Toowoomba brothers prepare to line up in Fairholme Gift
TEENAGE brothers Sam and Nick Toleman are aiming to make this year's Fairholme Gift a family affair when they line up for the 14th running of the annual event in Toowoomba on Saturday.
The premier 70-metre professional sprint features a range of the region's best male and female athletes vying for $5000 in prize money under handicap conditions.
Saturday's racing, including the 70-metre Youth Gift and Corporate Charity Relay, is a highlight of the Fairholme Spring Fair.
The Tolemans line up against a large entry list including veteran Toowoomba sprinter Walter Nock, 2010 Fairholme Gift runner-up Grant McDonald and 2011 Ipswich Lightning Gift winner Luke Wilkinson.
Eighteen-year-old Sam graduated from Toowoomba State High School last year while Nick (15) is a current Year 11 student.
Sam is a previous Youth Gift winner and Open Gift finalist while Nick will be tackling the open-age event for the first time.
"Long jump is actually my preferred event," Sam said.
"But I've been competing in gifts since I was about 12 and I won the Youth Gift here a couple of years ago when I also backed up in the open final.
"It would be good to make it through again this year, but a lot will depend on what mark I'm given.
"It's a great event to be a part of and is really a lot of fun on the day."
Wilkinson comes into the event after downing fellow Toowoomba product Andrew McCabe to win last year's Ipswich Gift.
McCabe, also a former Fairholme Gift entrant, went on to claim a spot in the 4 x 100 metre relay team at this year's London Olympics.
Saturday's heats begin at 11.30am with the Gift final run at 2.00pm.
The Celebrity Charity Relay race will be run at 1.45pm.
