DRAMA ensued at the gates in a thrilling Daylesford Gift final yesterday.South Australian Bradley Letton pipped in-form Ballarat sprinter Rob Lehmann for the $2000 Gift 100m handicap at Cricket Willow.Letton, in blue, tripped and fell into the white lane next to his, spiking Melbourne's Peter Dudkiewicz in the thigh.Dudkiewicz's reflex was to leap over Letton, to avoid spiking the victor, but he twisted his ankle in the process and crashed into the safety mats. Finalists gathered about the injured Dudkiewicz but meanwhile judges were gathered around video replays to pick apart a photo finish.The blue flag was raised and Letton declared winner, clocking a time of 10.98 seconds.Lehmann had been so close to completing a Gift double after wife Narelle captured the women's crown at the Victorian Athletic League meet.Letton though said he was surprised just to make the Gift final, let alone win the blue sash.The Steve Butler-trained sprinter broke in his heat and was pulled from eight metres back to a 7.25m start.He did not place but a quick heat time was enough to earn him a spot in the third semi-final, his original mark restored."I was a little twitchy at the start but made the most of a bit of a second chance," Letton said."I was just happy to make the final."I knew it was going to be tough against Lehmann - I've had a couple of good runs against him now."Letton (8m) was forced to work hard for the victory in chasing Lehmann, who had a 8.75m start.Lehmann has been in dominant form this weekend, capturing the veterans' 120m sash and reaching the Maryborough Gift final on New Year's Day.He powered off the blocks at Daylesford for a comfortable win in heat six before topping a decorated semi-final, which included the Gift's past three winners Shaun Fletcher (4.75m), Shaun Hargreaves (5m) and Glenn Stephens (10.75m).The semi win also knocked out Ballarat only other remaining competitors - Lehmann's in-form training partner Nathan Fox and Ballarat veteran Rod Mathews.Lehmann said the Gift final was a good, tight race - he just got tied up in the middle."I was trying to win the race rather than jumping off the blocks and letting it unfold," Lehmann said."It was so tight - I thought (Letton) had me and I thought I had the guy on the outside but it was too close to tell.''“. . . I’m just happy to back up Maryborough and come out and run well today (sic).”Daylesford will be a special place for the winning Letton.It marked the dual Loxton Gift winner’s first victory in three years.This was Letton’s first visit to the Daylesford and Maryborough carnivals with wife Megan, who won the women’s 400m sash on Saturday.They have a busy South Australian athletics schedule but will be back in the region for the Stawell Gift.Meanwhile, Dudkiewicz is likely to have a lengthy side-line stint ahead.Dudkiewicz told The Courier early diagnosis was a torn ligament in his ankle but he must first wait for swelling to subside.