2016 Woolworths Stawell Gift is all set for another record breaking Easter Long Weekend

Date: 18th December 2015

MEDIA RELEASE DATE: Friday, 18 December 2015

Australia’s richest footrace, the Woolworths Stawell Gift, returns to Central Park over the Easter Long Weekend from March 26-28 with three action-packed days of elite athletic racing, activities and entertainment.

Marking its 135th year of racing, the Woolworths Stawell Gift remains one of the most esteemed footraces in the world, whilst the carnival continues to be an enduring and popular event on the Australian sporting calendar. The Woolworths Stawell Gift provides up and coming runners, as well as those more established, the opportunity to showcase their raw talent, skill, and speed to a national audience.

Stawell Athletic Club President, Rob McIntosh said:

“We are proud to have reached a milestone of 135 years in professional running and delivering a world class athletic event.”

“The carnival continues to boost tourism in our region and has a great history of hosting some of the world’s most elite athletes.”

“We are really looking forward to another successful year at the Woolworths Stawell Gift”, Mr McIntosh said.

As well as the thrilling action on track, the Woolworths Stawell Gift kicks off with the famous Calcutta on Good Friday, followed by top-notch entertainment and hospitality across the long weekend including an all-new Champagne Breakfast on Saturday morning.

The Stawell Gift Ladies Day will once again be hosting Fashions on the Field, giving fashionistas a chance to showcase their latest autumn looks, whilst the carnival will also provide a range of entertainment and activities for children including an Easter Egg Hunt, face painting, jumping castle and an animal nursery.

Little Athletics will kick off Family Day with an interactive clinic coached by Australia’s elite athletes.

The 2016 Woolworths Stawell Gift is set to build on the hugely successful 2015 event which was underpinned by a new TV broadcast deal with the Seven Network. In what was a significant ratings boost from previous years, the broadcast attracted an unprecedented total of 955,000 viewers, with a national peak audience of 566,000.

Woolworths has extended its association and continues as the Naming Rights partner of the event. Joining the Stawell Gift as naming rights sponsor in 2015, Woolworths brought fresh life into the much-loved event, leveraging the partnership with various marketing initiatives and activations around Central Park.

Woolworths Head of Sponsorships, Events & Properties, Karen Madden was excited to be continuing the relationship: “We are proud to continue our naming rights association with the Stawell Gift Carnival.”

“While many first-class sporting events are staged in Australian metropolitan locations, the Woolies Stawell Gift is an example of world-class sporting competition taking place in our rural communities, and the Carnival is an excellent ambassador for regional Australia. Woolies is very proud to support the Stawell Gift and our regional communities.”

“The 2016 event promises to be an exciting weekend of competitive racing and a wonderful prelude to the Rio Olympics where Woolies is also a proud supporter of the Australian Olympic team”, said Madden.

This year’s carnival saw another significant milestone with prize money for the Australia Post Women’s Gift equalling that of the Woolworths Stawell Gift for the first time in the history of the event. The prize money parity came as a result of a new three-year partnership with Australia Post, following 20 years as principal partner.

Australia Post General Manager of Human Resources, Catherine Walsh said: “The Stawell Gift took a giant step forward last year by becoming a true platform for gender equality. As an organisation that values diversity and equality the way we do, we feel that it’s important that the Australia Post Women’s Gift now continues to grow in both profile and prestige.”

The 2016 Woolworths Stawell Gift continues to be supported by other key commercial partners including ASICS, CUB, and Grampians Estate.

Event Details

DATE: Friday, 25 March – Monday, 28 March 2016

WHAT: Woolworths Stawell Gift 2016

Good Friday – Calcutta Night

Easter Saturday – Stawell Gift Ladies Day

Easter Sunday – Stawell Gift Family Day

Easter Monday – Woolworths Stawell Gift Finals Day

LOCATION: Central Park, 6 Main St, Stawell, Victoria, 3320

TICKETS: Kids start at $7 with FREE entry on Family Day (Sunday). Adults start at $20 with Family and weekend passes also available. Ladies Day Champagne Breakfast tickets $25.

Click HERE for all ticket prices.

Tickets are on sale from 10am, Friday 18 December 2015 via trybookings.com

Please direct all media enquiries to:

Angela Nikoloska

Twenty3 Sport + Entertainment

Angela.nikoloska@twenty3group.com.au

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