Premier running race the Braybrook Gift has been cancelled for 2024 after a venue clash.
Over 500 applicants, including many from interstate, were warming up for Braybrook Gift, which was set to take place on Sunday, March 3, making it the second biggest race in the Victorian Athletic League (VAL) calendar.
The Braybrook Sporting Club hosted the Gift for the first time in 2023, and was looking ahead to a second successful run at Pennell Reserve this spring.
The club said a verbal agreement was undertaken with St Andrew’s Cricket back in August, whose season is still alive as finals approach.
A spokesperson from the Braybrook Sporting Club said the cricket club was “not willing to compromise on any given date moving forward as it clashed with anything and everything they could come up with, and they only brought up the clash of dates once we, out of good will, double checked with them at the beginning of January, as that is when applications open to enter for use of Pennell Reserve.”
Braybrook Sporting Club representatives felt that they had given St Andrew’s enough time to request an away game on certain dates to allow the Gift to go ahead.
The club has now had to reimburse more than $9000 worth of sponsorships for the day, as well as further losses on deposits paid for activities and attractions.
Terry O’Donnell from the VAL said it is extremely disappointing to see the race not run in 2024.
“We will be working with Braybrook Sporting Club to find a suitable date for next year, but this year it will not happen,” he said.
“The cricket club gave permission last August when the calendar was set, and it has only been in the last week that this was withdrawn.
“Many interstate athletes target this race as a lead up to the Stawell Gift, and have already booked flights and accommodation.”
He believes the cancellation of the event will cause the VAL a loss of $5000.
Maribyrnong council chief executive Celia Haddock said council had no say in the decision, as allocations for the reserve were made far earlier.
“Summer allocations for sporting reserves are finalised by September prior to the commencement of summer, and in January 2024 Council was made aware of a request to hire Pennell Reserve by the Victorian Athletic League through the Braybrook Sporting Club as the host club,“ she said.
“Unfortunately Pennell Reserve was previously allocated though the seasonal booking process and unavailable on the date requested by the Victorian Athletic League.
“Council offered alternative dates for Pennell Reserve and also alternative venues for the requested date, however all parties declined these offers.
“Council has undertaken discussions with the cricket and football clubs, and the Victorian Athletic League to ensure the event continues again in Braybrook in 2025.“
St Andrews Cricket Club was contacted for comment.
