Saturday again brought ideal conditions for the running of the 2015 Norfolk Island “Gift” at the Malcolm Champion Oval. Another great turn up of supporters to watch a dedicated group of younger athletes battle it out through the afternoon in a series of three events, the Norfolk Island Gas Centre 100 metres, ; the World Traders 400 metres and the Middlegate Mile.

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Athlete entry numbers were again solid but with a number of competing events on the day saw fewer senior athletes participating despite the over $2000 in cash and prizes on offer.

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The “Gift” has been conducted for more than 20 years and has in the past involved a number of different athletics events including a selection of sprints, middle distance, jumps and throws. In more recent years the focus has been on running events and 2014 again repeated the success of last year. All “Gift” events use the World Masters age graded tables to calculate the handicaps either based on distance as in the 100metres and 400 metres or on time as in the mile, to be applied to all entrants from 8 years old through to 100 years old, inclusive of gender, and designed to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to win an event.

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The afternoon’s activities began with the running of the heats of the “Norfolk Island Gas Centre” 100 metres with 2012 and 2013 winner and very firm favourite, Mark Kalsrap looking keen to add yet another title to his trophy cabinet. Mark had set a new school record for the 100 metres at the Athletics Carnival earlier in the year so it was expected he would set a fast time in qualifying. However, Zoe Cribb had set her sights on an upset and gave everything in the heats to be just 1/10th of a second behind Mark going into the final. Ashton Kolimisau, a welcome newcomer to the “Gift”, qualified third fastest for the final ahead of Charlie Carr, an athlete to watch in future.

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The next event was the World Traders 400 metres with athletes placed on handicap marks around the first bend of the track. With eighteen entrants, the firing of the gun began the mad dash to the finish line with back marker Mark Kalsrap quickly reeling in the runners ahead of him at the start in quick succession. It looked like he would cruise to an easy victory as he entered the bend at the 200-metre mark but the girls made good on their respective handicaps to leave him running into 4th place at the finish line. Charlie Carr ran strongly to take out the 400 metre title and  the 1st prize of a $250 voucher from one of our major sponsors “ World Traders”, by just over a second in front of a fast finishing Zoe Cribb who again showed her sprinting prowess in this gruelling event. Ella Borg, second place in the 400 metres in 2013, looked set to repeat her result but just faded towards the end to take out 3rd place with Mark Kalsrap struggling into 4th ahead of veteran campaigner Candice Snell.

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With time given for athletes to recover from the exertion of the 400 metres, it was then onto the “Middlegate” Mile (1609 metres). Each athlete in this event is given a time handicap from when the race starts. When their time is called they begin the race and chase the field over the 4 laps of the race – first home across the line is then the winner. It was great to welcome back 2013 champion in this event, Jedd Gardner, who again showed he is a budding middle distance runner with a carefully calculated run that soon had him in the lead and well on his way to victory. Ryan Crane was never far off the pace and despite a late challenge on the line from the “senior” male athlete of the afternoon, Richard Cribb, it was Ryan who wanted the 2nd place more and he held on to pip Richard into third. Peter Haymes continues his great showing in this event after a series of top finishes in past years and again remained a strong contender for the title until well into the last lap. A better race from Peter this year had him running strongly in to 4th with Douglas Snell and Jesse Schmitz taking our 5th and 6th places respectively with very gutsy performances from these two up and coming athletes.

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Another break allowing a little more recovery time for athletes in the 400metres and mile, and then it was back to the 100 metre start for the running of the “Norfolk Island Gas Centre”100 metres final. Some impressive heat times meant that the final was going to be a close contest with less than a second separating the heat times of the 8 finalists. Mark Kalsrap and some of the other contenders for the title made a strategic call to miss the Mile event to save tiring legs for the final of the 100 metres. The decision was to pay off as Mark stormed home in 11.8 seconds to take out his 3rd consecutive Norfolk Island Gas Centre 100 metres title and the winners’ cheque of $400 and the “Gift” shield. Zoe Cribb ran the same time as her heat to claim 2nd place and the $100 travel voucher from Travel World. With just a nose to 3rd place and it was Charlie Carr who filled out the podium just ahead of Ashton Kolimasau. Jessica Pine was always in the mix and held off Ella Borg to finish in 5th place. Ella again finishing in 6th place for the second year running. Lexi Tavener surged home in another great display to take 7th spot and filling out the top 8 places was Jonny Sheridan who had slipped down the results after his 4th place finish in 2013.

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At the conclusion of the Norfolk Island Gas Centre”100 metres final the prize giving was held with prizes awarded by President of Athletics Norfolk Island, Brentt Jones. Ian Anderson attended the afternoons events and as one of the major sponsors was invited to present the prizes in the “World Traders” 400 metres. Thank you to Ian for his ongoing support.

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Athletics Norfolk Island is grateful for the attendance of parents and friends to support the athletes at these annual events and thanks to those who assisted with timing and preparation of the track for the afternoon particularly Paula O’Hara and Brianna Stephens.

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As in previous editions of the “Gift”, a range of very generous sponsors has assisted Athletics Norfolk Island in providing great support for the prizes on offer for these events.  Athletics Norfolk Island and all entrants are always extremely grateful for this ongoing support.

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Particular thanks to our very long time sponsors of the “Gift”, Chris and Karen Gatehouse from the Norfolk Island Gas Centre after whom the “blue ribbon” event of the “Gift “ is named , and to Ian and Monica Anderson of “World Traders” for their very generous support  for the 400 metres. Our sponsors are:

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• Norfolk Island Gas Centre

• World Traders

• Travel World

• Pete’s Place and NI Building Supplies

• Foodland’s

• Max’s department Store

• Cascade Motors

• South Pacific resort Hotel

• Paradise Hotel

• Paw Paws Pumpshed

• Governors Lodge

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Norfolk Island “Gift” 2014 - Results

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“Norfolk Island Gas Centre” 100 metres:

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• 1st Mark Kalsrap - Gas Centre prize and perpetual shield                    

• 2nd Zoe Cribb - Travel World voucher                                                                

• 3rd Charlie Carr - Pete’s place and Governors Lodge voucher                     

• 4th Ashton Kolimasau - Foodland voucher                       

• 5th Jessica Pine - Max’s department Store voucher                    

• 6th Ella Borg - South Pacific resort Hotel voucher

• 7th Lexi Tavener - Cascade Motors voucher                    

• 8th Jonny Sheridan - Paradise Hotel voucher      

              

“World Traders” 400 metres:

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• 1st Charlie Carr - $250 World Traders voucher          

• 2nd Zoe Cribb - $100 World Traders voucher

• 3rd Ella Borg - $50 World Traders voucher and Governors Lodge voucher                                     

• 4th Mark Kalsrap - South Pacific Resort Hotel voucher        

              

“Middlegate” Mile:

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• 1st Jedd Gardner - $200 Cash Athletics Norfolk Island                          

• 2nd Ryan Crane - Foodland and Pete’s Place vouchers                          

• 3rd Richard Cribb - Max’s Department Store and Paw Paws Pumpshed voucher                 

• 4th Peter Haymes - Foodland voucher