Fairweather Flashback: Remembering Stawell’s Historic 2005 Triple Victory

Date: 25th March 2025

The 2005 Stawell Gift is remembered as one of the most remarkable in the event’s long and storied history. That Easter Monday, Australian sprinting was redefined as Josh Ross became just the second man in history to win the Gift from scratch, while Alison Fairweather claimed victory in the Women’s Stawell Gift, capping off an unforgettable day for their coach, Tony Fairweather, who also guided Harry Egan to victory in the Open 70m Final.

Winning a Stawell Gift is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for most sprinters. Coaching three champions in the same year, including a scratch winner, is something truly special.

“It wasn’t something I set out to do, but looking back now, I realise how difficult it was to achieve,” Tony Fairweather said. “I don’t know if anyone has coached both the male and female Gift winners in the same year, but to do it with one off scratch, plus the Open 70m, is something I’m really proud of.”

Alison Fairweather: A surprise champion

For Alison, winning Stawell wasn’t the goal. Unlike many athletes who train for years with Central Park in mind, she simply focused on racing hard and enjoying the journey.

“I always raced to win, but Stawell was about being with my squad and having fun,” she recalled. “I won the very small Port Stephens Women’s Gift in the lead-up, but I wasn’t thinking about winning at Stawell.”

After winning her heat in one of the fastest times, Alison struggled in the semi-final against a headwind and only scraped into the final as a fastest qualifier. But her focus shifted dramatically just moments before her race when she witnessed history unfold.

“With our race after the Men’s final, I made sure to watch Josh race. and when he won, I ran straight over to him, to Tony and the squad, and the rest of my warm-up was completely derailed!” she laughed. “I barely had time to put my spikes on before I was on the start line. I guess that shows how much our athletes meant to both Tony and me.”

She powered home in the final, taking the victory in a moment of disbelief.

“I remember going past the girl in the next lane, but I wasn’t sure I had won. Then I saw the squad running to me and the smile on Tony’s face, that’s when it hit me,” she said.

At the time, the women’s prize money was significantly lower than the men’s, a stark contrast to today’s equal pay.

“I won $800 compared to Josh’s $32,000. The women’s race wasn’t equal billing back then,” she said. “It’s great to see that has changed now because the standard of the Women’s Gift today is so high, and it deserves to be on equal terms.”

Today, Alison is no longer competing but remains involved in the sport, helping Tony with his squad in Queensland.

“We moved from NSW to QLD in 2012 and have built a strong training group. I still do some strength training but the only running I do now is when I’m walking my dogs!” she said.

Josh Ross: An historic sprinting feat

Ross’s victory from scratch remains one of the greatest achievements in professional running. Only Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa from Madagascar had done it before him, in 1975.

“I knew Josh hadn’t raced his best at Nationals and had more to give,” Tony said. “It was an honour for him to be off scratch, and I was confident he would be very hard to beat.”

Despite his immense talent, many doubted Ross’s chances.

“I was asked at the Call of the Card how he would go, and I said he could go close to winning. The guy laughed at me,” Tony recalled.

Ross cruised through his heat but didn’t stand out as a favourite. When the headwind picked up in the final, Tony knew the conditions were in his favour.

“I told him just to keep moving through the field and not panic. He nailed his start and the crowd just roared as he powered through,” he said.

Josh Ross’s career skyrocketed from that moment, and two decades later, he still reflects on its significance.

“It took 30 years for another man to win the Stawell Gift from scratch, and it might take another 30 before someone does it again,” Josh said this week. “Achieving what others see as impossible requires unwavering self-belief and vision. I hope my career inspires future generations.”

Tony’s Take on Gout Gout

Josh Ross was the last man to win the Stawell Gift off scratch, and this year, all eyes are on Gout Gout, one of Australia’s most exciting young sprinters, to see if he can do the same.

“Gout Gout is an exciting talent, and he’s been guided so well by his coach Di,” Tony said. “I think he’ll enjoy the experience, and it’ll bring a real buzz to the meet.”

With top-end speed that rivals the best, Gout Gout could be a serious contender.

“His last 20m will be exciting, and I can’t wait for the roar of the crowd,” Tony said. “I think he’ll be hard to beat, as long as there’s no one else off a huge mark for their ability. He’ll handle the grass track just fine, it’ll be great to watch.”

Josh Ross said: “Gout is an electrifying athlete who brings fresh energy to the sport, and if everything falls into place and he delivers his best performance, anything is possible on the day.”

An historic legacy

The 2005 Stawell Gift remains one of the most celebrated in the event’s history. It was a day that showcased elite sprinting, tactical coaching, and the pure unpredictability of professional running.

“It wasn’t about me, it was about the athletes,” Tony said. “We had a great squad, a great support team, and we had a good night at the Gift Hotel afterwards!”

With Gout Gout lining up in 2025, the anticipation is building for another chapter of Stawell history to be written. Could we witness another scratch runner claim the title? As Josh Ross himself said, “anything is possible on the day.”

Photos: 2005 – Alison Fairweather with her sash; Josh Ross makes history; Tony Fairweather receives the trainer’s trophy

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