Just when we thought the Stawell Gift couldn't get any better, the bar has been raised even higher.
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A combination of close results, outstanding fashions and plenty of activities for family members of all ages made for a spectacular weekend and once again saw the many thousands of visitors walk away from Central Park delighted with their experience.
The fact that visitors to Central Park on Monday witnessed one of the closest Australia Post Stawell Gift finals in the 133 year history added that something special to the event this year.
There had already been a dead heat declared in the fourth semi final, making way for a seven man final for the first time since 1999.
The build up to the result of the final being declared after Gus Carty-Cowling and Luke Versace crossed the line together had to be witnessed to be believed. There was silence, followed by cheers when judges made their way across the park to give the result, then roars of excitement which drowned out the sighs of disbelief when Versace was given the nod by the narrowest of margins.
For those who could remember, it was reminiscent of the 1947 Stawell Gift final when Ballarat's A C Martin and Coburg's D J Gardener dead heated in the final of the Stawell Gift. There had to be a run-off and Martin won by inches from Gardener.
This was the only time the run-off for an outright Stawell Gift winner has ever been required, but as the minutes ticked by on Monday, it was looking more and more likely that history would be repeated.
All this just added to the atmosphere and had spectators gasping for breath. With so much drama, tension and excitement all in one, who had remembered the fact that there was no international drawcard in the event this year? For most, it was more interesting to see Australia's fastest woman, Melissa Breen, competing against the men and more exciting the fact that by Monday afternoon, there was no clear standout favourite for the Stawell Gift. Among the seven man final, it was still anyone's race and that was proven by Versace defying all odds to win.
Who could forget too, the fact that teenager Ashley Cowen is now a hometown hero, having scored a winning double at Central Park in the Backmarkers 1600m on Saturday and then the Restricted 1600m on Sunday.
Ash's remarkable feat emulated that of his coach Mark Hipworth who scored a double back in 1981. These are things that dreams are made of.
Stawell Athletic Club can be proud of its achievements in 2014. Equally proud should be the staff of the Northern Grampians Shire Council's parks and gardens team who once again ensured Central Park was the centrepiece of the town over Easter.
With so many other activities and attractions over the weekend, all grabbing their equal share of attention from visitors, Easter 2014 will go down as a new benchmark, with the bar having been raised even higher!