Stawell 2025

Old Virgilians Jack Hale (SVC 2011-14) AND Jacob Despard (SVC 2010-13) again fronted for this year’s Stawell carnival. Jacob had previously won the gift in 2018 and Jack gained a third placing in 2016.

 

This year, both were eliminated in the semi-finals and subsequently were included in the backmarkers 120m race, which included the likes of 17 year-old sensation Gout Gout, Lachlan Kennedy (silver medallist in the 60m event at this year’s world indoor championships) and 2023 gift winner Ryan Tarrant.

Photo courtesy Weekly Advertiser: The 2025 Backmakers 120m Handicap field (l-r) Jack Hale, Gout Gout, Olivia Hastings, Carla Bull, Chloe Mannix -Power, Jacob Despard, Lachlan Kennedy and Ryan Tarrant.
Photo courtesy Weekly Advertiser: The 2025 Backmakers 120m Handicap field (l-r) Jack Hale, Gout Gout, Olivia Hastings, Carla Bull, Chloe Mannix -Power, Jacob Despard, Lachlan Kennedy and Ryan Tarrant.

 

The result was as follows and the race can be viewed on YouTube.

 

Place    Athlete                         Handicap          Time

1          Ryan Tarrant                   3.5m               12.274

2          Chloe Mannix-Power  14.0m               12.296

3          Jack Hale                        2.0m               12.349

4          Lachlan Kennedy          scratch             12.386

5          Carla Bull                        15.5m               12.410

6          Olivia Hastings              15.5m               12.420

7          Gout Gout                        0.5m               12.475

8          Jacob Despard                2.0m               12.491

 

Despard to China

Congratulations to Jacob on his inclusion in the 4 x 100m squad to contest the World Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China from 10-11 May. The team broke the national record at the Paris Olympics with a time of 38.46 seconds and bettered that with a time of 37.87 seconds at the Sydney Track Classic on 15 March.  (World and Commonwealth record is 36.84 sec.)


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