With the turf track in pristine condition, a stacked entry list and an unmatched energy emanating from the Seymour Running Club, the 2025 edition this Saturday, December 13, promises to be even better.
A total prize pool of $22,100 is available across the event, with $3000 up for grabs in the both the men’s and women’s 120m gift, while the Caffeine Bistro 300m Masters boasts a $3500 tag, in what is believed to be the richest race of its kind worldwide.
Speaking ahead of the event at Kings Park, SRC president Blair Collins confirmed that the club was ready to put on another outstanding show this weekend.
“Preparations are coming along really, really well, as you can see the track's looking pretty good,” he said.
“We have close to 600 entries, with entries received from Queensland, NSW, ACT, Tasmania and South Australia, as well as Victoria.
“We're obviously (five) sleeps away, the guys have been working pretty hard at the ground. We had our last committee meeting last (Wednesday), so, really it’s just now a case of putting everything that we’ve planned in place over the next (five) days.”
Any excessive use of superlatives in describing last year’s event, the first gift held at Kings Park in over 20 years, is completely justified by the reception it experienced among the community.
The feedback the SRC received from the local community was overwhelmingly positive, with strong attendance also helping the club land the Event of the Year award at the VAL’s presentation evening.
“From our point of view, when we set up the gift, part of it was to get the community involved,” Collins said.
“Obviously the cricket club, footy club, Little Aths and Lions Club were all involved, running certain sections of the hospitality and the gates.
“The feedback we got from the people that were here, some people came along and just wanted to stay for an hour, and ended up staying all day.
“So, you know, the vibe (was good), I think that really helped us also win the award too, because a lot track meets you go to it’s just the athletes and their families, but we have the community support behind us, so it’s good.”
The buy-in from local businesses has been remarkable, too.
A full card has seen two extra events added this year, both of which have secured sponsorship, while silk and heat sponsorships have been sold out too, allowing the event to proceed once more in 2025.
“One hundred per cent, we couldn't have run it without the sponsorship,” Collins said.
“Seymour Club is back on board as naming right sponsors, they gave us a fair bit of money early doors last year to get us off the ground, so they’re back as naming right partners again, and then I think we've got two more events this year, so we’ve filled every (event) sponsorship.
“Then we've got obviously our silk sponsors, our heat sponsors, you name it, we've got it, so the business community been outstanding, to be honest.”
With three of the events last year claimed by Kelfit athletes in Hayden Anderson, Cooper Lubeck and Ian Porter, as well as brilliant commitment from the local community, it will be hard to top the 2024 exploits; however, Collins said the SRC committee had a few cards up its sleeve to ensure this Saturday was bigger and better than ever.
“I probably won't disclose too much, but our committee has been working away,” he said.
“We’ve been working out ways of, I suppose, doing a couple of little things differently, so if you get here on the day, you'll see what’s happening.
“But to be honest, it’s going to be pretty hard to beat last year. I think we’ll just take it up probably five per cent on last year, that’s our goal.”
The 2025 Seymour Club Gift gets under way at 11am this Saturday, December 13, at Kings Park, with racing expected to conclude around 6pm. General admission entry is $10, with kids under 18 entering for free.
