Stawell is in his blood

IT’S in the blood.

That’s the only explanation Hobart athletics coach Ray Quarrell has for the lure of the Stawell Gift.

The 71-year-old is at Stawell for the 40th time this Easter weekend, but little did he know that would happen when he listened to the race on the radio as a kid.

“I listened on the radio and then I realised a dream by running there professionally,” Quarrell said.

“It was a dream come true when I was at Stawell running on the ground.”

Quarrell’s first year at Stawell was 1976 when he debuted as a 400m runner.

“In 1977 and 1980 I ran the Gifts and made the semifinals,” he said.

Quarrell took up coaching in the 1980s and has lost count of the number of athletes he has taken to Stawell.

His career highlight was the day Andrew Robinson won the Stawell Gift in 2013 — the first Tasmanian in 70 years to claim the top prize.

“It was a dream come true because it’s such a hard thing to do,” Quarrell said.

“To win a heat at Stawell is like winning a Gift anywhere else — it’s just so hard to get through the first round.”

Tasmanian Jacob Despard is his big hope this year.

“It was a major effort to win by Robinson,” Quarrell said.

“It’s indescribable — I can’t put it into words.

“It’s a dream come true to have a Stawell Gift winner.”

The lure of Stawell hooked Quarrell from the first time he smelled the freshly cut grass.

“It’s a culture and tradition in professional running,” he said. “I have taken my children there to run, my grandchildren have run there.

“Luke Whitney has been with me for 17 years and he’s taken his kids there too.

“It’s in your blood.”