Latest news with #LeonoraGoldenGift
West Australian
05-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Athletes vie for lucrative prizes across sprints and endurance events at Leonora Golden Gift
Local runners mixed with professionally trained athletes at the weekend's Leonora Golden Gift as they vied for a cut of the lucrative $65,000 prize pool. There were 120m and 600m sprints for short-distance runners, as well as open and masters mile events for athletes to test their endurance on the Tower Street circuit. The spectacle attracted a strong crowd of spectators who cheered the athletes on. Results. Open female 600m: Kayla van der Linden (1min. 34.85sec.), Alma Robb (1:37.02), Ellie Glands (1:37.84). Open male 600m: Luke Shaw (1:24.74), Thomas Cross (1:25.05), Jamie Deane (1:25.81). Open female mile: Brielle Erbacher (5:08.67), Angie Ross (5:14.84), Ellie Glands (5:17.98). Open male mile: Kiran Tibballs (4:18.74), Matt Smith (4:20.85), Daniel Canala (4:20.90). Masters female mile: Angie Ross (5:30.44), Tammi Doyle (6:46.08), Barbara Maria (6:47.00). Masters male mile: Gary Smith (5:49.85), Mark Watters (5:54.44), Luke Vernon (7:08.73). Open female 120m: Taylah Cruttenden (14.52sec.), Annie Pfeiffer (14.63), Kayla van der Linden (15.17). Open male 120m: Cooper Jenkins (13.15), Adam Kopp (13.23), Luke Shaw (13.79).
West Australian
04-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
Budding athletes get on track at Leonora
Budding athletes took over Leonora's main street on Sunday before elite runners took to the tarmac. There were 120m and 600m sprints for under-12 and under-16 competitors as part of this year's $65,000 Leonora Golden Gift program. The junior events attracted a strong crowd of spectators who cheered on the young runners as they gave it their all. Later in the day, Aliahky Banks was awarded this year's Moneghetti Medal for good character. Results. Girls 120m under-12: Tamara George (18.58sec), Sadie Fitzgerald (18.94), Zinab Swaray (19.14). Boys 120m under-12: Tanaka Mutanga (16.77), Solomon Glass (17.08), Kayson Rameka (18.32). Girls 120m under-16: Gabriela Jelliman (17.17), Tiana Simpson (17.62), Amber Rodan (17.64). Boys 120m under-16: Mohammed Swaray (14.99), Lummell Harris (16.15), Isaiah Tichborne (16.20). Girls 600m under-12: Hollie Gilbert (2min. 24.57sec.), Samara Haldorpis (2:24.81), Lace Taylor (2:31.87). Boys 600m under-12: Tanaka Mutanga (1:53.16), Kayson Rameka (1:54.74), Keston Spark (2:7.46). Girls 600m under-16: Amber Rodan (1:59.23), Tiana Simpson (2:17.10), Gabriela Jelliman (2:29.04). Boys 600m under-16: Isaiah Tichborne (1:51.40), Lummell Harris (1:52.54), Mohammed Swaray (1:56.83).
West Australian
04-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
Competition favourite claims fifth Work Boot Sprint title in Leonora
Keen sprinters swapped their running shoes for steel cap boots and battled it out on Leonora's main drag during the highly anticipated Work Boot Sprint. The 60m dash in heavy work boots formed part of this year's $65,000 Leonora Golden Gift program. Competition regular Brayden Sprigg Dos Santos was the clear favourite in the male division and claimed his fifth title after a one-year hiatus following the birth of his son. Sprigg Dos Santos said the trick was to 'tie them up nice and tight' but most importantly 'have fun'. The Kalgoorlie-Boulder resident grew up in Leonora and said he was pleased to return to his old haunt with friends and family. 'It's great to be here with all my friends and my family,' Sprigg Dos Santos said. 'I had last year off because I had a baby boy, but I'm back now. 'It's not about winning. 'It's just about having fun and being involved and staying healthy.' Sprigg Dos Santos achieved back-to-back victories after he won the work boot relay with his team, The Leo Boys. His teammates included Colby Norrie, Blake Norrie and Yianni Zagorianos. 'All of us in the relay race, we've been friends for a long time,' Sprigg Dos Santos said. 'We all consider each other family and it's just a good opportunity to come home and spend time with family and friends.' In the female division, mine worker Lily Grace secured bragging rights on the bitumen. Grace said she was pleased to support the community carnival. 'It's good to get around events like this in the community so I thought I'd run the race,' she said. 'It's just so amazing seeing the kids get around the basketball (tournament). 'Rene (Reddingius Jr) does a great job with the Blazers, the art exhibition was beautiful.'
West Australian
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Community spirit at the heart of Leonora Golden Gift
This year's Leonora Golden Gift was again one to remember as some of nation's fastest athletes joined Goldfields residents in a series of races that kept spectators entertained. The gold mining town's main drag came to life on Saturday with the much-anticipated work boot sprint, as well as children's activities, a fireworks display and performances from Coterie and Renegade. Sunday played host to junior athletics events and 120 metres, 600m and mile events for all ages before the headline men's and women's elite mile races. The total prize pool this year was $65,000. The iconic competition was formed in 2003 when athlete Raf Baugh and former Shire of Leonora president Graham Dawes floated an idea for a running race to reinvigorate the Goldfields town. Current shire president Peter Craig said this year's carnival went off without a hitch with perfect weather and a bumper field of competitors from all age groups. 'This is an opportunity for everybody, regardless of what age you are and your ability, to partake in the running,' he said. 'There's a lot of money on the table for the (elite runners) but there's certainly opportunities for the younger generation to show their wares and come through them as well.' On Friday, a youth basketball tournament took place and the Leonora Art Prize was opened. A bowls tournament and emergency response challenge also took place at the weekend. The neighbouring ghost town of Gwalia was also a popular attraction with visitors wishing to explore the hessian miners' cottages. Cr Craig said the Gift boosted the region's visitation and highlighted Leonora's rich outback history and heritage. 'Leonora has got a great history, we have Gwalia, the museum and Hoover House,' he said. 'It gives people an opportunity to visit our region. 'We certainly want to promote it and put it out there that the doors are always open to Leonora so come and have a look.' The Golden Gift usually takes place in conjunction with the annual Goldfields Cyclassic, however this event was cancelled this year. Cr Craig said Gift organisers hoped to see the return of the historic road race. 'Hopefully that does come back on the radar in coming years,' he said. 'We all know that everything costs a lot of money and you've got to have some good sponsors. 'We would certainly like to see it back on the cards again.'
West Australian
02-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Melhuish claims prestigious Elite Female Mile title in Leonora
ACT's Zoe Melhuish made her mark on Leonora's main street with a tactical performance during the Elite Female Mile on Sunday. Melhuish paced herself behind Stephanie Kelly and Georgia Winkcup before surging ahead on the final lap to record an impressive time of 4min. 42.79sec. as part of this year's $65,000 Leonora Golden Gift program. Kelly (4:45.99) and Winkcup (4.53.03) placed second and third, respectively. The headline event saw a field of experienced athletes face-off across three laps of the freshly resurfaced Tower Street. Melhuish said she enjoyed the street circuit layout of the race. 'I think the corners suited me quite well,' she said. 'It was nice going past every so often and you get the same people (cheering), and the same music going. 'I think a mile is a really good distance, I quite enjoy the mile.' The Canberra-based runner said she had dedicated more time to athletics this season and achieved success in Perth and Sydney. 'I don't think I really raced an awful lot until about this last athletic season,' she said. 'Quite a few things went my way, so I've just had a few good races. 'I went to nationals . . . in Perth and then I've been at Sydney for a 10k and then out here. 'It's my first time in Leonora, I never been before so it was really exciting. 'It has been so nice having everyone out here and having people lining down on the streets. 'All of the other races, like the sprints earlier, I loved watching those.' Melhuish said the event had a 'great atmosphere' and planned to return next year to defend her title. 'The atmosphere was very exciting and having the bands (perform) the night before was really great,' she said. 'It was great to see how many people were out . . . it's exciting to see kids playing and getting photos afterwards. 'It has been an awesome weekend so yes, I will definitely be back next year.' Elite Mile winners pocketed $7500 in prize money and a one-ounce gold coin valued at more than $5000.
