Clark-like Wheel win, highlight of Burnie Carnival!

Elite men’s backmakers have had a lean patch in the handicap events in this Carnivals series, but lone scratchman, Graeme Frislie, turned the clock back to 1977 with a miraculous Clark-like win in the William Adams/Elphinstone Group Wheelrace.

With sprint-star, Sam Gallagher providing support early, Frislie still looked an unlikely winner in the middle stages of the race, but used powerful Queenslander, Toby Jones as a stepping stone, to reduce the gap.

With more than two laps to go, the task still seemed impossible as Frislie went solo in pursuit of the big middle marker's bunch that was storming home.

The win, which would make him the only rider to win four in a row, looked beyond him right up until the final metre, when he nudged out flying Queensland teenager Edward Marcks, riding from 155 metres. Just 2 hundredths of a second separated Frislie and Marcks on the line. Burnie’s Dalton Stretton put up a valiant fight to finish a close third.

Some in the crowd were describing Frislie’s ride as the equal and possibly even more impressive than the 1977 Burnie Wheelrace win by the incomparable Danny Clark. It will be interesting to see whether Graeme can make it five in a row next year.

Just 20 minutes earlier, Fislie’s partner, Odette Lynch provided some inspiration, winning the Direct Edge Manufacturing, Women's Wheelrace in a tight finish from North West local, Amalia Langham and diminutive Malaysian star, Ci Hui (Qiqi) Nyo. Despite strong performances across the Carnivals over a number of years, this was the first big wheelrace for the accomplished speed endurance rider.

One highlight in the chopping arena was an ongoing father and son battle between Daniel Gurr and his dad, Matthew, in the Henry Munday Memorial Tree Felling Championship.

Daniel proved too good for some of our best with Matthew finishing second.

Hobart race-walker, Oliver Morgan demonstrated his versatility, winning the Elphinstone Group Open Mile with a decent margin over Burnie’s James Francombe and James Hensen, who stormed home to finish third.

Morgan started 375 metres in front of dual-Olympian and ‘King of King Island’, Stewart McSweyne. McSweyne had a massive field to gather in - some starting more than a lap in front, and although he didn’t make it to the front, he charged home, running wide and overtaking almost half the field and finishing a handful of seconds after the winner.

Sprinter Ebony Newton wasn’t content with her win in Hobart and a third at Devonport, making it two Gift wins for the series in the Stubbs Construction Women’s Burnie Gift.

Starting from the back mark of five metres, Newton ran down Lily James off twelve and a half and Violet Bennett running from ten and a quarter to win in 13.86.

The Gatorade Men’s Gift became a showdown between Hamish Lindstrom and 2025 Stawell Gift winner, John Howe, both from New South Wales.Running from three metres, Lindstrom took the win from Howe by a narrow margin in 12.44 with Jobie Wescombe in third.

 Prior to the start, backmarker Saye Morris had a fall that threatened to derail his campaign. Although rattled, he managed to start and bravely ran through.

A year after taking the win in the Burnie Mile, Darcy Miller surprised herself and the crowd with a win in the Bolands Pharmacy Women's 400 metres.

Not her favoured distance, Miller had a convincing win over Ellie Rayner, with Jessica Lyndon third. 

Brandon Clark snared the Aussie Home Loans Men's 400 from Tom Gartland and Declan Gall in 47.33.

Declan Gall was a doubtful starter after getting a solid taste of Tasmanian Summer sun, but got it together to deliver the gutsy performance we’ve come to expect from him.

More action to come at St Helens on January 17.

Schedules at

TasCarnivals.com.au