‘Sabotage’: Stawell Gift nightmare as Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy sabotaged before race

Stawell Gift organisers have made a critical blunder resulting in fan favourites Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy missing the final of the iconic race.

Stawell Gift organisers have been left to lick their wounds after fan favourites Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy were bundled out in the semi-finals on Monday.

The dynamic duo both finished second in their respective races as they were unable to overcome their harsh handicaps.

With only the winners of the six semi-finals advancing to the final later, fans had to deal with the reality that neither star sprinter would be competing for the $40,000 grand prize.

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Gout was heavily favoured to take out the great race, however, couldn’t overturn a 8.75m deficit to beat John Evans, who clocked the fastest heat time of 12.13 and backed it up with a 12.10 in the final.

You can watch Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy’s semi-final defeats in the player above.

Gout’s chances of bridging the gap were also sabotaged by wild wet weather, which not only made the track incredibly damp but made reaching top speed on the grass course near impossible.

While many fans fumed at the 17-year-old being put up against Evans in the semi, the reality is Gout’s time of 12.34 wouldn’t have won him any of the semi finals, with the weather gods to blame, not the tournament organisers.

However, the handicappers may have a bit to answer for after neither Gout nor Kennedy looked likely to reel in their rivals due to the monumental disadvantages they were given, much to the anger of fans.

But despite the shock defeat, Gout was as classy as ever continuing on past the finish line to high-five fans.

Gout will not go home empty-handed, with the teen reportedly pocketing a $50,000 appearance fee from a local businessman.

You can follow along with news.com.au’s live Stawell Gift blog below.

Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy bundled out of Stawell Gift.

2.20: John Evans is a Stawell Gift champion

John Evans is the 2025 men’s Stawell Gift winner with a sub-12 second run in the final, giving none of the competitors a chance.

After knocking out Gout in the semi-finals, Evans put in the race of his life to be crowned the 2025 men’s Stawell Gift champion.

The Adelaide schoolteacher ran an incredible 11.94 to finish ahead of Jasper Thomas (6.50m) and Mitch O’Neill (4.75m). Thomas and O’Neill both improved on their semi-final times, stopping the clock in 12.07 and 12.11 respectively.

2.00: Gout Gout train derailed as Ryan Tarrant takes out open backmarkers invitation

Gout Gout (0.5m) is having a Stawell Gift to forget after finishing seventh in the open backmarkers invitation.

The teenager was slow away and was quickly passed by rival Lachlan Kennedy, but it appeared as if Chloe Mannix-Power (14m) would claim the event only for Ryan Tarrant to steal the show.

Tarrant, the 2023 men’s Gift champion, ran off 3.50m to win in 12.27.

Mannix-Power (14m) and Jack Hale (2m) rounded out the placings, with Kennedy a stride behind in fourth.

1.50: Bree Rizzo ‘speechless’ after barnstorming win

“To win it off scratch I never imagined that. My first race was off four metres and I got third,” Rizzo told Channel 7 after her monumental win.

“I am actually speechless. I wanted to retire at 23 and I am 30 this year and I am doing incredible things.

“I guess it is the way the story was meant to go. Matt (husband) is a big part of that. I am grateful to be here.”

1.45: Bree Rizzo takes out the Stawell Gift from scratch

The tale of the day had been backmarkers falling short, until Bree Rizzo stepped up.

Rizzo stormed home in the women’s final to claim a historic win in 13.52 edging out Chiara Santiglia (7.75m) by the finest of margins. Rizzo stopped the clock in 13.52, with Santiglia second in 13.55.

Jemma Stapleton (11m) was third in 13.66.

Incredibly the 29-year-old now joins husband Matthew as a Stawell Gift champion.

1.30: How the men’s Stawell Gift final looks

With no Gout, Kennedy or Jack Hale, the race is void of star power.

But the race is sure to entertain with the final scheduled for 2:20pm.

John Evans (9.75m)

Patrick Martin (8.50m)

Dash Muir (7.75m)

Jasper Thomas (6.50m)

Joshua Lotsu (5.50m)

Mitch O’Neill (4.75m)

1.15: Gout Gout out

A school teacher has stunned teen sensation Gout Gout in the sixth and final semi, meaning the 17-year-old misses out on the Stawell Gift final.

John Evans won the final semi from a 9.75m in a sizzling time of 12.10.

Gout was the backmarker off one metre and put in an almighty effort to almost steal victory at the end but ran out of time, clocking a time of 12.34.

1.15: Kiwi books place in final after rain delay

With strong winds and rain battering Stawell, the fifth semi was put on hold for a brief moment but it didn’t stop Joshua Lotsu booking his place in the final.

Lotsu won his semi off 5.5m in a time of 12.23.

And now is the time everyone has been waiting for, Gout Gout time.

Jasper Thomas takes out second semi final. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

1.00: Backmarkers fail again as Jack Hale bundled out by Patrick Martin

Patrick Martin (8.50m) has staved off Jack Hale, as the woes of the backmarkers continues.

Clocking 12.29, Martin won by a head over Hale, who just couldn’t bridge the gap in time.

12.55: Mitch O’Neill books spot in final, just

Mitch O’Neill has booked his spot in the final after narrowly winning the third semi.

Running off 4.75m, O’Neill showed grit late to sneak home in 12.21.

12.50: Jasper Thomas cruises into the final

Jasper Thomas has romped into the final with an easy win in the second semi.

Thomas, running off 6.50m, was able to look around in the final 10m as he cruised to victory in 12.17 and looks set to be one to watch in the final.

12.43: Lachlan Kennedy stunned in boilover

Aussie sprint sensation Lachlan Kennedy has been stunned in a boilover at the Stawell Gift, with Dash Muir taking the first semi in 12.18.

Kennedy, the backmarker off 0.25m, roared down the track to pick off all of his rivals, except for Muir.

Muir, from 7.75m, took the win to advance to the final.

And with only one man progressing from each semi to the final, it means Kennedy’s Stawell Gift dream is dashed in the semi.

Dash Muir stunned Lachlan Kennedy in the first semi. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Fans fume as Gout Gout dealt horror semi-final draw

Gout’s semi-final disadvantage has been met with anger from fans, accusing tournament organisers of “self sabotage”.

When Gout races in the sixth and final semi, he will have to run 119m, while fastest heat winner, Evans only has to run 110.25m.

And fans believe it is a huge blunder by race organisers.

“Classic self sabotage from Stawell stewards and VAL- put Gout gout in same Semi final as John Evans (fastest qualifier and favourite),” one fan wrote on X.

“Only the winner of each semi makes it to the final. Gout’s in the sixth semi, up against John Evans, who got a 10m head start and the fastest time yesterday. It looks like Gout’s getting knocked out, unfortunately,” another wrote.

And come the semi neither he or Kennedy could make up the ground, leading to fans calling for change.

“Handicappers made a mess of this when neither Gout or Kennedy make the final,” one fan wrote.

“Handicapping was a bit overcooked considering the torrential rain just before this semi. Bit hard to utilise his springy running style. Handicapping out the fastest runners is certainly a good way to ruin viewership for the finals,” another added.

Originally published as ‘Sabotage’: Stawell Gift nightmare as Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy sabotaged before race