Stawell Gift Event Management (SGEM) has today announced Port Melbourne based engineering and systems integration company, SYPAQ as a new sponsor for the 2022 Powercor Stawell Gift Carnival.
The partnership will see SYPAQ secure the naming rights for two races at Stawell – the SYPAQ Lorraine Donnan Women’s Handicap 400m; and the new invitation-only SYPAQ Australian Defence Force Handicap 120m.
SYPAQ Managing Director David Vicino, who is a former runner at Stawell said it was only fitting that SYPAQ collaborated with SGEM to create a dedicated race for active Australian Defence Force personnel as part of the historic professional running Carnival.
“Personally, the Stawell Gift has given me so much joy as an athlete, coach and spectator, so I’m thrilled about SYPAQ’s partnership with this iconic event. SYPAQ is an Australian veteran-owned company, dedicated to equipping our service men and women with the very best and most innovative technology. And now, we get to watch the very best Defence Force athletes compete at a truly Australian event, steeped in tradition but introducing more and more innovation each year. There’s something poetic about that,’ said Vicino.
The SYPAQ Australian Defence Force Handicap will see eight active Australian Defence Force Personnel compete in a straight handicapped final run over 120m on the main Powercor Stawell Gift Track at 9.40am on Easter Monday. Organisers have been working closely with ADF Sport to facilitate the involvement of active personnel. Participants will race in the traditional Stawell colours and compete for prize money and the inaugural title.
A new trophy for the winner of the SYPAQ Australian Defence Force Handicap has been commissioned, which will be known as the Tommy Deane Trophy, named after the 1946 Stawell Gift winner who passed away in 2019. Tommy’s win was in the first Stawell Gift held after a four year suspension during World War 2. Tommy served in the army in New Guinea where he developed his sporting talent and earned the nickname “Dasher Deane.”
The Lorraine Donnan 400m Women’s Handicap was established in 1994 to celebrate the life of someone who was active in athletics but who could not run herself due to a rare muscular disease. Lorraine had a passion for the sport and became involved in coaching and administration within the women’s amateur ranks. She loved Easter at Stawell and only missed three years in 27 until her death in 1994 aged 42. The SYPAQ Lorraine Donnan Handicap forms part of the feature race calendar broadcast live and free on Seven on Easter Monday.
“The SYPAQ partnership is one built on genuine innovation and expansion of the Powercor Stawell Gift Carnival experience. We are looking forward to welcoming our Australian Defence Force personnel to Stawell for what we know will be a fantastic race and celebration of our service personnel,’ said Stephanie Spence, Chair of SGEM.
To coincide with the SYPAQ sponsorship, SGEM has appointed Invictus Australia as its official charity, the organisation which connects armed services personnel and veterans to sport.
The 2022 Powercor Stawell Gift carnival will take place from April 16-18, 2022 at Central Park, Stawell. The finals of the Change Our Game Women’s Gift and Powercor Stawell Gift take place on Easter Monday. The finals, including the SYPAQ Lorraine Donnan Women’s Handicap, are broadcast live and free on Seven from 11.30am AEST Monday April 18, 2022.
Tickets for the 2022 Powercor Stawell Gift are now on sale via Ticketek at https://premier.ticketek.com.au/.
For further information go to www.stawellgift.com
