VERSACE RETURNS FROM CONTROVERSY TO TAKE ON A HOT MT GAMBIER GIFT FIELD
Mt Gambier born and bred athlete Luke Versace is amongst the entries for this year’s prestigious 120 metre Mt Gambier Gift to be run at Vansittart Park Oval on Saturday December 1. Versace was a finalist in the 2001 final on his home track in his first ever competitive run with the SA Athletic League before infamously becoming injured in Spain’s Running of the Bulls. After later becoming a placegetter in the 2005 Stawell Gift behind Joshua Ross, he was a controversial late scratching when favourite for the 2007 Stawell Gift. Despite initially receiving a 12-month ban from the Victorian Athletic League because he had failed to officially notify stewards of his non-appearance, he is able to compete in the 2007 Mt Gambier Gift after having his penalty reduced on appeal.
Versace will take on a highly talented list of athletes in the second richest race on the SA Athletic League calendar, with four from last year’s cracking final returning for another tilt at the rich sprint. These four runners are 2006 Stawell Gift champion Adrian Mott (3rd in last year’s Mt Gambier Gift final), 2006 Bay Sheffield finalist Ryan Hancock (4th), 1997 Stawell Gift victor and local favourite Daniel Millard (5th) and 2005 Bay Sheffield/2007 Whyalla Gift title holder Clay Watkins (6th). There are a number of highly talented interstate runners making the trip across the border for the race, including 2006 Maryborough Gift champ Daniel Sammut, 2007 Bendigo Gift winner Peter Dudkiewicz, four-time Stawell Gift finalist Chris Tuohy and this year’s Stawell Gift runner-up Nick Sampieri. Four South Australian athletes of note in the field are 2003 Mt Gambier Gift race record holder Chris Burckhardt, 2004 Mt Gambier and Bay Sheffield victor Andrew Steele, super impressive 2007 Reynella Gift winner Duncan Tippins and last year’s Mt Gambier 120m Novice frontrunner Damian Tohl.
While the Gift will be of much interest to most punters, there will be a number of other much sought-after races on the program. In the 120m Women’s Gift, backmarker Courtney Lyas will be looking to continue her fantastic form after a scintillating victory at Whyalla. She won’t have it all her own way against the likes of the reigning AAC National Female Athlete of the Year Billie-Jo Petersen and recent VAL winner Sonya Pollard. There will be two other races for women on the card over 400 and 800 metres, while a number of females will take on the guys in the 1600m “B” final. The “A” version of the mile is set for an absorbing battle with the entries including last year’s winner Corey Lawson, Stawell 550m titleholder Michael Marantelli, top EAD athlete Michael Roeger and former South-East resident Dale Engler.
With the event being declared a handicap penalty free-event for the 2007 Bay Sheffield Carnival, the racing is sure to be keenly contested. The first race is scheduled for 1:30pm, with the program to be concluded by 7pm. A number of South-East locals will feature in their own race over 120 metres, while Little Athletics will take place during the official break of the SA Athletic League program.