Gift just keeps growing

QUALITY competition, community spirit and family atmosphere will be on display this Sunday as the Richmond Athletics Carnival kicks off again.

The carnival has gone from strength to strength, with the seventh edition promising to be bigger and better than ever as it continues to attract some of the state’s best runners.

The carnival, as part of the Tasmanian Athletics League, has been nominated for “Carnival of the Year” in the past and has received plenty of support from the community.

“Last year’s carnival was the best attended and we anticipate a similar result this year,” founder and organiser Ray Quarrell said.

“There are masters events for men and women, events for children from 6-14 that can take them away from their screens, and activities for toddlers — it really is a family carnival.”

Quarrell has noted parallels between the Richmond carnival with its men’s and women’s Richmond Gift events and Australia’s richest foot race, the Stawell Gift.

“There are strong similarities,” he said.

“Stawell is a small community and was a gold rush town, while Richmond is a small farming community with a rich convict history.

“To bring good runners and their families down from the north of the state to see a bit of southern Tasmania is fantastic — it makes for a great location and event,” he said.

Quarrell expects the carnival, and particularly the marquee men’s and women’s gifts, to be closely contested.

“The depth of talent across all of the events is very consistent. I would not want to even try and pick a winner in the men’s or women’s gift.”

All of the action kicks off at the Richmond Football Ground from 11am this Sunday. Admission is $5.