2011 Dardanup Gift REVIEW

http://nbablues.com/2011/10/mat-doesnt-come-up-short/

Mat doesn’t come up Short
By Paul
North Beach Athletic Club Website
October 15, 2011

19yo North Beach flyer Mathew Short has snuck home to win the $3000 120m 2011 Dardenup Gift.

Running from the 10.25m handicap Short snatched victory in the last breath to inch out favourite, WA state female beach sprint champion Samantha Plato who lead most of the way.

In one of the most exciting and closest Dardenup Gift finishes in history, fellow Blues athletes Ben Clark (14.50) finished third with Steve Rafty (15.00) in the minor placings. The quality 2011 final included last year’s and multiple gift winner Dylan Panizza (8.50), backmarker Bryce Teo (8.00) and state AWD T36 100m, 200m & 400m champion Andrew Bannister (40.00) in a blanket finish. This is the first time in WA history (& perhaps Australian) an AWD has won professional prizemoney in both the 120m events!

North Beach clean swept the placings in the $1500 70m race, won by (2011 Mullewa 70m winner) Nathan Caccamo (11.50) from Sam Hughes (10.25) in second and Ben Clark (10.0) third. Interestingly, all the boys were members of the North Beach Football Club last season. Beach sprint champion Samantha Plato (15.00) finished 5th.

The Blues stable performed well again in the $500 120m Novice Gift with Ben ‘Bomber’ Clark (14.25) taking out victory in the tightest margin of the day to Scarboro Surf Lifesaver Jacqueline Smith (29.00) runner up, with Blues champion speedster Andrew Bannister (40.25) finishing in 3rd place. His North Beach teammate Sam Hughes (15.50) finished on strong to grab 4th place.

A great job was done as always by commentator Mark Blatchford.

Congratulations and thanks to all the participants, coaches & officials who made the journey down South and took part on a fantastic day!

As a WA competitor..........I've never noticed the 2 gun start! Just checked videos I have of that day and he double gunned the 120m races only??

No check starters either.

Starter is Kevan Hook who has been starting everything in WA from Little Aths to Pros for many years.

Full Dardanup Results now available.

http://www.waathletics.org.au/2011%20dardanup%20gift%20results.pdf

Some sad news this week in regards to the WA Starter Kevan Hook......he passed away after a freak accident in a local shopping area when he was hit by a bobcat that was working in a nearby park.

Info below from WA Athletics website

 Athletics WA would like to pay tribute to long-time official, and life
member, Kevan Hook who tragically passed away on Friday after a
freak accident. Kevan began his career in athletics as a competitor in
Kalgoorlie in 1954. He began a 46-year career as an official in 1965 in
the Eastern Goldfields. In 1969 he moved to Perth and joined the
starting panel under Ossie Waddell with Ray Mawson and Shirley de la
Hunty. He had a long and distinguished career in Athletics which
included being a Track Official at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in
Brisbane and the Sydney Olympics in 2000, as well as being Chief
Starter with Athletics WA for 29 years. Outside of his work in athletics
Kevan was a valued member of the Stirling Players Theatre group and
also a volunteer on the Seniors Recreation Council. Athletics WA would
liike to pass on their condolences to Kevan's family and friends. We have lost a dear friend, and a wonderful man.

Vale Kevan Hook 1939-2011