Tarrant and Pasquali Crowned Stawell Gift Champions
Published Tue 11 Apr 2023
Teenagers Bella Pasquali and Ryan Tarrant claimed the crowns at the 141st Powercor Stawell Gift Carnival yesterday (Easter Monday).
16 year old Bella from Wangaratta took home the $40,000 prize purse in the Change Our Game Womens Gift with a winning time of 13.545 seconds off a handicap of 7.25m, ahead of 2015 Women's Gift winner Grace O’Dywer in 13.568, Nicole Berridge in 13.635s, Keely Henderson in 13.719s, Layla Watson in 13.726s and fastest qualifier and favourite Olivia Hastings 13.740s.
Ryan Tarrant, the Melbourne University student was the favourite after clocking the fastest heat time on Saturday and carried that form through to today despite some hot competition. Ryan’s time was 12.232s off 3.75 metres ahead of Nick Antonino in a very tight 2nd place in 12.244s and previous winners Isaac Dunmall in 12.344s and Matt Rizzo in 12.350s; and 5th was Kieren Mundine in 12.406s. Saye Morris was a scratching from the final due to a hamstring injury.
A clearly delighted Bella Pasquali, who won the 2022 SYPAQ Lorraine Donnan 400m Women's Handicap thanked her parents, her squad and her coach Jason Boulton as well as Change Our Game, the race sponsor.
Ryan Tarrant is coached by Adam Larcom and said he loved every minute of the Powercor Stawell Gift weekend. “I’m a 100m and 200m track runner normally so the 120m distance is perfect for me. The crowd here at Stawell was amazing.”
The Invitational Women’s Handicap 1000m saw a roll call of Australia’s middle-distance running stars descend upon Central Park, with another teenager, 17 year old Claudia Hollingsworth, taking line honours in the feature race and $5,000 prize money ahead of Australian 1500m, 3000m and 5000m champion Jessica Hull who started the race off the scratch mark.
Australian 800m record holder Catriona Bisset put the hammer down early and set the pace, before bold moves came from Linden Hall, then Georgia Griffiths and Jessica Hull with multiple changes to the lead in the final lap. But it was Hollingsworth who held the line and seemingly snuck up on the world class field to sensationally stride to victory off 10m.
“What an amazing experience to race at Stawell, I’ve heard so much about this place,” said Claudia. “It was so awesome to race the girls and have another great battle. I’m turning 18 on Wednesday so what a great way to celebrate!”
Dhruv Rodgrigues Chico won the Furphy Chris Perry Memorial Backmarkers Invitational Handicap 120m for the second time with a time of 12.378m off 0.75m narrowly beating Jake Doran off the same mark and 2018 Powercor Stawell Gift champion Jacob Despard in 3rd place off 1m.
The Stawell Athletic Club Jack Donaldson 200m was won by Paul Tancredi in a time of 20.341s.
Mitchel Langborne took out the Northern Grampians Shire Council Herb Hedemann Invitation Handicap in 4:4.699s.
The Bill Howard Handicap 100m winner was Hugh Sharman.
The new SYPAQ Defence Forces Handicap was won by Harry Lavelle.
An emotional Ramona Casey, the 39-year-old from Newcastle was the winner of the SYPAQ Lorraine Donnan 400m Handicap in a very close finish from 2017 Womens Gift winner Liv Ryan, mentioning her coach Bruce Gulliver and her own squad of girls after accepting the trophy.
“The girls stopped their shopping trip to watch the race on 7 which was amazing. I always try to teach them that its not always about the win, although that is amazing, but the process and the friendships and lessons you learn along the way.”
The Stawell Family Central Park Frontmarkers Handicap 400m was won by Darcy Ireland in and the Bill McManus Backmarkers 400m was won by Patrick Martin.
The new memorial race and last of the carnival was the Sean Quilty 45+ Series 800m was won by Andew Drummond ahead of Gary Blake and Martine Beer.
RESULTS Full results for Day 3 of the Power Stawell Gift Carnival are HERE.
By Stawell Gift
Posted: 11/4/2023
