Hall of fame

Matt Barber - Athlete/Coach

1956 - 2020 (Deceased)

Matt held the WA Open Shot Put record of 18.40m from 1981 - February 2020 when it was surpassed by one of his trained athletes, it is one of the longest standing records. He is also WA’s most successful Professional running coach and arguably amateur as well. He has had more Pro wins local and interstate than any other coach in history and officially started coaching the Curtin Athletics Club in 1986.

Achievements

120m Pro Winners

1987 Bunbury Gift – Keiran Finn

1988 Bunbury Gift = Keiran Finn (& Andrew Taylor)

1988 Rye Gift – Peter O’Dwyer

1988 Mullewa Gift – Greg Harvey

1989 Austin Robertson Gift – Dean Capobianco

1989 Port Hedland Gift – Paul Edmiston

1989 Mullewa Gift – Nick Ward

1990 Collie Gift – Robert Foti

1990 Mullewa Gift – Dean Capobianco

1990 Stawell Gift – Dean Capobianco

1990 Bay Sheffield – Dean Capobianco

1990 Kalgoorlie Gift – Nick Ward

1991 Mullewa Gift – Ben Liston

1991 Burnie Gift – Dean Capobianco

1991 Kalgoorlie Gift – Paul Edmiston

1992 Botany Bay Gift – Jason Gilich

1992 Burnie Gift – Shane Hearn

1992 Mullewa Gift – Mark Peters

1993 Mullewa Gift – John Manus

1994 Mullewa Gift – John Manus

1994 Botany Bay Gift – Paul Edmiston

1994 Botany Bay Women’s Gift – Nova Peris

1994 Northam Gift – Nova Peris

1995 Mullewa Gift – Rod Buchanan

1995 Lilac Hill Gift – Shaun Mayne

1997 Bay Sheffield Gift – Rod Buchanan

1996 Gilgandra Gift – Shem Hollands

1996 Bunbury Gift – Andrew McManus

1996 Mazanod Gift – Andrew McManus

1996 Maryborough Gift – Andrew McManus

1997 Mullewa Gift – Jai York

1998 Mullewa Gift – Trent Hunter

1999 Mullewa Gift – Rod Buchanan

1999 Bay Sheffield Gift – Andrew McManus

2000 Botany Bay Gift – Andrew McManus

2000 Mullewa Gift – Cameron Yorke

2000 Fremantle Dockers Gift – Cameron Yorke

2002 Burnie Gift – Darren Rodgers

2003 Mullewa Gift – Evan Jarvis

2003 Dandenup Gift – Andrew McManus

2004 Mullewa Gift – Darren Rogers

2005 Mullewa Gift – Aiden Jeanes

2006 Burnie Gift – Cameron Yorke

2006 Mullewa Gift – Evan Jarvis

2009 Dardenup Gift – Dylan Panizza

2009 Mullewa Gift – Alex Glorie

2009 Hobart Gift – Cameron Yorke

2010 Mullewa Gift – Dylan Panizza

2010 Dardenup Gift – Naomi Henn

2012 Mullewa Gift – Alex Glorie

2012 Hamersley Gift – Isabella Valuri

2013 Peel Gift – Alex Glorie

2013 Bay Sheffield Women’s Gift – Kiara Reddingius

2014 Hamersley Gift – Kiara Reddingius

2015 Dave Dilley Women’s Gift – Breanna Fallows

2015 Bay Sheffield Women’s Gift – Kobi Evans

2016 Ballarat Women’s Gift – Kiara Reddingius

2016 Queanbeyan Women’s Gift – Julia Phillips

2017 Mullewa Gift – Eleanor Disselkoen

2018 Parkdale Men’s Gift – Evan Jarvis

2018 Parkdale Women’s Gift – Kiara Reddingius

WCAL Team Championship: Curtin Athletics Club – 2017/18

WCAL Team Championship: Curtin Athletics Club – 2016/17

Dean "Capo" Capobianco

Born: 11 May 1970

The winner of 1990 Stawell Gift, 1990 Bay Sheffield Gift & 1991 Burnie Gift he is still the only person in history to achieve this in a calendar year. Capo is one of WA & Australia’s greatest ever sprinters finishing with 6 x National Open Gold medals. He was 5th at the 1993 World Championships in the 200m final in 20.18sec. The second fastest Australian all time.

Achievements

Pro

1990 Winner Stawell 120m Gift (2.25m)

1990 Winner Bay Sheffield 120m Gift (1.5m)

1991 Winner Burnie Gift (0m)

1991 Botany Bay 120m Gift (runner up – 0m)

GROUP 2 Pro Wins

1989 Winner Austin Robertson 120m Gift

Winner Mazenod 120m Gift

Winner Stawell 120m Backmarkers

1990 Winner Mullewa 120m Gift (0.75m)

Winner Cannington (Dogs) Gift

Winner Port Macquarie 120m Gift

Pro Highlights:

Bunbury 120m Gift – runner up to Keiran Finn in 1st pro-race (at 16 yo).

Stawell 120m Gift Match Race: Melinda Gainsford (14m) v Dean Capobianco (0m).

Amateur:

1988-89 U20 Nationals 110 metres Hurdles 1st 14.15 (WA Record)

1990-91 Nationals 100 yards 1st 9.7

1990-91 Nationals 100 metres 1st 10.36 (+0.1)

1990-91 Nationals 200 metres 1st 20.64 (-1.2)

1991-92 Nationals 200 metres 1st 20.57 (-0.8)

1992-93 Nationals 100 metres 1st 10.17 (+4.7)

1995-96 Nationals 200 metres 1st 20.79 (-0.7)

1993 World Championships 200 metres Final 5th 20.18 (+0.3)

Ht 1st 20.52 (-0.2); QF 2nd 20.44 (-1.0); SF 4th 20.21 (+0.6).


Peter "POD" O'Dwyer

Born: TBA

Peter O’Dwyer, originally from WA, has competed in every Stawell Gift since 1988, that’s 32 consecutive gifts – placing 4th in 1988 and 3rd in 1999. A remarkable and unmatched effort. He has placed in over 40 gift finals and run in more than 50 gift finals. He won the Mullewa Gift in 1987, Ballarat in 1996, Rye in and placed in He has trained 4 Stawell Gift winners, 1 male and 3 female, including his own daughter, Gracie, in 2015

Achievements

Professional Career

Stawell Gift

3rd 1999 Stawell Gift Final 5.25m

4th 1988 Stawell Gift Final 4.5m

4 times x 2nd in Semi final- 2005 (9m),2006(11m),2008(10m),2010(10m)

2007 (1st heat),2009(4th heat),2011(5th heat 9.25m)

Semi Finalist in the Stawell Gift on ( 18) Eighteen occasions (the most in the history of the Stawell Gift) (including 2005 2nd in semi and 2006 2nd in semi (by 8/100ths sec) & 2007(4th) & 2008(2nd) & 2010(2nd)(by 3/100th, 2011, 2012, 2013,2015 at age 49 )

Competed in 29 consecutive Stawell Gifts, 11 (12) from behind 5m the first and only sprinter to do so. And 16 (17) from behind 6m

Winner Stawell Central Highland 400m 1996


Ballarat Gift

Winner 2010 Ballarat Gift $25K (at age 44 -14 years after winning in 1996) 2nd richest footrace in Australia in 2010

Winner 1996 Ballarat Gift $10K (2nd richest race in Victoria)

2nd 1999 Ballarat Gift

4th 1997 Ballarat Gift


Botany Bay Gift (Richest Footrace in Australia)

2nd 1996 Botany Bay Gift(3m)

2nd 1992 Botany Bay Gift (2m)

6th 1995 Botany Bay Gift


Other Significant Professional Gift Wins

Winner 2008 Rye Gift (20 years after winning for the first time)

Winner 1989 Rye Gift

Winner 1992 Werribee Gift


Professional Grand Prix 120m Gift Finals

3rd 1999 Stawell Gift Final

4th 1888 Stawell Gift Final

2nd 1991 Burnie Gift

2nd 1996 Botany Bay Gift

2nd 1992 Botany Bay Gift

6th 1995 Botany Bay Gift


Bay Sheffield SA

4th 1989 Bay Sheffield Gift

1st 1988 Bay Sheffield Backmarkers

1st 1989 70m Bay Sheffield Glenelg

1st 2002 Vets 120m -Bay Sheffield

Some Professional Gift Finals Performances

1st-1987-Mullewa Gift Final

1st-1988-Bay Sheffield Backmarkers

1st-1989-70m Bay Sheffield Glenelg

1st-1989-Rye Gift

1st-1991-Gazza Gift-Fastest Footballer in Australia

1st-1992-Werribee Gift

1st-1996-Ballarat Gift

1st-2010-Ballarat Gift

1st-2002-Bay Sheffield Vets

1st-2008-Rye Gift

1st-1996-Stawell 400m

1st--Buramine Backmarkers

1st--Keilor Backmarkers

2nd-1990-Burnie Gift

2nd-1992-Botany Bay Gift

2nd-1993-Ararat Gift

2nd-1995-Geelong 300m

2nd-1996-Botany Bay Gift

2nd-1996-Burramine Backmarkers

2nd-1996-Geelong Gift

2nd-1996-Keilor Gift

2nd-1996-Rye Gift

2nd-1999-Ballarat Gift

3rd-1988-Mullewa Gift Final

3rd-1991-Melton Gift

3rd-1992-Bendigo Gift

3rd-1993-Maryborough 200m Final

3rd-1996-Maryborough Gift

3rd-1996-Wangaratta Gift

3rd-1997-Geelong Gift

3rd-1999-Stawell Gift Final

3rd-2001-Ballarat Gift Backmarkers

3rd-1991-Barooga Gift Final

4th-1888-Stawell Gift Final

4th-1996-Bendigo Gift

4th-1997-Ballarat Gift

4th -1989-Bay Sheffield Gift

4th -2007-Rye Gift

5th-1987-Bunbury Gift final

5th-1990-Bernie Gift Backmarkers

5th-1990-Hobart Gift

5th-1995-Burramine Gift

5th-2007-Rye Gift

6th -1989-Bay Sheffield Backmarkers

6th -1990-Bunbury Gift final

6th -1995-Botany Bay Gift

8th-1995-Rye 400m final

8th-2004-Geelong Gift

40 plus x placed in Gift Finals.

50 plus x Gift finalist.

Amateur Career

5 Times World Champion - 2002 World Masters Games

Gold Medal -100m 35-40yrs World Championship Masters 2002 (11.04sec)

Gold Medal -200m 35-40yrs World Championship Masters 2002

Gold Medal -400m 35-40yrs World Championship Masters 2002 (48.69sec)

Gold Medal -4 x 100m World Championship Masters 2002

Gold Medal -4 x 400m World Championship Masters 2002


National and State Medals

100m State Open Sprint Champion (Western Australia) 1987 (10.40sec), 1988(10.50sec), 1989(10.40sec)

200m State Open Sprint Champion (Western Australia) 1987 (21.60 sec)

Silver 200m State Champion (Western Australia) 1989 (21.60 sec)

Bronze Medal Australian 100yards Championship 1992.

Gold Medal Australian Open 4 x 100m National Championships 1991

Silver Medal Australian Open 4 x 100m National Championships 1990

Bronze Medal Australian Open 4 x 400m National Championships 1990

Member of the Australian 4 x 100m Relay Squad 1990

Numerous State Junior sprint Titles 1982 -1986.

Numerous State & Vic Country Master/Vets sprint Titles 2001 -2016.

Member of the WA State Athletics Team 1982 to 1990

Fourth 1989 200m Malaysian Championships (10.70)

Fourth 1989 100m Malaysian Championships (21.40)

Silver 100m Victoria Country Championships (10.74)


Records

100m Australian Record Holder 35-40 years 11.04sec (2002)…….since broken by P Johnston

200m Australian Record Holder 35-40 years 21.98sec (2002)…...since Broken by P Johnston

400m Victorian Record Holder 35-40 years 48.69sec (2002)


PB's

PB -100m State Open Sprint Champion (Western Australia) 1987 (10.40sec), 1988(10.50sec), 1989(10.40sec)

PB -100m 10.46 Elec(wind +1.3) UK 1990 and 10.1H Wind ass(Perth)

PB -200m 21.1 H Geelong

PB -400m 46.1 H, and 48.69 at age of 37.



Dr Shane Hearn

Born: 2nd Oct 1968

The winner of the 1994 Burnie Gift, 1995 Mandurah Gift & 1996 Botany Bay Gift. Hearnie is the fastest Indigenous sprinter and highest Indigenous prize money earner in WA’s history. Starting out as a football player, Shane went onto carve out an outstanding professional and amateur athletics record.

Achievements

Pro

1988 Winner WAFL Players 100m Sprint

1990 Winner Burnie Maiden Sprint

1991 winner Ovaltine Sprint Devonport (TAS)

1992 Burnie 120m Gift 5th

1993 Burnie 120m Gift 4th

1994 Winner Burnie 120m Gift – $9k

1995 Winner Mandurah 120m Gift

1996 Winner Botany Bay 120m Gift – $23k

1996 Winner Arthur Postle 75yrd

1996 Bay Sheffield 120m Gift 3rd.

1997 Winner Mazanod 120m Gift

1997 Burnie 120m Gift 3rd

1997 Botany Bay 120m Gift 5th

Amateur

100m 10.32 (+1.7w) & 9.7w (+3.7)

1995/96 WA State 200m Runner up

1995/96 WA State 100m Runner up 10.32

1995/96 Nationals 100m Final 10.68 (-1.7) 7th

1995/96 Perth GP 100m Runner up 10.33

1996/97 WA State 200m Winner

1996/97 Nationals 10.64 (-0.6) heat & 10.76 (-2.3) semi

Jason Gilich

Born: 7th Jan 1973

The winner of the 1990 Bunbury Gift, 1992 Botany Bay Gift & 1992 Port Hedland Gift. Gilich burst onto the Professional scene very early in his carrier going onto win one of Australia’s richest races. Loaded with talent, his career was unfortunately cut short by a motor vehicle accident in 1992 after his most famous victory.

Achievements

Pro:

1989 Winner Midland Brick Gift (youngest sprinter in Australia to win a gift race (16yo)

1990 Winner Bunbury Gift 70m & 120m (first WA sprinter to win two major races at the same meeting)

1990 Winner John Hughes Peoples’ 120m Gift

1990 Winner Mullewa Invitational 75m

1991 Winner Hobart (TAS) 200m

1992 Runner up Burnie Backmarkers Gift (TAS) 120m

1992 Winner Port Hedland 120m Gift- $5k

1992 Winner Botany Bay 120m Gift (NSW) – $18k

Amateur:

1984/85 U12 60m Hurdles State Little Athletics Gold Medalist

1984/85 U12 100m State Little Athletics Gold Medalist

1985/86 U13 100m State Little Athletics Gold Medalist

1989/90 Northern Districts Best Under 16 Male (Club Trophy) | 1989/90 Northern Districts Athletic Club Most Outstanding Male (Club Trophy) | 1991/92 Curtin Athletic Club Track Champion | 1990 WA All Schools Championships U19 100m, 200m, & 110 hurdles (Gold) | 1992 U20 AAWA State Championships 100m (Bronze) | 1992 U20 AAWA State Championships 200m (Silver) | 1992 U20 National Track & Field Championships, Adelaide (200m – 4th)


Andrew "Billy" Mcmanus

Born: 11th Dec 1970

The 1992 Stawell Gift, 1999 Bay Sheffield Gift & 2000 Botany Bay Gift Winner. ‘Billy’ is the highest prize money earner in WA’s history (at around $100k) and the second highest Australian all time. He came to WA in 1993 from Victoria to train with coach Matt Barber and incredibly made the Olympic team at 33yo after a short retirement.

Achievements

From 125 Stawell Greatest Moments…

No.#89 Essendon’s Andrew McManus produced an impressive display to capture the 1992 Gift in 12.03 off 7m. 4th place getter Tim Mason, who was the odds-on favourite to win the 1990 Gift, again experienced the disappointment of gift final defeat.

Pro & Amateur Record:

1989 Maryborough 1st meet at 18 years old

1990 Winner Lavington 120m Restricted

1992 Winner Stawell 120m Gift (12.03sec 7m) – $24K

1993 Winner Bay Sheffield 120m Backmarkers

1994 Stawell 120m Gift 5th 3.5m

1994 Winner Keilor 120m Backmarkers

1994 National 200m Final 5th

1995 Injured

1996 Maryborough 120m Gift 3rd

199? Winner Maryborough 200m

1996 Winner Mazenod 120m Gift (WA)

1996 Winner Bunbury 200m (WA)

1996 National 200m Final 4th

1997 Injured

1998 Injured

1999 Stawell 120m Gift 4th 5.75m

1999 Winner Bay Sheffield 120m Gift (11.87sec 5.75m) – $12.5K

2000 Winner Burnie Backmarkers

2000 Maryborough 120m Gift 2nd 0.75m (Jan 2nd) (tightest mark he ran off)

2000 Winner Botany Bay 120m Gift (3.5m 12.01sec) – $50K

2001 Injured/Semi Retired

2002 Injured/Semi Retired

2003 Stawell 120m Backmarkers 2nd

2003 Winner Dardunup 120m Gift (WA)

2003 Winner Dardunup 70m

2003 Bay Sheffield 120m Gift 3rd 3.5m

2004 Burnie120m Gift 2nd 2.25m

2004 Ballarat 120m Gift Finalist

2004 Athens Olympics 4x100m

2005 Stawell 200m heat unplaced & last run at 34 years old


Paul "Edmo" Edmiston

Born: 16th Feb 1972

The winner of the 1989 Port Hedland Gift, 1991 Kalgoorlie Gift & 1994 Botany Bay Gift. Edmo is one of the highest Western Australian professional prize money earners. The handy high hurdler competed in 10 consecutive Open National Championships making 7 finals and winning three medals.

Achievements

Pro

1989 – Runner up Austin Robertson 120m Gift

1989 – Winner Port Hedland 120m Gift – $5k

1991 – Winner Kalgoorlie 120m Gift – $10k

1992 – Runner up Mullewa 120m Gift

1993 – Runner up Mullewa 120m Gift

1993 – 3rd place Bay Sheffield 120m Gift (SA)

1994 – Winner Botany Bay 120m Gift (NSW) – $23k

1994 – Semi Finalist Stawell 120m Gift (4.5m)

1994 – Runner up Mullewa 120m Gift

1995 – Winner Arthur Postle 75yard Dash

1996 – Runner up Burnie 120m Gift (5m) – controversy as the Tasmanian winner was accused of false starting witnessed by many. Conveniently the appeal was dismissed.

2002 – 4th place Bay Sheffield 120m Gift (SA)

2003 – Favourite for Burnie 120m Gift (TAS) – Race cancelled due to rain.

2004 – Entered Bay Sheffield (SA) winning the gift trial ahead of stable mates (including Simon Creighton). However cancelled the trip east due to birth of his first child. Creighton went on to finish 3rd in the Bay Sheffield final one week later.

Coaching – 120m Pro Winners

2010 Hamersley 120m Gift – Mathew Short

2010 City of Perth 120m Gift – Cole Unasa

2011 Dardenup 120m Gift – Mathew Short

2012 Rockingham 120m Gift –Tim Branston

2013 Stonnington 120m Gift – Cole Unasa

2013 Kevan Hook 120m Gift – Paige Gavranich

2013 Rockingham 120m Gift = Mathew Short & Ben Clark

2013 Mullewa 120m Gift – Adriaan Pelser (youngest ever at 12yo)

2014 Hamersley 120m Gift – Heinrich Rass

2014 Hamersley 120m Gift – Rhys Davies

2015 Mullewa 120m Gift – Adriaan Pelser

2015 Hamersley 120m Gift – Rhys Davies

2016 Hamersley 120m Gift – Rhys Davies

2017 World Championship Medal: F44 Women’s Discus (Sarah Edmiston)

WCAL Team Championship: North Beach Athletics – 2016/17

WCAL Team Championship: North Beach Athletics – 2015/16

WCAL Team Championship: North Beach Athletics – 2014/15

WCAL Team Championship: North Beach Athletics – 2013/14

WCAL Team Championship: North Beach Athletics – 2012/13

Amateur

Open Nationals– 110m hurdles

1990-91 4th Final 14.88 (-1.4) U20

1990-91 5th Heat 15.05 (-0.8)

1991-92 8th Final 15.23 (-1.2)

1992-93 5th Final 14.54 (+1.4)

1993-94 3rd Final 14.36 (-3.0)

1994-95 2nd Final 14.35 (-0.9)

1995-96 3rd Final 14.34 (-1.6)

1996-97 7th Final 15.11 (-2.5)

1997-98 4th Final 14.88 (-2.0)

1998-99 4th Heat 14.87 (-1.4)

1999-00 3rd Semi 14.73 (-1.1)

Highlights:

U16 National 100m Hurdles Champion | U18 WA State 100m Champion

PB: 110mh: 14.14 (-1.0) WA Record @1995 Melbourne GP & 13.5h w, 13.6h w, 13.6h w.

WA Open 110mh Champion: 1992-2000 (8 successive years).

WA Open 110m hurdles Record: held for 9 years (23/2/1995-28/2/2004).

WA Record Holder: M35 110m hurdles: 16.48sec. M40 60m: 7.27sec & 110m hurdles: 15.72sec.