Castlemaine Gift ‘Meeting of the Year’
Originally published 5 July 2024, Castlemaine Mail
The Castlemaine Gift has beaten out Bendigo, Ballarat and Bayside to be named ‘Gift Meeting of the Year’ by the Victorian Runners and Trainers Association.
Castlemaine Gift organisers, Darryl and Christine Nettleton, received the award at the association’s annual awards dinner held at the Brighton Bay Hotel last Saturday night.
Castlemaine Gift organisers, Darryl and Christine Nettleton, with the award
Twenty-two meetings are held during the Victorian Athletic League season from October through to the Stawell Gift at Easter.
Darryl said that each year the VRTA shortlisted what it considered were the best four meetings of the year.
“The committee then considers a series of criteria and decides which meeting they think is the best each year,” he said.
“Our event had increased prize money across many of the main races and provided a livestream of the day for those who could not attend via My Sport Live.
“We give prizes to all place-getters and heat winners, from local businesses and suppliers, and have a quality track and food and drinks available from the canteen.
“The generous donation of goods from local Castlemaine traders, given out as prizes, has become a real feature of our event.”
Darryl said attention to detail would also have been a factor.
“Each child who runs in the Junior Castlemaine Gift (five-year-olds through to 13-year-olds) receives a small bag of lollies and chips, a bottle of water, as well as pieces of fruit,” he explained.
“The planning is already under way for the 2025 meeting that will be held on Sunday February 23.
“We thank all our past valuable sponsors and hope that all will be in a position to again sponsor races. However, we are seeking potential sponsors who can sponsor a heat of a race for $100, a heat of the men’s or women’s 120m Gifts for $200, or a share of a race for $500 up to $1000.
“We also need to find a couple of larger sponsors to share naming rights to main races for $2000 to $2500.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring an event can contact Darryl via email: nettleton2011@bigpond.com