More races and events are set to add to the Lancefield Gift this Saturday.
The Community Bank Lancefield Gift is set to return to Lancefield Park on Saturday promising an exciting day of athletics, featuring some of Australia’s best runners and the spectacle of the Highland Games.
The event has the richest men’s and women’s 400 metre gifts, while the 120 metre also attract some top runners.
First staged in the late 1800s, the Lancefield Gift was once one of the most popular meetings on Victoria’s professional running circuit in the 1920’s, drawing athletes from across the state.
After going into hiatus in the 1960s, it returned last year for the first time in more than half a century, reclaiming its place as a key event on the Australian athletics calendar. .
Event organiser Chris Dynon said after the triumphant revival in 2024 this year’s event is shaping up to be even bigger and better.
He said the return of the gift was hailed as one of the most successful gifts of last season with strong crowds, national media coverage, and exceptional racing performances that carried through to the highest levels of competition
“Last year’s gift proved that Lancefield could host a truly national event, the atmosphere, the racing, and the community support were all incredible, so we knew we had to make it even bigger this year,” he said.
“The 2025 edition will feature an expanded program of running events, the debut of November’s other big cup, the Lancefield Cup over 800 metres, and the exciting addition of the Highland Games, ensuring a full day of sport for all ages.”
Last year’s women’s champion, Bella Pasquali, returns in 2025 to defend her title after an incredible season that took her from Lancefield Park to the World Indoor Championships in China just a few months later, where she won a bronze medal for Australia.
Starting as the backmarker, she looped the entire field to take the gift in spectacular fashion.
On the men’s side, the Lancefield 120m sprint proved to be the leading guide to the Stawell Gift, with half the field in the Stawell final coming out of the Lancefield final including winner Jasper Thomas, who went on to finish second at Stawell.
“When you’ve got half the field in a men’s Stawell Gift final and a World Indoor bronze medallist for Australia coming out of the meet from last year, then you are right up there with the big gifts in Australia” said Dynon.
This year’s meeting introduces an exciting new feature event, the inaugural Lancefield Cup, an 800-metre race that revives the historic Matthew Maher Handicap, a half-mile event that was one of the meeting’s showpieces during the 1920s and 1930s.
“Australia now has two great Cup races to celebrate each November,” said Dynon. “The world-famous Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday, and, just a few days later, the Lancefield Cup over 800 metres right here in Lancefield.”
This year’s event will also include Lancefield Highland Games.
Events will include traditional displays such as the caber toss, heavy hammer throw, and other Highland disciplines, showcasing a blend of Scottish heritage and raw power that’s sure to entertain spectators between the footraces.
The Highland Games kick off at 8.30 am, with the caber toss scheduled for 1pm.
The athletics program will kick off at noon with the 800 metre Lancefield Cup scheduled for about 3.30pm, the 120 metre sprint finals at 5pm, and the 400 metre gift finals, the men’s and women’s features, taking place just after 6pm, all at Lancefield Park.
