Rutherford’s Liam Gander won the 56th Macksville Gift in style, easily overcoming the rest of the field to claim two in a row in front of a crowd of appreciative locals and fellow competitors.

Gander was the back-marker for the final, jumping off 4.5m to race away to victory. He took home $3000 in prizemoney and a place in the Macksville Gift record books.

Only one man before him has ever won two men’s Gift finals – Brian Gulliver from New Lambton won the race in 1982 and 1994.

The weather smiled on the Gift carnival, with warm days arriving just in time to dry the track, which was soft but well-prepared.

The carnival had high-quality competition and good entries throughout the day’s events, according to organising body the NSW Athletic League.

Up-and-coming athletes were a popular attraction for local race-goers, as representatives from Little Athletics held a carnival in the afternoon, after the initial heats and before the finals were held in the cool of the evening.

Ramona Casey from Wallalong won the women’s Gift in a tight race from a 9.5m handicap, and went on to also win the invitational Skins event. For that final, she started from scratch.

There was some quality local talent on display, as the amateur men took the field over 70m. Roy Mitchell from Scotts Head took out first place (taking the crown from younger brother Jack, who won in 2008), followed by Trent McIlwain from Bellwood in second and Andrew Blair from Macksville.

The 70m girls’ amateur 70m sprint final drew three talented local girls. Paige Ussher-Kinnear and Alina Tape from Bowraville took out first and second respectively, while Savannah Peterkin from Wirrimbi came in third.

Macksville Athletic Club’s Alan Smith said the day was a great success, with the weather and the enthusiasm of competitors combining to make a great day at Allan Gillett Oval.