Monday, 2 April 2018:
Tasmanian Jacob Despard has won the Stawell Gift with a blistering surge in the final of the iconic race.
Despard, who started the final as favourite off a 4.5m handicap, clocked an adjusted time of 12.12 seconds over 120m on Monday at Central Park in the country Victorian town.
He produced the fastest time of the meet to beat home Hamish Adams (12.21) with Gary Finegan third in 12.29.
Despard, who collected $60,000 in prize money, said the relocation to Melbourne - where he lived with fellow Tasmanian sprinter and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games competitor Jake Hale - played a big part in him taking out Australia's richest footrace.
Defending champion Matt Rizzo qualified for the final but finished fourth.
Queensland beach sprinter Elizabeth Forsyth (7m) won the Stawell Women's Gift.
She ran 13.69 seconds to get the better of Pam Austin, with Stephanie Jinks third.
