Meeting: Bendigo 12th March 2022
Weather: Hot afternoon into mild evening, light wind
Track: 400 synthetic track
Commentator: Ollie Wurm
Wind Gauge: Automatic
Starters: Rob McIntosh and Graeme Humphrey
Photo Finish: Chloe Blennerhassett, Leah Macdonald
Results: Nila Blennerhassett
Stewards: Rob Lehmann, Wally Meechan
Handicappers: Graeme Goldsworthy, Colin Lane, Sean Quilty, Darryl Nettleton, Andrew McDowall and John Jones
NAP’s:
70m Men’s: Nathan Riali (inj)
70m Women’s: Zoe Neale (brk)
100m Masters: Brett Maurer, Vic Sharma, Maria Cahill, Cam Dunbar (brk)
100m Women’s Gift: Zoe Neale (inj), Liv Ryan
100m Men’s Gift: Matthew Rizzo
300m Masters: Daniel Martin (inj), Noddy Angelakos
800m Open: Joseph Bangura, Sean Davidson, Laura Yorke, Marcus Overman, Jordan Walker
UP’s:
300m Masters: Leigh Phelan
400m Men’s: Jed Upton
800m Open: Ryan Antidormi, Sam Sabbatucci
Stewards Notes from the day:
Ryan Antidormi was spoken to following the heats of the 800m Open as the Stewards felt his performance was well below what was expected. Ryan admitted his performance was very poor and could not offer an explanation for it. UP issued.
Sam Sabbatucci was spoken to following the heats of the 800m Open as the Stewards felt his performance was well below what was expected. Sam admitted his performance was very poor and could not offer an explanation for it. UP issued.
Jesse McKenna was fined $50 following his semi final of the 100m Men’s Gift due to looking across well before the line.
Leigh Phelan was spoken to following his heat of the 300m Masters as his performance was a significant improvement over his previous runs, including the previous weekend. The Stewards accepted that he was rapidly gaining fitness after a break from the sport and were satisfied with his effort in the final. As he had received multiple OGA lifts it was decided to issue a UP and a 2m handicap reduction.
Jed Upton was spoken to following the final of the 400m Men’s as he had run the fastest heat time and then dropped 2.3 seconds to finish last in the final. Jed advised that he is struggling to back up from heat to final, however the Stewards felt his run lacked intent. A UP was issued and a 4m handicap penalty imposed.
Laura Yorke advised that she would be wearing flats for the remainder of the season. As such she will be eligible to accrue AP’s, however her handicap will be reviewed at the commencement of next season should she return to wearing spikes.
Nathan Riali scratched from the final of the 70m Men’s due to injury (14 days)
Daniel Martin pulled up in the final of 300m Masters due to injury (14 days)
Stewarding Comments:
Please note that the wearing of flats in any event up to and including 800m will result in an NAP being issued. Also, please note that if you were not running in spikes by Maribyrnong meeting then you will be unable to wear spikes for the remainder of the season (including Stawell).
For the second week in a row a fine has been issued to a runner for looking around in a race. This has been an issue this season and is an automatic $50 fine so please just look straight ahead.
Runners are advised to re-read the Stewarding notes that were issued at the commencement of the season, particularly in regard to ‘winning intent’ and also competing with consistency from week to week.
Stewarding at Stawell – Runners please be aware that Stewards will be taking a strong approach to inconsistent running at the Stawell Carnival, with the likely sanction being disqualification rather than handicap adjustments or fines. As we have stressed all season, please be aware of the events that you compete in leading into Stawell as all meetings between now and Easter will provide a clear form line to Steward from.
Registered Runners and Trainers only should be on the ground and this should be limited to warming up and competing. Anyone outside of registered Runners and Trainers will be requested to leave the infield. We have a number of people who continue to flout this rule, which is unacceptable and will result in sanctions being handed out.
Breaking in a heat or semi final and not progressing will result in an NAP at best. Breaking in a final is an automatic NAP at best.