Posted by Hopwood Wendy
From Power Lines to Finish Lines: The Powercor Liney Invitational Returns
Date: 5th April 2026
Powercor Liney Invitational Handicap Final
Monday April 6, 2026 9.30am
| Name | Silks | Location | Handicap | |
| 1 | Eddie Tassell | RED | Ballarat | 0m |
| 2 | Sam Janetzki | WHITE | Horsham | 8m |
| 3 | Matt Bilton | BLUE | Maryborough | 12m |
| 4 | Jasper Gunn | YELLOW | Horsham | 12m |
| 5 | Ben Lakin | GREEN | Horsham | 16m |
| 6 | Billy Carberry | PINK | Horsham | 16m |
| 7 | Jeremy Moore | BLACK | Horsham | 22m |
- Eddie Tassell – RED
Hometown: Ballarat
Role at Powercor: 2nd Year Apprentice Liney
Gift Handicap: 0 metres
Eddie Tassell is Ballarat born and bred, a second-year apprentice liney at Powercor, and no stranger to the famous Stawell Gift straight. Eddie’s running CV already includes three appearances at the Stawell Gift as a teenager – proof that this isn’t his first dance with the big stage. At 25, he reckons the body is feeling primed, the confidence is high.
His Olympic hero is last man standing Steve Bradbury (a solid choice for anyone who believes in being ready when opportunity strikes).
Athletic genes clearly run in the family – his dad Rick famously went stride for stride with sprint legend Jason Richardson and past Stawell Gifts. If momentum counts for anything, Eddie’s got plenty of it heading into race day.
- Sam Janetzki – WHITE
Hometown: Horsham
Role at Powercor: 1st Year Apprentice Lineworker
Gift Handicap: 8 metres
Sam “Howie” Janetzki is a 19-year-old first-year apprentice lineworker from Horsham who’s coming to the Stawell Gift with equal parts youth and mischief. The nickname “Howie” (borrowed straight from the movie Benchwarmers) has stuck and so it has been a relaxed approach to race-prep – by his own admission, there’s been minimal training, minimal planning, and maximum mental preparation. The main goal? To beat Jasper Gunn.
Despite the casual lead-up to the race, Sam’s no stranger to running, with the Melbourne Half-Marathon already ticked off his running resume. He draws inspiration from marathon master Eliud Kipchoge (Kenyan long-distance runner). Underestimate Howie at your own risk – he may look relaxed but he’s lining up with nothing to lose and plenty of confidence to burn.
- Matt Bilton – BLUE
Hometown: Carisbrook
Role at Powercor: Lineworker
Handicap: 12m
Known around the traps as Bilts or Bluey, this Carisbrook local is bringing plenty of laughter to his depot, and his running journey. His standout running highlight so far is simply surviving the time trial without a hamstring strain or a rolled ankle – a win he’ll happily take. With a background in school athletics, where he once ran the 400 metres some 20 years ago, Bilts will be drawing on distant muscle memory and competitive spirit inspired by one of his heroes, Noah Lyle.
His road to Stawell has been paved with friendly banter and guidance from local legend liney Barry Waters, who’s taken him under his wing. His current form (self-described) is “not great”, but don’t worry, Bilts is leaning into the underdog status and enjoying the ride.
- Jasper Gunn – YELLOW
Hometown: Horsham
Role at Powercor: Lineworker
Handicap: 12m
Hailing from Horsham and answering to the nickname Gunny, this is a man who knows how to arrive at the start line with confidence. Last year’s Liney Invitational saw Gunny roll in as the red-hot favourite, already mentally clearing space on the shelf for the trophy.
What followed was a character-building finish outside the top three, promptly explained away with claims the handicaps were “fixed”.
Wiser from last years’ experience, Gunny knows better than to trust the times submitted by his workmates – a group he suspects may be faster with a spreadsheet than a stopwatch. Whether redemption or another conspiracy awaits, he’s fully prepared to question the results if things don’t go his way.
- Ben Lakin – GREEN
Hometown: Birchip
Role at Powercor: Lineworker
Handicap: 16m
Known simply as “Orange” – a nickname earned the hard way after a memorable encounter with fake tan, Ben Lakin’s road to Stawell has been anything but subtle, reportedly hiring workmate Jeremy Moore as a full-time sprint trainer, even though Jeremy is more comfortable in the pool than on the track.
In an impressive family achievement Orange and his dad, Dean Lakin, are the first father-son duo to both win the U13 4 x 100m relay at Horsham College and then go on to work at Powercor. Sprinting pedigree? Debatable.
Orange is inspired by modern sensation Gout Gout and clearly sees himself as part of the next generation of liney sprinters, even if the evidence is … still emerging.
- Billy Carberry – PINK
Hometown: Born and bred in Horsham
Role at Powercor: Lineworker
Handicap: 16m
Billy ‘Carbs’ Carberry was written off ahead of last year’s Liney Invitational as one of the slowest lineys in the field, expectations were low. Then came the plot twist – Carbs stormed home ahead of his Horsham workmates to be the first Horsham liney to cross the line.
His road to Stawell this year, however, has been less than ideal. A hamstring strain interrupted what was shaping up as a strong lead-up, leaving Billy to grind his way back and head into this year’s race slightly underdone.
Still, if last year taught us anything, it’s that you can’t underestimate Carbs.
- Jeremy Moore – BLACK
Hometown: Horsham
Role at Powercor: Lineworker
Handicap: 22m
Last year Jez burst onto the Liney Invitational scene in a blaze of green glory, immediately distracting race caller Bruce McAvaney, causing him to lose all professional composure. The now-iconic green bib which caused Bruce to compare Jez to ‘Shrek’ is gone, replaced by black silks, and he’s got the best handicap in the field, running off 22 metres.
Jez’s preparation for Stawell has been a masterclass in doing as little as possible – the occasional stroll around the neighbourhood and rare jog when motivation strikes.
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