By Barry Irving
SATURDAY saw the running of the 50th Annual Rye Gift, hosted by the six local clubs that make up the Rye Sports and Social Club: Southern Peninsula Little Athletics, Rye Foot-ball Netball Club, Rye Junior Football Club, Rye Tennis Club, Rye Cricket Club and Rye & District Basketball Club.
The VAL (Victorian Athletic League) providing the professional administration of the events timing, handicaps etc.
The shire management and preparation of the oval and running surface must be congratulated on producing what many competitors and parents said was a running track second to none.
The day kicked off at 8am with a record number of junior athletes competing in heats for the Junior Gift; 130 juniors from all over Victoria registered and turned up to compete.
A stunning run from local nine year old girl Violet Seith from Southern Peninsula Little Athletics saw her win the girls handicap junior gift.
Boys junior gift winner was 12 year old competitor Jacob Guyett from Diamond Creek.
Lunch for the near 100 sponsors and guests was hosted and prepared by the Rye Cricket Club led by Jackie and Ross McKenzie a contribution of over 30 years. Guests included: Federal Member Zoe McKenzie, Shire Mayor Anthony Marsh, Deputy Mayor Paul Pingiaro, Councillor Cam Williams, Club Sponsors Southern Peninsula Community Bank, led by Chairman Vin Cheers and senior staff, Rotary Members Paul and Adele Mee, Bruce and Anne White Rye RSL, Michael and Munya Wittingslow, Bruce Collins Jim’s Test and Tag, Neil Stitt and Linda Patterson from Southcoast Medical, Rye Sports and Social Club Life members, and included previous Gift winners invited to celebrate the Gift milestone.
The community relay, always a crowd favourite, was won by the team from Southern Peninsula Little Athletics, 2nd, Rye Football Netball club, 3rd Rye Tennis Club carrying a huge tennis racquet.
Children’s entertainment included free face painting, an animal petting farm, and slide and jumping castle provided by Michael and Manya Wittingslow, unfortunately had to be deflated due to gusty high winds.
The Gift attracted so many competitors that the handicap qualification was reduced to 14 metres. This still resulted in running 11 heats for the men and ten heats for the women, plus semis leading up a field of eight competitors each final.
Gift Results:
Womens $10,000 120m Rye Gift Sponsored by Rye Hotel
1st. Jasmine Rowe off 10.25m: time 13.582
2nd. Maddie Coates off 3.75m: time 13.648
3rd. Lavinia Male off 12.0m: time 13.725
Mens $10,000 120m Rye Gift Spon-sored by Maw Civil Group
1st. Jesse McKenna off 2.75m: time 12.174
2nd. Tom Perry off 9.25m: time 12.242
3rd. Hayden Rothe off 10.50m: time 12.390
First published in the Mornington News – 13 January 2025