Australia’s richest footrace is one of the national sporting calendar’s marquee events, and there will be plenty of local flavour at this long weekend’s 2024 running.
The Seymour-based Kelfit squad competes against the state’s best in the Victorian Athletic League and has enjoyed its share of successes at recent meets.
The nine-strong Kelfit crew, headed by coach Kelvin Lubeck, will have everyone on hand to compete across the iconic three-day Easter weekend carnival — including the feature races.
“It's simply the pinnacle,” Lubeck said.
“I’ve got two in the 120m gift itself, and the other seven will be in different events across the weekend.
“If you’re a sprinter, you can win some serious money, but this event’s been going on for 140 years, and everyone tries to win at Stawell.
“It’s just so unique and a good race to win financially, with $40,000 going to the winner.”
Kelvin’s son, Cooper, has torn up the track in his recent meets and has eyes on a return to Stawell as one of only three Kelfit members with experience at the event.
While there have been nerves among the group, Lubeck hopes that pressure will create diamonds when the starter’s gun fires.
“We’ve competed and we’ve grown; we’ve now got runners from places like Broadford and Nagambie plus here in Seymour,” Lubeck said.
“What makes this really big is that Channel 7 directly televises it on Monday, and the rest of the meet goes on 7plus.
“It’s right before the football starts, so many people are watching, which has a massive effect on nerves.
“There will probably be 10,000 people at the venue if the weather is how it should be, so it’s a big event.”
Speaking of big events, there is something else for Seymour fans to look forward to later in the year.
“We’ve just been given permission to host the Seymour Gift on December 14,” Lubeck said.
“We haven’t had a Seymour Gift for a long time, so we must be doing a few things right.
“It’s going to be really special.”
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