Stawell Gift in talks with possible sponsor over new five-year deal

Stawell Athletic Club president Neil Blizzard said the Stawell Gift was a crucial part of the town and the pinnacle event for many athletes.

“We are trying to keep it at the level it is going at the moment,” he said. 

“This is potentially a five year plan coming up with a sponsor at the moment, so we will be looking at that and looking at perhaps an even longer agreement.”

Mr Blizzard said the Stawell Athletic Club hoped to find a solution for an imbalance existing between women’s and men’s Stawell Gift sponsorship. 

“It is actually easier to sell sponsorship for women’s sport at the moment,” he said.

“We have had AFL for women and cricket for women, so everyone has gotten a hold of that.” 

Mr Blizzard said building a strong relationship with television would play a key role in lifting the exposure of the Stawell Gift and encouraging sponsorship deals.  

“Three hours is a decent amount of television time,” he said. 

“We have had a really good relationship with Channel 7 and them increasing their broadcast is great to see.

“The bigger the event the more people it attracts to the town.”

Bob Cashin ran in 20 Stawell Gift events and recalled the days when the whole three days of the athletics carnival were broadcasted on live television.

He said it was the “heart and soul” of the town and would support any move to raise the event’s profile. 

“It was in the 1960s and 70s when it would be on Channel 2 and they had nearly every event,” he said.

“Now the cost of running it on television is too dear, but three hours this year will be good exposure.”

Mr Cashin described “amazing” scenes when visitors and running enthusiasts crammed the town centre for the Stawell Gift. 

“A lot of Melbourne people come up and make a weekend out of it, it gets crazy busy,” he said.

“In the 60s the town hotels were putting out single beds on the veranda and putting mattresses in the bath tubs, it is fantastic.”