*Diamantina Shire Council has recently received funding to stage the Birdsville Gift in 2007. Stay tuned for more information, or contact the Wirrarri Information Centre in Birdsville to find out more (info@diamantina.qld.gov.au or (07) 4656 3300)

A very special event will be taking place in the Outback of Queensland over the Queen’s Birthday Long weekend (Saturday 9^th June 2007). This event, the 2007 Birdsville Gift Race will take place on Saturday 9^th June 2007 on the recently opened Birdsville Grassed Sports Oval.

There will be qualifying heats followed by 8 category races including 70m, 90m, 1600m and the 120m Gift race.

Individuals have the opportunity win up to $3000 in prize money for the main race with a total prize pool of $12,250. To download an entry form click here

To Download a flyer for the event, click here (PDF 76kb)

Additional races will include the 120 plate for amateur athletes from the Diamantina Shire as well as 90m race for local children.

The earliest record of athletics competition is from 1810 in Hyde Park, Sydney where Dicky Dowling won a sprint race over 50 yards.

Professional athletics (called pedestrianism) grew considerably around this time. Stories of huge crowds placing enormous wagers on the success of incredible feats of athletes paint a colourful picture of the sport in these early days.

Professional foot racing boomed during the mid 1800s particularly in the gold rush towns of New South Wales and Victoria. Miners raced against each other in handicapped races for the gift of a gold nugget offered by the mine owner. Thus, ‘Gift’ races were born....

For more information contact the Wirrarri Information Centre

Phone: 07 4656 3300        
Fax: 07 4656 3302        
email:info@diamantina.qld.gov.au