Inaugural Victorian Masters 30+ Athletics Gift
Sunday April 16th 2023 at Doncaster’s “Tom Kelly” Athletics Track (from 10am)
Victorian Masters Athletics (VMA) is pleased to present the inaugural (“first edition”) of the VMA Athletics Gift, which is touted to be the first event of its kind to feature all Track & Field Disciplines in a single competition event for prizemoney. And to make it even more interesting, the events will see athletes competing against handicaps of different types. A description of all the events that will be contested on the day, maximum field sizes, the types of handicaps and the indicative event prizemoney, is shown below. Click on the link here to view the draft program. On the day, competition will get underway at 10am (allowing time for near country athletes to travel to Melbourne). The finish time will be somewhere between 3pm – 6pm, as dictated by the level of entries.
The “Gift” will be yet another event in VMA’s new “marquee” Masters 30+ events series where athletes are not only competing for individual honours but are also part of Victorian location based teams, competing and earning points for both participation and performance, which will (i) determine the winning teams for the “Gift” itself, and also (ii) count towards the recently announced VMA annual Teams Championship.
To enter you need to be 30+ years of age and be a Masters’ affiliated athlete. Interstate and Overseas athletes are welcome to compete by invitation. Any non-masters affiliated athlete will be required to join Victorian Masters Athletics (VMA) – for the special new member cost of just $10/athlete. For non-affiliated Masters athletes, membership of VMA will be activated when “I have no Masters affiliation” is selected on page 2 of the online entry form. This affiliation will allow athletes to enter other VMA events in the “Masters 30+” marquee event series throughout 2023. New VMA members will join a team of their choosing (note the VMA Event Manager will contact new VMA members for this event to arrange this).
Entry fee: “Early bird” $10 / event (individual events and relays) up to Monday, March 27th. “Later entry” $20 / event thereafter up to close of entries. Please note that all events will have size limits and entries will be cutoff strictly when the field for a particular event is full. Athletes may enter multiple events – with any event event clashes expected to be manageable.
Entries close Thursday April 6th (11.59 PM) – day before Easter Good Friday. No entries will be accepted after the entries close date or on the day. Refunds will be given up until the Friday before competition in the event of injury or unforeseen personal circumstances that arise.
IT WOULD GREATLY ASSIST EVENT ORGANISERS IF EVERYONE WHO INTENDS COMPETING IN “THE GIFT” CAN ENTER BY THE ‘EARLY BIRD’ END DATE OF MARCH 27TH. DELAYING ENTRY MAY ALSO SEE ATHLETES MISS OUT DUE TO CUTOFF WHEN MAXIMUM FIELD SIZES REACHED. THIS IS A NEW EVENT AND TO ORGANISE IT PROPERLY WE REQUIRE A GOOD INDICATION OF ENTRIES A FEW WEEKS OUT FROM COMPETITION.
All athletes entering that have run regularly this season in the following competitions will be granted a place in the event/s they have entered, provided they have competed in those events this season and performance data is available. The competitions are (i) Victorian Masters mid-week venues (ii) AVSL (iii) other competitions like the VMA State Championships, Pentathlon (iv) interstate State Athletics or Masters events for which performance data can be supplied. Other athletes eg. VAL may enter and provide access to information from which their handicaps can be assessed. These athletes shall email information on their performances or where this information can be sourced to vmagift@vicmastersathletics.org.au.
Should the handicapper deem that they are unable to make a proper judgement of a handicap of any athlete from competition data / information available for an event they have entered, then a refund for that event will be provided.
The following is a description of events including max. field sizes, format and prizemoney. In most events the winners will receive a sash and prize money. 2nd to 3rd placegetters will receive prize money.
The events are first labelled by type and grouped (eg. ‘Sprint’, ‘Throws’), so scroll down to the event/s which align with your participation interest. If you have any questions please contact the Event Managers (details as shown). Note: VMA reserves the right to adjust prizemoney in the event the field sizes do not reach threshold levels.
Sprint: 110m. Max. field size 300. Prizes – 1st: Sash + $400, 2nd $150, 3rd $75. Format: Qualifying + Semi-Final/Final or just Final. Depending on the number of entries field will be split as, (first) “young guns” / “living legends” based on ability / handicap; (next) women / men. As per above, depending on the number of entries there can be (i) one (low entries), (ii) two or (iii) four (high entries) finals.
The first round will be a qualifying round where all athletes run the full 110m and strive for their best performance to qualify to progress in the event. The results from the qualifying round will be assessed in conjunction with the pre-event assigned handicaps to determine those who will progress to the next round. The VMA handicapper at this point also reserves the right to make minor adjustment to handicaps at their discretion based on performance in qualification. The next round/s (which will be either semi final & final or just straight final – as determined by entries), will be run off handicap distance marks.
Sprint (& Middle distance) – “The Landy”. A truly unique event for sprinters (or even middle distance runners who also fancy themselves as “sometime” sprinters !), using age grading (AG) as the basis for handicaps. Not held since 2013, but now making its return 10 years on, the event is named in honour of one of the icons of Australian athletics, John Landy. He was the second man in the world to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run and held the world records for the 1500-metre run and the mile race. He was also the 26th Governor of Victoria from 2001 to 2006. In this event, which features two qualifying rounds and a final, those who reach the final will have run a total of 1600 metres – which is just 9 metres shy of the distance of a mile. A newspaper article back in 2005 (when the event was run for the sixth time) described “The Landy” as “…the most prestigious on the Victorian Masters athletics calendar”. The article went on further to add that “(the event) provides a stern test of speed, stamina, versatility and durability (for athletes)”.
This event is a Mixed event. Max. field size 64. Prizes – 1st: Sash + $400, 2nd $200, 3rd $100. Also a consolation final where the winner (only) will receive $50. Format: Two qualifying Rounds (200m & 1000m) which are run off marks as determined by AG. All three races will have a minimum spacing of 1 hour apart. After the two qualifying rounds, all runners then receive a ranking based on the size of the field. The runner with the fastest time gets the highest ranking score, the 2nd fastest one lower etc. The eight runners with the highest ranking combined ranking scores from the two events then progress to the Final. The Final (400m) is also run off marks as determined by AG. The winner will receive the original “Landy” trophy which they get to keep for a year (a search is on right now to find out where it is !), plus a trophy they will get to keep.
Sprint: Relays: 4 x 200m. Mixed. Prizes: 1st: “Winner take all” $400. Handicap basis: total of individual handicap times of all four runners competing.
Format: There will be three age-band categories that will apply as a basis for the formation of a relay team: 120+, 180+ & 240+. Each team can enter up to one relay team per age-band category.
The total individual ages on the day of competition for all four runners must equal/exceed the age-band category number. Runners can only compete in one relay and their ages must be in the following actual age bands for each relay ie. (i) 30-50 for 120+ (ii) 30-70 for 180+ & (iii) 50+ for 240+. Note: ages to be based on age as at April 16th, 2023.
Team Captains are to enter relay teams via email (NOT ENTRY FORM) to vmagift@vicmastersaths.org.au the names of each relay team member, to be four runners + two emergencies (date of birth of runners to be obtained from entry form). Changes can be made up until Wednesday April 12th (has to be before day of competition due to requirement to assess handicaps).
The first runner from each team will start “on the clock” supervised by race marshals, with time penalties applying if an athlete starts before being called to start. The first runner will run in lanes before “cutting in” after running the initial bend (ie. @ 300m back straight start, having run approx.. 100m ). Subsequent baton changes will be as for a 4x400m relays supervised by race marshals.
Middle distance: 1,200m. Max. field size 200. Prizes – 1st: Sash + $300, 2nd $150, 3rd $75. Handicap basis: Times.
Format: Athletes will start “on the clock” supervised by race marshals, with time penalties applying if an athlete starts before being called to start. Depending on entries field will be split as, (first) “young guns” / “living legends” based on ability / handicap; (next) women / men. Depending on the level of entries there can be (i) one (low entries), (ii) two or (iii) four (high entries) finals.
Middle distance – “The Chardy K” (women): well 1,250m actually. Max. field size 24. Prizes – 1st: Sash + $200, 2nd $100, 3rd $50. Handicap basis: Times.
Format: Athletes will start “on the clock” supervised by race marshals, with time penalties applying if an athlete starts before being called to start. Athletes will drink a “couple of chardys” at stages during the race but up to a total amount not exceeding one standard drink. Any spilt chardonnay will cause disqualification (and besides that is a waste of good wine !). Entry to this event is also conditional on agreeing to comply with VMA’s “drink responsibly” policy – to be provided to entrants.
Middle distance – “Beer mile” (men): 1 mile (1,609m). Max. field size 24. Prizes – 1st: Sash + $200, 2nd $100, 3rd $50. Handicap basis: Times.
Format: Athletes will start “on the clock” supervised by race marshals, with time penalties applying if an athlete starts before being called to start. Athletes will drink a “a few mid strength beers” at stages during the race but up to a total amount not exceeding one standard drink. Any spilt beer will cause disqualification (and besides that is a waste of good beer !). Entry to this event is also conditional on agreeing to comply with VMA’s “drink responsibly” policy – to be provided to entrants.
Long distance: 4,800m. Max. field size 200. Prizes – 1st: $300, 2nd $150, 3rd $75. Handicap basis: Times.
Format: Athletes will start “on the clock” supervised by race marshals, with time penalties applying if an athlete starts before being called to start. Depending on entries field will be split as, (first) “young guns” / “living legends” based on ability / handicap; (next) women / men. Depending on the number of entries there can be (i) one (low entries), (ii) two or (iii) four (high entries) finals.
Walk: 1,600m. Max. field size 100. Mixed event. Prizes – 1st: Sash + $200, 2nd $100, 3rd $50. Handicap basis: Times.
Format: Athletes will start “on the clock” supervised by race marshals, with time penalties applying if an athlete starts before being called to start. Depending on the number of entries field will be split as, “young guns” / “living legends” based on ability / handicap.
Throws (‘Trio’): Discus, Javelin, Shot Put (all three. Max. field size 100. Mixed. Prizes – 1st: Sash + $300, 2nd $150, 3rd $100. Handicap basis: Season’s best (SB).
Format: All athletes compete in all three events. There will be a Qualifying round and then Final. In qualifying all three events to run simultaneously with athletes competing in random event order as drawn by lots. At each event an athlete will have up to three throws. At the end of qualification the ten athletes with the highest % of SB will qualify for the Final to be called “the top 10 shootout.” (TTTSO). The performances from Qualifying will not count for Final. For the TTTSO, the public at the event will be invited to “be ringside” (at safe viewing positions) to watch the 10 finalists have two further throws in each discipline…in order Discus (1st), Shot (2nd), Javelin (last). The lowest ranked qualifier overall from Qualifying will throw first in all three final rounds and then other finalists accordingly. As its name suggests the TTTSO is just that – where the athletes in only having two throws/event are competing “in a pressure situation” with a good sized crowd pressing in around them. The aim is to make it like “T20 throwing”. A commentator with a laptop for scoring will make regular calls on a “live ranking” of the ten throwers during the final. The athletes’ final rankings for the competition final will be according to % SB of their final 6 throws only.
Jumps (‘Duo’): Long Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault (optional) – best two events count. Mixed. Final only. Max. field size 100. Prizes – 1st: Sash + $300, 2nd $150, 3rd $75. Handicap basis: Seasons Best (SB).
Format: Athletes can compete in either two or three events – their choice. The best two SB% results will determine the placegetters. All three events will be running in parallel in a series of “flights” / groups throughout the day. Athletes will be allocated to events in no particular order. In the Long Jump athletes will get three jumps. As stated athletes can compete in up to three events – albeit that it is recognized that some may not nominate for the Pole Vault. Athletes competing in three events can be considered to have some advantage but that is all part of how, for this year at least, the event will be conducted.
Refunds
Refunds will be given up until the Friday before competition in the event of injury or unforeseen personal circumstances.
- Meet enquiries – Rob Mayson : president@vicmastersaths.org.au 0437 487 277
- Meet enquiries (Mar 21 – Apr 6) – Ewen Wilson : registrar@vicmastersaths.org.au 0423 424 185