Stawell Gift champ Chloe Maxwell and dual Olympian Ellie Beer to race in Arthur Postle Gift

A small country Queensland town is ready to host a sprint carnival that will rival one of Australia’s most prestigious events – the Stawell Gift. Here’s where you can see a dual Olympian in action against some of the nation’s best sprinters.

Tokyo and Paris Games Olympian Ellie Beer will compete in the Arthur Postle Gift in January. Picture: Michael Klein

With a dual Olympian and the reigning Stawell Gift women’s champion lacing up their boots -a small town in country Queensland is set to host one of Australia’s quickest Gift Sprint carnivals.

Tokyo and Paris Games sprinter Ellie Beer and Stawell Gift star Chloe Maxwell will headline Arthur Postle Gift field in Pittsworth in January.

Beer and Maxwell will feature in the women’s race over 75 yards with organisers understanding they may line up in the Postle Gift (men’s) race as well.

“I think it’s exciting from the perspective that it really shows the prestige of this event and the Arthur Postle story,” Postle Gift organising committee chair Greg Quinn said.

“There is an event at the Stawell (Gift) in honour of Arthur but we’re obviously the main game up here in Pittsworth.”

Adelaide Bailey crosses the line during a Postle Gift heat in 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The Gift honours Arthur ‘The Crimson Flash’ Postle who was born near Pittsworth.

During his career Postle set world records in the 50, 60, 75, 80 and 200 yard sprint events and picked up ‘The Crimson Flash’ tag because of the bright red costume he ran in.

First run in 2018, organisers admit it was a gamble holding the event in country Queensland but it was a risk that has paid off with the Gift increasing in popularity and prestige every year.

“Yes (it was a risk) the reasoning for Pittsworth is the heritage, the history of Arthur Postle himself a fantastic runner, a world record holder,” Quinn said.

“He ran all over the world after originally making a big name for himself in Western Australia with some fantastic professional running, but it (the Gift) is absolutely one of the jewels in the crown of the Pittsworth district.”

A new race, the John “Cracker” McDonald AM Memorial, has also been added to the 2025 program.

Club Pittsworth will host the second leg of the three race series named in honour of the legendary rugby league player and administrator who was also a lightning quick runner.

“Johnny was an amazing athlete, a world record holder for the 440 yards,” John’s wife Joan said.

“Having this series in his honour means a lot to me and the family.”