Gift set for Evandale again
THE annual Australia Day Gift professional foot race looks like returning to its traditional home at Evandale from 2019.
First staged on the lawns of the Gold Coast City Council’s headquarters in 1997, the prestige Gift was transferred to Wally Fankhauser Reserve last year because of the major upgrading of Bundall Road.
The entire Australia Day carnival was forced elsewhere with the Gift being run at the Southport Sharks and other events staged on the Broadwater parklands.
“I’m never confident about anything but it looks positive we’ll be at Evandale in 2019,” Queensland Athletic League boss Bruce Duncan said.
“We first went there in 1997 and apart from two washouts and last year’s transferral we’ve been there ever since.
“It will be welcome news if we get back there.”
As was the case last January, the Australia Day Gift, under the title of Majella Global Technologies $10,000 will again be staged at Musgrave Hill next month.
■ MEANWHILE, the professional sprint scene has been highlighted by a special award given to Damian Flint, who organised the inaugural Somerset College Gift in July.
The Australian Athletic Confederation handed a special commendation award to Flint, Somerset’s sports facilities manager, for outstanding administration and organisation.