Countdown under way to Postle Gift meeting
ATHLETICS: The countdown is under way to the return of professional running on the Darling Downs with Pittsworth preparing to host the inaugural Arthur Postle Gift in two weeks’ time.
The gala day of track running, highlighted by the Gift run in honour of the town’s former record-breaking sprinter Arthur “The Crimson Flash” Postle, will be held at Club Pittsworth on October 20.
The Gift will form part of the Queensland Professional Athletic League circuit and is expected to attract competitors from the Downs to interstate.
The Arthur Postle Gift will be an open event for men and women over 75 yards carrying $5000 in prize money while a number of support events catering for youth and female runners will feature on the day-night program.
Toowoomba Regional Councillor Geoff McDonald said the nature of handicap running provided an exciting spectacle.
“I’m hopeful over time this may well rival the likes of the Stawell Gift which is known to many people,” McDonald said at yesterday’s Gift media launch.
“Excitingly the racing will be
conducted by the Queensland Athletic League. So it’s a professional running race held at Club Pittsworth with its beautiful grounds and great amenities.
“We’ll also see the richest running of youth races in Queensland take place and one of the richest in women’s racing as well for a $3000 prize purse.
“Importantly the call-out is now for local athletes at schools, Little Athletics and all the different clubs over our region to get involved and perhaps take home a piece of history.
“Be the first to take home one of the Arthur Postle trophies.”
Postle Gift working member Greg Quinn said the event would be a proud addition to the Pittsworth calendar.
“This community does have a couple of fantastic events, but this one in particular gives us the chance to go across the national stage,” Quinn said.