2024 Victorian Masters 30 Athletics Gift Registration

Registrations are now closed.

Victorian Masters 30+ Athletics Gift - 2nd edition

Sunday April 7th 2024 at Doncaster’s “Tom Kelly” Athletics Track (from 11am)

Victorian Masters Athletics (VMA) is pleased to present the “second edition” of the the VMA Gift, believed to be the only event of its kind to feature all Track & Field Disciplines in a single competition event for prizemoney. In the events athletes will compete against each other, with handicaps of different types according to the event type, with the aim being to create a "level playing field" where every athlete has a chance to win ! 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, can be viewed in 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 – 5pm, as dictated by the level of entries.

The “Gift” is a competition in the VMA’s Masters 30+ Championship events series where athletes are not only competing for individual honours but are also part of Victorian location based Hubs competing and earning points for both participation and performance, which will count towards the 2024 VMA 30+ 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 required in order to be able to complete the online entry form. This affiliation will also allow athletes to enter other VMA 30+ events in 2024. Note: when completing the VMA registration, new VMA members will join the Hub of their choosing - please contact the VMA registrar (0423 424 185) or Event Manager (0437 487 277) if you have any questions regarding this. 

Entry fee: “Early bird” $10 / event (individual events and relays) up to Thursday, March 21st. “Later entry” $20 / event thereafter up to close of entries on Wednesday, April 3rd. 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.

As per above, entries close Wednesday April 3rd (11.59 PM).  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 23rd. DELAYING ENTRY MAY ALSO SEE ATHLETES MISS OUT DUE TO CUTOFF WHEN MAXIMUM FIELD SIZES REACHED. 

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 adequate performance data is available. The competitions are (i) Victorian Masters mid-week venues (ii) AVSL (iii) Victorian Athletics League events (iv) other competitions like the VMA State Championships, Pentathlon (v) interstate State Athletics or Masters events for which performance data can be supplied and is able to be verified. Athletes are also to welcome to email information on their performances, including guidance on where this information can be viewed to vmagift@vicmastersathletics.org.au. An independent VMA handicapper will review all performance data accordingly.

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) and this is not able to be satisfactorily resolved, then a refund for that event will be provided.

The following is a description of events including max. field sizes, format and indicative prizemoney. In all events the winners will receive a sash and prize money. 2nd to 3rd placegetters will receive prize money.

The events described below 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 (0437 487 277). Note: VMA reserves the right to adjust prizemoney, down or up)  in the event the field sizes do not reach or exceed assumed threshold levels.

Sprint (short): 110m. Max. field size 200. Prizes - 1st: Sash + $300, 2nd $150, 3rd $50. Format: Qualifying (all run 110m) + Semi-Final + Final (both from distance marks). Field will be split as, “Fast" / “Legends” based on ability / handicap. The field will be split according to a benchmark time/110m (to be established based on entries). 

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. 

Sprint (long): 400m. Max. field size 100. Prizes - 1st: Sash + $300, 2nd $150, 3rd $50. Format: Qualifying: Field will be split as, “Fast” / “Legends” based on ability / handicap. The field will be split according to a benchmark time/400m (to be established based on entries). Format: Qualifying ("Fast" only) + Final ("Fast" & 'Legends"), both from distance marks.  

The first round (for "Fast" group only) will be a qualifying round where all athletes run the full 400m and strive for their best performance to qualify to progress in the event (Note: The "Legends' group will only run straight final/s). The results from the qualifying round (for the "Fast" group) 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. 

Sprint: Relays: 4 x 200m. Mixed. Prizes: 1st: “Winner take all” $200. Handicap basis: total of individual handicap times of all four runners competing.

Format: There will be two age-band categories that will apply as a basis for the formation of a relay team: (i) all runners aged 60+ on April 7th (ii) any age. Each Hub can enter up to one relay team per age category. The handicaps of all runners to be assessed. An athlete can only compete in one relay. 

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 Friday April 5th (has to be prior to 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 4x200m relays supervised by race marshals.

Middle distance: 1,500m. Max. field size 60. Prizes - 1st: Sash + $300, 2nd $150, 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. 

Long distance: 5,000m. Max. field size 60. Prizes - 1st: $300, 2nd $150, 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. 

Walk: 2,000m. Max. field size 60. Mixed event. Prizes - 1st: Sash + $200, 2nd $80, 3rd $40.  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. 

Throws (‘Trio’): Discus, Javelin, Shot Put (all three. Max. field size 80. Mixed. Prizes - 1st: Sash + $300, 2nd $150, 3rd $50. Handicap basis: Season’s best (SB).

Format: All athletes compete in all three events. There will be a Qualifying round and then a 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 SIX athletes with the highest % of SB will qualify for the Final to be called "the top 6 shootout." (TTSSO). The performances from Qualifying will not count for Final. For the TTSSO, the public at the event will be invited to "be ringside" (at safe viewing positions) to watch the 6 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 TTSSO 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’): Pole Vault (optional), High Jump, Long Jump – best two events count. Mixed. Final only. Max. field size 50. Prizes - 1st: Sash + $250, 2nd $100, 3rd $50. 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.  The three events will be run in series throughout the day. 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 this event is setup.