New name for gift

The Braybrook Sporting club's Ebony Dunlop and president Anthony Dunlop. (Damjan Janevski) 320942_01

Tara Murray

There’s a record amount of entries for this year’s Braybrook Gift.

Formerly known as the Maribyrnong Gift, this year’s event has a new name and new organisers.

The Braybrook Sporting Club has taken over running the event at Pennell Reserve.

Terry O’Donnell, who is helping organise the event, said they were excited for the racing, which has attracted some of the best runners in the country.

“We know that there are 10 coming from Queensland, who are hoping to win it,” he said.

“The last two Stawell Gift winners won the Maribyrnong Gift before winning Stawell, so it has become a target for most runners these days.”

This will be the 13th running of the gift.

There’s equal prize money for the main men’s and women’s events, both run over 120 metres.

O’Donnell said the new organisers had come board and really enhanced it, with every race now being sponsored.

He said there would be plenty of activities for families on the day while the racing was happening.

The Braybrook Gift is on May 5 at Pennell Reserve between 12pm-5pm.