Jumping for joy: Kyabram Little Athletics officials and athletes celebrate the arrival of the new high jump mat with Campaspe Shire Deputy Mayor Colleen Gates.
Kyabram little athletes were literally jumping for joy earlier this month when they took possession of a competition high jump mat.
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The $8000 mat was purchased through a Campaspe Shire Community Equipment Grant and fundraising completed on a range of fronts by the club.
“We did fundraising through barbecues and chocolate drives to hit the target,” club president Claudia Moore said.
Campaspe Shire Deputy Mayor Colleen Gates was at the Kyabram P-12 College base of the club last week to officially acknowledge the club taking possession of the mat.
Ms Moore said the club had never had a “competition standard’’ mat and its arrival continued the long-term upgrade of club equipment
"This is basically what was used at the Commonwealth Games, it is a competition standard T-shaped mat,“ she said.
“There is more roll-off area. The square mats we have used previously just aren’t as big.”
Kyabram Little Aths continues to maintain a strong membership, with more than 80 registrations last season.
“We usually have an increase in Commonwealth and Olympic Games years, so between now and 2032 we expect the club to grow,” Ms Moore said.
With the recent success of the nation at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the 2026 regional Victoria games and the Brisbane Olympics in 2032, athletics and other games sports are high on the agenda with aspiring athletes.
Ms Moore and another of the club’s officials are qualified to adjudicate at international standard and will be hopeful of being involved in the regional Victoria event.
Schools in the district are currently involved in athletics season, the secondary carnival was last week and the primary equivalent is on Thursday.
Ms Moore said Kyabram athletes often stacked up well with state and national competitors.
"Tom Pryde was a national high jump champion for his age group (in 2003-04) with a 1.40 (metres),“ she said.
Kyabram Little Aths will start the season on September 7, with the regional relay event in November and the state event following.
The regional track and field carnival is in Bendigo in February.
Ms Moore said by end of this season the club would have updated all its hurdles.
Best small centre: Kyabram Little Athletics Club was recognised as the Northern Country Region’s best small centre at the state awards.
The club was recognised at the recent Little Athletics Victoria gala awards night.
“We won the best small centre. It’s a membership based award taken through an average of the membership over five years,” Ms Moore said.
She said the club had won the award once before.
Yarrawonga won the large centre award, the two clubs selected ahead of 20 centres in the region for last month’s awards.
Kyabram Little Aths will be running online info sessions for potential new parents prior to the season starting.
“People who are interested can register via our Facebook page. New athletes are entitled to two trial nights before needing to pay to compete and can register via the link on our page,” Ms Moore said.
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