General News
7 December, 2022
Berridge wins Gift
FOR the second year in a row the Terang Women’s Gift was won by a visiting athlete from Canberra.
FOR the second year in a row the Terang Women’s Gift was won by a visiting athlete from Canberra.
In very hot conditions last weekend, Nicole Berridge won her first gift after starting competing at the age of 27.
Berridge ran the 120 metres in the fast time of 13.99 and is a training partner of last year’s winner Clare De Salis who also made the final.
Berridge won through to the final and beat past Olympian Jessica Thornton from Queensland who placed second with Wangaratta teenager Bella Pasquali coming third - the day before Bella also came third in the Warrnambool Gift.
Terang Athletics Club president Ken Plummer said the final of the Women’s Gift was a close fought tussle that entertained the large and appreciative crowd.
“The judges didn’t need to go to the photo finish but it was a close final with Nicole the winner,” he said.
“After the race Nicole remarked that she enjoys the competitiveness of the Victorian Athletic League racing and that her training partner Clare De Salis had encourage her to compete.
“Second place getter Jessica Thornton has been in Melbourne for the week training with 10 other Queensland athletes and their coach Brett Robinson.
“In fact, immediately after the Terang meeting the team headed to Tullamarine to fly home to Queensland.”
Of the 11 finals on the day, the men’s Gift final was also a close battle, with Sydney athlete Michael Hanna taking the sash after charging through the field from the back mark handicap of 2.5metres.
Michael ran the fast time of 12.56seconds to claim the win.
In second place was South Australian Corey Baker, with Jackson Bennett taking third.
Plummer said with the winners travelling from various parts of Australia, it was a local who won the Open 800metre final.
“Anna Kasapis easily won her heat and was the favourite for the final,” Plummer said.
“For the first lap of the two-lap event, the final looked to be an easy win to Anna once again, but with about 200 metres to go, Alex Jones was making up ground and in the straight challenged Anna, who held on to win by just over a metre.
“In Anna’s acceptance speech on the dais, she kindly acknowledged her first coach, Jill McKenzie, who is one of the Terang Athletic club members and recognised by the club as one of its greats, which was a real treat for Jill.”
The 2022 event marks the third year Anna has ran at Terang after a very successful running career.
Another Terang local Dominic Bruno won the coveted Laurie Heffernan 1600m race.
Dominic’s grandfather Con O’Sullivan currently lives in Terang but due to ill health couldn’t attend the meeting.
“Dominic was extremely pleased with his win for his grandfather and couldn’t wait to share his exciting news with him,” Plummer said.
“Dominic had a huge weekend as he also won the 1600 metre event at the Warrnambool meeting the day before.”
The inaugural Ken Plummer Women’s 400m race provided some real enjoyment for everyone on the day; with Ida Laherty from Belmont greeting the judges just ahead of Laura McDougall off 51 metres followed by Chloe Kinnersley.
Committee member Stephen O’Connor said the club was pleased with how the event ran.
“The Terang Athletic Club was very pleased with the running of the day and all of the feedback was very positive, from athletes and the Victorian Athletic League,” he said.
“The club would like to acknowledge the amazing sponsors in our local town who make the gift meeting possible for us and the many volunteers who come on board to help us.
“It was a terrific way to celebrate the club’s 20th birthday.”
