WANGARATTA Showgrounds will be centre stage once again to one of Victoria’s oldest running sport carnivals tomorrow.

The 103rd edition of the Wangaratta Sports Carnival will lead off with the woodchop from 11am into the foot running on centre stage from 2:30pm, with the Wangaratta Gift finals to take the event long into the night.

Equalisation of prize money in the male and female categories of the woodchop this year has made Wangaratta’s woodchop the richest chop in the state and has seen a boost in interest in the women’s event this year.

Wangaratta Sports Club president Paul Hughes said a similar equalisation in prize money by the Victorian Athletics League (VAL) recently saw a rise in competitors in the women’s gifts and has raised the standard of competition dramatically, and was pleased to see the local woodchop take the same route.

“The VAL across the board, and clubs have been equalising the prize money and as a result we’re getting close to having equal numbers in men’s and women’s gifts,” he said

“Our numbers have almost doubled this year in the women’s event; we’ve had really good participation now in the VAL.

“We are getting Olympic representative racing in gift races and young athletes like Bella Pasquali who are coming through in high quality races pushing to get to that national level; it’s been fantastic to see.

“And we’ve got good numbers in the juniors; our numbers have increased in entries this year which is a pleasing positive.”

The full program of the Wangaratta Sports Carnival can be seen below:

Woodchop, 11am start, enter via Evans Street (river end).

1. 300MM Matt Byrne Standing Block Handicap, total prize pool: $850.

2. 250MM North East Fasteners Standing Block Handicap, total prize pool: $850.

3. 300MM R&R Quality Homes Underhand Handicap, total prize pool: $850.

4. 275MM Ron Harding Memorial Standing Block Championship, total prize pool: $1050.

5. 275MM Michels Trenchless Novice Underhand Handicap, total prize pool: $385.

6. 250MM Rapid Hose/Fallon’s Bus Lines Novice Standing Block Handicap, total prize pool: $385.

7. 275MM Dunstans Civil Ladies Underhand Handicap, total prize pool: $850.

8. 250MM Margaret Harding Memorial Under 18 Underhand Handicap, total prize pool: $300.

9. 250MM Wang Saw and Lawnmower Under 12 Underhand Handicap, total prize pool: $150.

10. Refridgetech/Robinson Truck and Coach two Man Combination Handicap, total prize pool: $850.

11. Wangaratta Coolroom Hire Double Handed Sawing Handicap, total prize pool: $850.

Foot running, 2:30pm start.

2:30pm 70m Open heats.

2:56 70m Restricted heats.

3:13 Little Aths 100m U9-U11 girls heats.

3:24 70m Open semis.

3:35 120m U14 mixed heats.

3:49 120m U18 mixed heats.

4:06 70m Restricted final.

4:14 70m Open final (two presentations).

4:22 Little Aths 70m final.

4:25 Little Aths 100m U9-U11 girls final.

4:30 Little Aths 100m U9-U11 boys final (three presentations).

4:40 800m Open heats.

4:53 120m U14 Mixed final.

5:00 120m U18 Mixed final (two presentations, official welcome).

5:20 120m Masters heats.

5:40 120m Women’s Gift heats.

6:03 120m Men’s Gift heats.

6:30 800m Open final.

6:38 800m Masters 45+ final (two presentations).

6:46 Little Aths 400m girls final.

6:51 Little Aths 400m boys final (two presentations).

7:00 120m Masters final and presentation.

7:10 120m Women’s Gift semis.

7:21 120m Men’s Gift semis.

7:30 Netballers Cup 4x100m Relay final.

7:40 300m Masters heats.

8:04 300m Women’s heats.

8:20 400m Men’s heats.

8:40 400m Restricted final and presentation.

8:48 1600m Open final and presentation.

9:00 120m Women’s Gift final and presentation.

9:10 120m Men’s Gift final and presentation.

9:20 300m Masters final.

9:25 300m Women’s final (two presentations).

9:30 400m Men’s final and presentation.