Eddy’s new year gift

By Jarrod Potter
MATTHEW Eddy had a dream start to 2012, winning the Maryborough Gift on 2 January.
Eddy, 31, from Narre Warren, ran 12.25 to take out the $15,000 race, starting off 10 metres. Eddy edged out David Tinney and Cam Dunbar in his third running of the Maryborough Gift across an eight-year career in the Victorian Athletic League (VAL).
“It was great to win,” Eddy said.
“I couldn’t believe it.
“It’s one of the best and is the oldest foot race in Australia, run for 151 years.
“It’s even older than Stawell, so I was rapt to win it.”
Maryborough offered up a scorching day for the athletes, with the temperature over 40 degrees, but Eddy was able to work through the heat to grab the win.
“Wasn’t sure how I’d handle the heat, it was 42 degrees up there and I had five runs for the day,” Eddy said.
“I had the quickest time through the heats and the semis and I held my form through the final as well.
“I ran a 12.25 and I haven’t run that quickly in a while. I ran a 12.06, but we had a bit of a tailwind so they adjusted it up. I’ve had a good season and had a few wins, not as big as Maryborough, so I knew I was around abouts and that I’d be competitive.”
The Maryborough Gift victory heads an impressive win-sheet for Eddy, with wins also at the Sandringham Gift, Epping 200, Terang 70 and the Ringwood 70.
There are a few more big prizes looming on the horizon for Eddy, with his focus set on the Ballarat Gift, Stonnington Gift and the biggest race of the year, the Stawell Gift.
On his chances to win another gift, Eddy said as long as he drew a decent starting position, he’d be in with a chance.
“If the handicappers are kind to me and don’t pull me back too far I should go all right,” he said.