Sport
3 October, 2023
Cobden Gift fast approaching
ALL roads lead to the Cobden Recreation Reserve next weekend for the long-awaited running of the inaugural Cobden Gift.
ALL roads lead to the Cobden Recreation Reserve next weekend for the long-awaited running of the inaugural Cobden Gift.
With the football/netball season now over, and the cricket season just around the corner, the Gift has been perfectly timed to bridge the gap in sporting events for locals.
The event is expected to draw a large field of quality runners to the reserve on Saturday, October 14.
The day will kick-off the 2023-24 Victorian Athletic League (VAL) season.
Recreation reserve president Craig Dwyer said he was “absolutely stoked” the VAL had agreed to add Cobden to its list of prestigious running events and was looking forward to hosting the day.
“We’re anticipating big crowds and a large number of runners,” Dwyer said.
“Bendigo Bank has been secured as the naming rights sponsor for the day, and we’ve also had great support from Saputo and others.”
The day will feature a 70m Open event and 100m men’s and women’s Gifts, along with 100m Masters (35+), 100m under 14 and under 18 events, 300m men’s and women’s races, 300m Masters, 800m Masters and a 1600m Open event.
Along with the on-track action there will be plenty to see and do off the track including a market on the tennis courts, afternoon tea, canteen facilities, and a dinner function upstairs later in the evening.
Twenty-two year old athlete Mia Gross, who has represented Australia at both a national and international level, will be the ambassador for the event.
Gross’s long list of achievements on the track include a fourth place in last year’s 4x100m relay at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and a seventh in the 4x400m relay at the World Under 20 Championships in Tampere four years prior.
“Mia is a well-accomplished athlete and we are thrilled to have her as our ambassador,” Dwyer said.
“We’re also in the process of planning a sportsman’s night for October 14 where Mia will be the special guest. This will be held in the rooms at the Cobden reserve.”
The Cobden Gift will be followed the next day (Sunday October 15) by the running of the Mortlake Gift at Wilsons DC Farran Oval.
It’s believed the Mortlake program will include the running of a 70m Open, 120m Men’s and 120m Women’s Gift, along with a 120m Masters (35+), 120m events for under 14 and under 18, and a 300m Masters (35+).
A 400m men’s, 400m women’s, 800m Open and 1600m Masters (45+) events are also on the program.
There will also be plenty of action off the track including a kids clinic, woodchopping and a pipe band.
Entries have now closed for both events.