Canberra’s MattyB squad chasing Stawell glory as Matthews eyes fifth final

Date: 21st March 2026

The MattyB DEPT squad will once again make the long journey from Canberra to Central Park this Easter, bringing with them a blend of experience, emerging talent and a deep appreciation for what the 2026 Powercor Stawell Gift represents.

Coach Matt Beckenham, a regular at Stawell for more than two decades, says the annual trip has become something far greater than just a race weekend.

“We have a big crew coming down this year and they range from first timers to veterans,” Beckenham said. 

“Trips to Stawell provide a wonderful opportunity for them to experience a ‘team first’ approach. Sharing driving, sharing rooms and getting to know each other while also doing some hard racing is very special. Stawell trips are spoken about long after they are completed and the excitement of the next Stawell trip begins almost as soon as we get home.”

Brendan Creating a Buzz

At the centre of this year’s campaign is Brendan “Buzz” Matthews, who has emerged as one of the leading contenders to reach the men’s Gift final for a fifth time. A seasoned professional with 17 years in the sport, Matthews arrives in strong form after a standout summer.

“The season has been great for myself. Feel like I’m back to some consistent and competitive form,” Brendan said. “Major highlight would be winning the double (70 & 120m) gifts at Castlemaine.”

Already a four-time Powercor Stawell Gift finalist and a past 400m winner at Central Park, Matthews is chasing one title that would help consolidate his athletic career.

“To win a Stawell Gift would be an incredible achievement and would mean the world to me,” he said. “It’s a race that is steeped in so much tradition, is a national sporting icon and the label of being a Stawell Gift winner would be with you forever.

“Being on the circuit for so long, I feel the Stawell Gift means as much to me being an interstater as it would to any Victorian athlete. It is the pinnacle race of our sport, everyone wants to win it.”

Could this be Claire’s Time?

Alongside Matthews, Claire Roberts looms as one of the squad’s leading female chances. Now in her sixth VAL season, Claire has put together a breakthrough year, finishing runner-up in two regional Gifts and building momentum towards Easter.

“This is my 6th season racing in gifts with the VAL and it’s definitely been the most memorable so far,” Roberts said. “Highlights include finishing a close second at both the Warrnambool and Terang Gifts.”

Balancing elite sport with a demanding academic pathway, Roberts is studying medicine full-time in Canberra while continuing to chase her first professional sash.

“Balancing my academic and sporting goals is always something that I have juggled and enjoyed doing,” she said.

Her connection to Stawell runs deeper than results. A former Fashions on the Field winner in 2022, Claire paid tribute in her outfit to one of the most iconic performances in the event’s history, Melissa Breen’s famous win from the scratch mark in 2012.

“I absolutely love the culture of gift racing,” Claire said. “It provides a completely unique experience to amateur track racing. I also love the handicap aspect of pro running which makes every athlete feel competitive and the team/squad camaraderie that is always present at each event.

“I remember at my first Stawell Gift in 2022, my coach Matty said ‘once you experience Stawell, you’ll never spend Easter at any other place,’” she said. “I’ve been back every year since, even when injured because it’s always a highlight of the year.

“Winning the Powercor Womens Gift would be a lifetime highlight in my running career. I couldn’t think of a better feeling than sharing the win with the MattyB squad.”

The next generation of Beckenhams

This year’s trip will also be a family affair for the Beckenhams, with Matt and wife Melissa Breen, former fastest woman in Australia over 100m, returning to Stawell alongside their two young children.

“Emjay at age 4 is itching to run here one day soon but for now will enter into the fashions on the field with her Stawell Hall of Famer Mum for the 3rd year in a row,” Beckenham said. “Baby brother Sidney who’s one is now running around everywhere so will be exploring every blade of grass at Stawell I’m sure.”

First para-athlete winner?

The ACT-based group also brings one of the most unique stories in Australian sprinting, with Paralympian Chad Perris chasing history as he eyes a place in the final.

“The season has been fun, I’ve enjoyed travelling away more with the MBD Squad for some great gift weekends,” Perris said. “The highlights are going back to Ballarat for the first time since winning there in 2023.

“To win such a historic event on the Australian sporting calendar would be so special. Also to be the first winner as a para-athlete as well.”

Chad, like many in the squad, embraces the lifestyle that comes with professional running. “Coming from interstate I enjoy the travel and time with the squad,” he said. “I’m just out here trying my best to run fast with everyone else.”

Squad revels in the history

For others, the Stawell journey represents a personal milestone. Kiefer Brennan will line up for his first Powercor Stawell Gift, years after competing as a child at local NSW carnivals.

“This season has been a welcome return to competition after a lengthy period on the sideline battling multiple hamstring and back injuries,” Brennan said. “Winning at Stawell would mean that I have finally overcome my injuries and provide me with confidence in myself both mentally and physically.

“I ran in the Queanbeyan Gift when I was 9 years old. The Stawell Gift is an Australian tradition and with thanks to Channel Seven’s coverage it is a great opportunity to promote athletics and professional running.”

Leigh Bennett, another experienced campaigner, understands exactly what is at stake. “It has been a decent season so far, challenging myself over various distances,” Bennett said. “Highlights being full weekend carnival trips with MBD crew to Warrnambool/Terang and Ballarat.

“After many years competing at Stawell it would be an honour to have a sash with the Stawell Athletic Club on it. I have seen first-hand how wins at Central Park change lives and sporting careers. “There is something for everyone… you can guarantee when you show up to the carnival you’ll always be welcomed off the track and challenged on it.”

For emerging athletes like Samarth Soi, the experience is already shaping his future in the sport.

“My season so far has been great with many highlights,” Soi said. “I attended my first gift race at Wangaratta with the squad, which was fantastic and I look forward to attending many more.

“Winning Stawell would mean a lot to me as it is a major event that every athlete aims to achieve. It will also provide me with confidence and enable me to be a better athlete.”

“Gift racing really feels like a team environment which I think is so hard to find in individual sports.”

Grace Vanzella echoes the sentiment, highlighting both resilience and the squad culture as defining elements of her season. “After struggling with a hammy injury which ruled me out of Stawell in my first year of VAL racing, my highlights for this season have been getting some good races in at Ballarat and Wangaratta,” she said.

“My favourite thing about professional running is getting to spend time with the MattyB squad. Gift racing really feels like a team environment which I think is so hard to find in individual sports.”

Coach MattyB believes that sense of connection is what makes Stawell so powerful, particularly for first-time athletes stepping onto the famous Central Park track.

“It is so special when I see a new athlete first step through the gates and see the historic venue and they visibly bounce around with excitement to get the opportunity to race at Stawell,” he said. “I want each new athlete to learn about and respect the long history and prestige associated with the Stawell Gift.”

MattyB Kids Clinic Easter Sunday

Beyond competition, the squad has also become an important part of the Easter weekend community. Each year, they give back through the MattyB Kids Clinic, a free session held on Easter Sunday morning at Central Park before the main races begin.

The clinic has become a much-anticipated tradition for families and aspiring young athletes, with Beckenham and his squad giving their time year after year to help inspire the next generation.

Back on the track, the focus remains firmly on performance, but also on the shared experience that defines the Stawell journey.

“I love heading away with the MattyB squad and enjoy the road trips,” Brendan Matthews said, a firefighter with ACT Fire & Rescue. “Being a part of this running community, I’ve been very fortunate to make some lifelong friends throughout my sprinting career. 

“I do turn 35 this year so will qualify for the masters races in the coming season which will be enjoyable to compete in, running against the likes of my parents Vicki and Kevin. But right now my focus is on running well at Stawell.” 

From seasoned contenders like Brendan and Claire Roberts to first-time hopefuls and comeback stories, the MattyB DEPT squad arrives at Stawell with belief, momentum and a deep respect for the occasion, ready to write the next chapter in their Easter tradition.

Main image by Neil Jameson, Jamesons Photography

Below: MattyB Squad; Claire Roberts wins Fashions at Central Park; Chad Perris getting down at the MattyB Kids Clinic Easter Sunday at Central Park

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