VETERAN sprinter Peter O'Dwyer
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says highly rated Ballarat runners Joel Bee and Matthew Wiltshire are a chance to figure in the Maryborough Gift foot race
but will face stiff competition from a Western Australian contingient.
Five West Australians will contest the Maryborough Gift on Tuesday, including 2012 Bay Sheffield open finalist Dylan Panizza, new Bay Sheffield over-35 champion Glenn Ross, and Ararat Gift winner Adam Moore.
"The Western Australians are the form athletes. They've been to the Bay Sheffield and done well, and have now come over here via Ararat," O'Dwyer said.
Two time Maryborough Gift winner (2010-2011) Matt Carter, is the overall backmarker off just 0.5m in heat six, while Bee is off a mark of 2.75m in heat seven.
2008 Stawell Gift winner Sam Jamieson will wear the backmarker's red vest in the second heat off 3.75m. Reigning Maryborough Gift champ, Matthew Eddy is in the blue vest in heat five off 8.25m, while 2012 runner-up David Tinney has the red in heat four off 5.75m.
The Western Australians are more generously handicapped by comparison. Panizza has a 7.25m start, Moore has 9.5m, and Ross is off 10.75m. There are two other runners from across the Nullarbor: Zhen Wang (9m) and Aldis Jaunzems (12m).