearby, on the same weekend, could draw athletes wanting to compete in both events in one hit,” he said.
“Bringing in recreation reserves and user groups could give us the opportunity to create two big events which could then be well and truly on the map.
“Making it as big as possible the first year sets up both events for long-term success.
“I think both events will go well.”
After breaks during the COVID-19 pandemic there were some gifts which either slowed or otherwise ceased, which Mr Densley said created an opportunity for the south west to make its mark.
“Over the years the odd gift meetings drop off for one reason or another, and meetings would gradually decline – which was probably more-so true after COVID-19,” he said.
“A lot of people were talking doom and gloom, like the sport was on it’s way out, but we can just start new events if people want to have a crack.
“I knew bringing in another new gift to the south west could work well but we prioritised not having an event too close to the Warrnambool Gift and Terang Gift weekend (December 2 and 3, respectively.)
“A lot of time and effort has gone in to it, but I think it’s worth doing and both the Cobden and Mortlake Recreation Reserves will go well.”
Australian athlete Mia Gross, who has been named ambassador for both Cobden and Mortlake gifts, will begin the day on Sunday with a free clinic for school-age children from 9.30am.
The first event, the 800-metre open, will begin from 11am.
Races will be held roughly every quarter of an hour through to the final race, the 400-metre men’s, from 4.10pm.
Mortlake Recreation Reserve Committee member Noel McConnell said the opportunity for both the Cobden and Mortlake communities to open the season across the one weekend would provide a boost for the region.
“We’re very excited to bring this event to Mortlake, it’s been a long-time in the planning phase,” he said.
“The facilities are looking fantastic and is ready to go.
“It’s the first weekend of gifts to start the season so we’re hoping athletes, who have had a long preparation through the winter period, are ready to go and will find their way to Mortlake.
“Given good weather we hope people will see a reason to come back for many years to come.”
Mr McConnell said a range of improvements at the Mortlake Recreation Reserve had helped to facilitate new events and opportunities for the community.
“This is just icing on the cake,” he said.
“We’ve got users coming from all across south west Victoria to use our indoor cricket training facilities, and there are admirers of the grounds and facilities from all over the place.
“We’re delighted that the Mortlake community has taken on board the running of the gift so we’ve got service clubs, school kids and plenty of other volunteers helping out on the day – it’s really a whole community event.
“Some of the best in Australia will be going around in our little town so it’s a great opportunity to see great athletes running in good conditions.”
