The annual Norfolk Island Gift was conducted in fine weather at the Malcolm Champion Oval on Saturday 26th November. A good roll up of parents and supporters were on hand to witness some great performances, particularly from some of our younger and emerging athletes.

The afternoon began with the heats of the Norfolk Island Gas Centre 100metres. With 4 heats and the fastest 8 times progressing to the final later in the afternoon all athletes had to give of their best from the start. Early favourites included defending champion Taylah Menzies and school sprint sensation Mark Kalsrap but the heat results soon had Mark firming as hot favourite to take out the ‘blue ribbon” event. Other winners of their respective heats were Matt Snell, Charlie Carr and Casey Snell all easily progressing to the final.

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The next event was the running of the World Traders 400 metres with a field comprising 16 athletes who were all placed on their handicap marks, according to age and sex factors, around the track. Trevor Calder , fresh off his individual win the previous week in the Around the Island Relay and starting off a 71 metre handicap looked set to take out this year’s title but sitting a few metres ahead on the handicaps were a couple of surprise packages , Amarnah Whitney and previous 100 metre gift winner ,Taylah Menzies. From the gun Trevor quickly reeled in a number of athletes and seemed almost certain to claim 1st place but  as he entered the home straight, with Amarnah chasing him down, he was not able to close the gap on Taylah who fought on in a gutsy performance to take out her first 400 metre title. Trevor kept Amarnah at bay to finish second, relegating her to third spot with a fast finishing Casey Snell in 4th and Mark Kalsrap 5th.

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The Middlegate Mile saw 10 athletes battle it out for the 1st place prize of $250 . Again the handicaps saw athletes begin from a staggered start with Sam Cribb and Peter Haymes leading the pack. A great turn out of younger athletes gave Trevor a real challenge and as the laps passed it looked as though he was in a comfortable position to regain his mile title after a couple of years away from the track. However, he had not banked on the heart and courage of Peter Haymes who, with huge support from the spectators, took the battle to Trevor in the last lap but was not able to make up ground to eventually finish second. Richard Cribb and Aaron Graham took out 3rd and 4th places with Sam Cribb, Charlie Carr, Jared Magri and Amarnah Witney finishing out the top 8.

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To close the afternoon was the final of the Norfolk Island Gas Centre 100metres. Early favourites, Mark Kalsrap and Taylah Menzies had chosen to sit out the Mile event, saving their energy for a crack at this prestigious title. Guest starter, Deb Johnson, had the 8 finalists settled for the start and as the gun fired, spectators leaped to support their favourites in the mad dash to the line. With 10 metres to run it was anyone’s race but Mark Kalsrap drew away to take out his maiden Gift title and the $400 prize donated by major Gift sponsor, the Norfolk Island Gas Centre. Casey Snell, who clearly has great potential as an athlete, finished strongly to take out 2nd place ahead of Brad Griffiths, running off scratch.

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At the conclusion of competition, Athletics Norfolk Island President, Brentt Jones, joined our other major sponsor, Ian Anderson from World Traders to make the presentation of prizes .Thanks to all of our wonderful sponsors and to all of the supporters for attending a fun afternoon of athletics. The complete list of sponsors and prize winners is as follows:

 

NORFOLK ISLAND GAS CENTRE 100 METRES:

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• 1st  Mark Kalsrap - $400 - Norfolk Island Gas Centre

• 2nd Casey Snell - $200 - Travel world

• 3rd Brad Griffiths - $100 - Norfolk Island Building Supplies,$50 voucher -  Foodland.

• 4th Taylah Menzies - $100 voucher - South Pacific Resort Hotel, Athletics Bag.

• 5th Matt Snell - Dinner voucher – Paradise Hotel

• 6th Mya Evans - $50 voucher – Max’s Department Store

• 7th Britney Quintal - $50 voucher – Foodland

• 8th Charlie Carr - Bag and towel – Westpac Banking Corporation

 

WORLD TRADERS 400 METRES:

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• 1ST Taylah Menzies - $250 voucher – World Traders

• 2nd Trevor Calder - $150 voucher – World Traders

• 3rd Amarnah Whitney - $50 voucher – Cascade Motors, Athletics Bag

 

MIDDLEGATE MILE:

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• 1st Trevor Calder - $250 – Athletics Norfolk Island

• 2nd Peter Haymes - $100 – Pete’s Place, $50 voucher – Foodland.

• 3rd Richard Cribb - $100 voucher – South Pacific Resort Hotel.

• 4th Aaron Graham - $50 voucher - Max’s Department Store, Athletics Bag