All posts by Matt Beckenham

Elite track and field coach, 2000 Olympian
2009/10 Press Releases and Media Coverage, Total 2009/10 Squad Gift Prizemoney is over $72000 - Click for Results

Burbidge takes the Stawell Gift

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Tom Burbidge has taken out the biggest professional gift race in the World claiming a famous victory in 12.01 off a handicap of 8.75m. Congratulations also goes to training partner Brendan Matthews who ran as the backmarker in the Stawell gift final off 5.75m.

2010 Stawell Gift Final – Video Footage click here 

Video Stories on Stawell

Fox Sports

Channel 10

ABC

Other Squad results

  • Derek Collinge final of the 400m (5th) and 550m (5th) events.
  • Luke Storta 3rd in the Gift Winners Gift Final
  • Kevin Matthews final of the Vet’s 100m (4th) event.

MattyB DEPT has 6 runners in the Stawell Gift semi finals including Tom Burbidge, Brendan Matthews, Luke Storta, Grant Billingham, Stephen Sheppard and Derek Collinge.

Please below links to a selection of  articles on Tom’s victory.

Daily Telegraph – John Salvado

The Australian – Lauren Wilson

Athletics Australia story

Heral Sun – Scott Gullan

Sydney Morning Herald story – Dan Silkstone

The Australian – Nicole Jeffery 

Border Mail – Matt Cram

Best Result

Tom Burbidge victory in Stawell Gift

Stawell Gift Squad Winnings: $42200

Yearly Squad Winnings:  $67400  

Total Squad Sashes for 2009/10: 14

Individual Money Winners

  1. Tom Burbidge $40065
  2. Luke Storta $9670
  3. Derek Collinge $5500
  4. Ramona Casey $3740
  5. Lauren Boden $2220
  6. Stephen Sheppard $1390
  7. Brendan Matthews $1060
  8. Tarin Nevin $655
  9. Grant Billingham $545
  10. Melissa Breen $500
  11. Patrick Elliott $455
  12. Jaryd Cowley $340
  13. MattyB $290
  14. Michael Rutter $225 
  15. Jesse Matthews $105 
  16. Brandan Galic $90
  17. Kevin Matthews $70

Individual Results (money earning results only)

Grass Track, mild and conditions. 

Tom Burbidge

  • 120m Gift – (8.75m) 1st Final ($40000)

Derek Collinge

  • 400m Gift – (17m) 5th Final ($135)
  • 550m Gift – (24m) 5th Final ($135) 
  • 120m Gift – (8.25m) Semi Final ($140)

Brendan Matthews

  • 120m – (5.75m) 6th Final ($1000)
  • 70m – (4m) Semi Final ($30)

Luke Storta

  • 120m Gift Winners – (6m) 3rd Final ($250)
  • 120m Gift – (6m) Semi Final ($140)

Stephen Sheppard

  • 120m Gift – (7.75m) Semi Final ($140)
  • 70m – (5m) Semi Final ($30)

Grant Billingham

  • 120m Gift – (7m) Semi Final ($140)

MattyB

  • 70m – (8.5m) Semi Final ($30)

Kevin Matthews

  • 100m Vets – (14m) 5th Final ($30)
2009/10 Press Releases and Media Coverage

Next Stop Stawell

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A squad of 11 MattyB DEPT. athletes will will travel down to Stawell this Easter for a long weekend full of racing.

The squad will be lead by World Championships representative Brendan Cole who will use this weekend as his final preparation leading into the National Championships to be held in Perth from 16-18th April which also double as the Commonwealth Games trials. Cole who already has an “A” standard in the 400m Hurdles will look to gain automatic selection with victory in 2 weeks time.

Cole has 6m in the Stawell Gift but will be aiming primarily on the 200m where he made the final last year. He has the same handicap of 9m so is sure to be competitive.

18 year old Brendan Matthews will return to Stawell on a mission after making it through to the final last year only to be struck down with a hamstring injury depriving him an opportunity to run off for glory. Unfortunately Matthews has only 5.75m which is 1.5m less than last year but with some improvement in his sprinting and a recent personal best of 10.72 in the 100m he is sure to be in the mix. He will also run in the 70m event and possibly the 200m.

Luke Storta (6m) the 2009 Queanbeyan Gift winner will run in a new race at the carnival that puts 6 of the major gift winner throughout the year in a Gift winners gift. Luke will also run in the Gift and 70m events.

Derek Collinge (8.25m) the 2010 Burramine Gift winner will have a busy weekend competing in the Gift, 400m and 550m events.

Tom Burbidge (8.75m) the 2009 Temora Gift winner will return to Stawell where he made the semi final last year hoping to go even better this year.

Ramona Casey will fly the flag for the females. After an outstanding year in the NSW gifts including victories at Macksville Women’s Gift, Queanbeyan 70m, Gilgandra Women’s Gift and Gardens 300m she will compete in the Women’s Gift and 400m and also the open 70m event.

Other finalists from gifts this year running from the squad include

  • Jesse Matthews – Finalist in the 400m Bendigo Black opal will run in the Gift, 70m and 400m.
  • Grant Billingham – Winner of the Canberra Gift Novice will run in the Gift and 200m
  • Stephen Sheppard – Winner of Queanbeyan Novice and Northcote 70m will run in the Gift and  70m.
  •  MattyB – Finalist at Canberra Gift will run in the 70m and 200m events
  • Kevin Matthews – Multiple finalist in 70m and veteran events will run in the 70m, Vet’s 100m and 300m
  • Michael Rutter – Winner of Canberra skins will run in the 70m, 200m and Vet’s 100m

Squad Best Chances

  • 70m – Brendan Matthews, Stephen Sheppard, Kevin Matthews
  • Women’s Gift – Ramona Casey
  • Stawell Gift – Brendan Matthews, Tom Burbidge
  • 200m – Brendan Cole, Grant Billingham
  • 400m – Derek Collinge, Jesse Matthews
  • Women’s 400m – Ramona Casey
  • Vets 100m and 300m – Kevin Matthews, Michael Rutter
  • 550m – Derek Collinge

The finals will be shown on Channel 10 and oneHD on Monday from 12-2pm so make sure you tune in and cheer for the MattyB DEPT.

2009/10 Major Event Results

Nevin and Breen take NSW state titles

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A squad of 5 MattyB DEPT. athletes ventured to the NSW State Titles and returned with 2 State titles, 1 silver, 3 personal bests, 1 Commonwealth B qualifier and 3 season bests.

Melissa Breen was the star of the sprints taking out the Women’s final in a time of 11.42 (1.2w). Melissa has now strung together 3 B’s and 1 A standard for the Commonwealth Games including 11.41 (Sydney Track Classic), 11.40 (Melbourne Track Classic), 11.34 (ACT State Champs) and 11.42 (NSW State Champs). Training partner Ramona Casey also made the final runing a season best of 12.40 which is the fastest she has run in 5 years.

Runner’s Tribe footage of Women’s 100m click here

Tarin Nevin returned to the winning circle taking out the NSW title in the Women’s 400m Hurdles in a season best time of 62.88. Despite some gutsy wind Tarin was very strong to the line and is clearly on track for a new personal best at the National Championships in Perth in 3 weeks time.

Runner’s Tribe footage of Women’s 400m Hurdles click here

Lauren Boden switched back to the 400m flat and again put herself forward as a relay runner for the 4 x 400m at the Commonwealth Games this year. Lauren finished in second place in a new personal best time of 53.51. World Championship representative Pirenee Steinert took the title in 53.19 with Olivia Tauro finishing third also in a time of 53.51.

Runner’s Tribe footage of Women’s 400m click here

Derek Collinge made a huge breakthrough over the weekend. Coming into the titles with a personal best of 49.07 Derek posted a new personal best of 48.65 to make it through to the final. In the final he stepped it up again to cross the line in 4th place in a time of 48.3.

Runner’s Tribe footage of Men’s 400m click here