CAN THE WINNER OF THE 2014 AUSTRALIA POST STAWELL GIFT PLEASE STAND UP?

Date: 20th April 2014


With no clear favourite identified for the 2014 Australia Post Stawell Gift, the semi-finals are shaping up to be half an hour of thrilling athletics.
 
With only the winners of each semi going through to the final, the 133rd Australia Post Stawell Gift will be shaped when the cut-throat semis are run, and those with aspirations of winning this prestigious event will need to give their all to take out the $40,000 prize money.
 
With no clear favourite for the iconic foot race, the bookmakers have kept the field tight as they too struggle with the uncertainty of the final outcome.
 
TAB.com.au has listed Augustine Carty-Cowling as favourite at $3.50, Isaac Dunmall at $4.00, Chris Innes-Wong at $5.00, Sam Jamieson at $6.50, John Adams at $6.50 and Luke Versace at $10.
 
Since the first running of the Australia Post Stawell Gift in 1878, the Victorian town of Stawell has played host to some of the most exciting moments in Australian Athletics history.Steeped in history, the event is full of fascinating stories of athletic feats coupled with successful or misplaced betting plunges and alleged subterfuge, yet ultimately the Australia Post Stawell Gift comes down to supreme speed.
 
2014 Australia Post Stawell Gift Semi Final Form Guide 
 
1st SEMI START TIME 12.40pm
1 Red – Joel BEE 0.75
2 White – Joshua McCABE 5.5
3 Blue –  Kevin BRITTAIN 6
4 Yellow – Robert SPENCER 7.5
5 Green – Cam DUNBAR 8
6 Pink – Christopher INNES-WONG 8.75
7 Black – Jarrad DARTNALL 9.75
 
Christopher Innes-Wong, coached by 1985 Stawell Gift winner Paul Young, is sitting 3rd favourite for the $40,000 major prize and will face a tight battle with Victoria’s Robert Spencer who took out this year’s Bendigo 120m. Two-time Australia Post Stawell Gift finalist Kevin Brittain will also be in the mix, after his comfortable heat victory in 12.40 seconds.
 
2nd SEMI START TIME 12.45pm
1 Red – Sam JAMIESON 4.75
2 White – David AFATH 5.5
3 Blue – David TINNEY 7
4 Yellow – Luke HOULIHAN 7.5
5 Green – Paul TANCREDI 8.5
6 Pink – Simon JACKSON 9.5
7 Black – David GROSS 9.75
 
2008 Australia Post Stawell Gift winner Sam Jamieson will be looking to join the history books with a second win when he lines up on Easter Monday. Also in the Nick Fiedler stable, Jamieson’s training partner Simon Jackson looked impressive in Saturday’s heats with the fifth fastest time of 12.38 seconds. Sudanese refugee David Afath’s place in the semi-final has reaffirmed his decision to take up athletics, and he is another one to watch in the second semi.
 
3rd SEMI START TIME 12.50pm
1 Red – Ryan BEDFORD 4
2 White – Matthew HARGREAVES 5.75
3 Blue – Daniel STEINHAUSER 7.5
4 Yellow – Edward WARE 8.5
5 Green – Matthew EDDY 8.75
6 Pink – Peter O’DWYER 10
7 Black –  Luke VERSACE 10
 
Victorian Luke Versace did not win his heat but posted the 4th fastest heat time and looks the man to beat in the 3rd semi-final. He should be challenged by Edward Ware who won the sixth heat in another fast time of 12.43 seconds. Self-trained veteran Peter O’Dwyer once again lines up in an Australia Post Stawell Gift semi-final, in his 27th successive appearance at Stawell. No one should write off the two-time Australia Post Stawell Gift finalist and coach of 2012 winner Matt Wiltshire.
 
4th SEMI START TIME 1.00pm
1 Red – Dean SCARFF 5.5
2 White – Nick MACGIBBON 6.75
3 Blue – Jordan TRONNOLONE 7.75
4 Yellow – John ADAMS 8
5 Green – Glenn ROSS 9
6 Pink – Ryan CAMILLE 9.75
7 Black – Dale LYONS 10
 
Albury veteran John Adams looked impressive in his heat and will be eager to challenge for the winners cheque come Easter Monday. Adams shows good earlier speed and should run well off his 8m mark. The 70m winner at Albury this year, Adams’ heat time was one tenth of a second quicker than any of the athletes in the fourth semi-final. Other strong contenders in the fourth semi include last year’s finalist Ryan Camille and Nick MacGibbon who will be hoping to improve on his 2013 semi-final appearance.
 
5th SEMI START TIME 1.05pm
1 Red – James VINE 5.25
2 White – Will JOHNS 6.25
3 Blue – Tim ESCHEBACH 7
4 Yellow – Liam SHEPHERD 7.75
5 Green – Augustine CARTY-COWLING 8.5
6 Pink – Josh TIU 9
7 Black – Dylan HICKS 10
 
Augustine Carty-Cowling will be hard to beat posting an impressive heat time of 12.34 seconds. Off a mark of 8.5m it is no surprise he is the favourite heading into the semi-finals. Another young Victorian, Will Johns, should pose a threat in his first appearance at Stawell. Johns will be calling on some wise-words from his experienced coach Neville Sillitoe.
 
6th SEMI START TIME 1.10pm
1 Red – Luke STEVENS 3.5
2 White – Brendan MATTHEWS 6.25
3 Blue – Murray GOODWIN 7
4 Yellow – Vincent JASON 8
5 Green – Isaac DUNMALL 8
6 Pink – Simon FITZPATRICK 9.5
7 Black – Leigh PHELAN 10
 
Isacc Dunmall looms as the man to beat as he posted the fastest time in Saturday’s heats with a time of 12.32 seconds. After winning the Gift Hotel Arthur Postle 70m at Stawell last year, Dunmall will be eager to add another victory sash to his collection. The Queenslander’s preparation has been interrupted following two hamstring injuries. A strong challenge should come from two-time Australia Post Stawell Gift finalist Brendan Matthews, who has 11 race victories to his name from this year’s pro-running circuit. Backmarker Luke Stevens and Murray Goodwin will also be in contention.

News crews attending the Australia Post Stawell Gift Finals Day (Monday 21stApril) will be restricted to colour footage from the perimeter of the track.
 
Broadcast partner ONE will cover the event live between midday and 3PM. The final of the 2014 Australia Post Stawell Gift will take place at 2.45PM

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