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With the return of the Warragul Gift to the VAL for season 2011/12, its timely to look back on Warragul Gifts of the past and in particular - 60 years ago when Frank Porter ran 11.7 off 6½ yards.
PORTER 6 "IN,"
WINS GIFT
By DON PACKER
The Melbourne Argus
29th January 1951
FRANK PORTER, a 29-year-old clerk, ran 6½ yards inside even time to win the 130 yards Warragul Gift on Saturday.
He ran 11 7-10 sec. with a decided tail wind advantage.
Porter became outright favourite at 4/1 on for the final after he had clocked 11 8-10 in his semi-final.
He and Harry Tullett, winner of last Saturday's Noble Park Gift, were the virtual scratch markers off 6½ yards, in the final.
Limit man D. Smith led from C. Ogier and M. Adkins at the start, but the field bunched together at 50 yards where Adkins took the lead from Ogier and Smith.
Took lead early
Porter began to overhaul the field at 70 yards and hit the front with 30 yards to go from Adkins and Smith.
Tullett, one of the form runners of recent weeks, was the disappointment of the race, finishing at the rear of the field.
Porter also ran well in the 75 yards "Killarney" sprint, in which he was second to consistent D. Greene.
Champion middle distance runner Vin Cousins put up another classic performance to take second placing in the 880 yards.
Cousins,, who started from scratch, made a gallant effort to catch the ultimate winner L. Trotman in the straight, but failed by inches.
Results
130 yards Warragul Gift
Heat Winners:
H1 D McNally (10) 12.0
H2 F Porter (6½) 11.9
H3 M Adkins (8¼) 12.2
H4 H Tullett (6½) 12.0
H5 R Pitt (7½) 12.1
H6 D Smith (9½) 11.9
H7 C Ogier (9) 12.3
H8 S McGain (9¾) 12.0
H9 A Bolt (9¼) 12.0
H10 C Callaway (10)12.0
H11 E Whittaker (8¼) 12.1
H12 J Evans (8¼) 12.2
Semi finals
SF1 - 1 F Porter (6½); 2 J Ryan (9). 11.8
SF2 - 1 M Adkins (8¼); 2 H Tullett (6½). 11.8
SF3 - 1 C Ogier (9); 2 D Smith (9½). 11.9
FINAL
1 F Porter (6½)
2 M Adkins (8¼)
3 D Smith (9½)
Time: 11.7
Killarney Sprint (75 yds )
1 D Greene (10)
2 F Porter (4¼)
3 L Edwards (6¾)
Time: 7.1
Half-Mile Presidents Handicap
1 L Trotman (l6)
2 V Cousins (scr)
3 S Clover (28)
Time: 2-01
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE AGE REPORT on the same race.
PORTER MAY WIN WANGARATTA GIFT
The Age
29 January 1951
Mitcham clerk Frank Porter produced the best sprint run in professional ranks this season to win the Warragul Gift on Saturday. He clocked 6½ yards inside "evens". On that forn he looks a good thing for the rich Wangaratta Gift today.
Porter won the Warragul Gift in 11.7 secs. from 6½ yards. He will be penalised a yard for his win but must stand a great chance at Wangaratta. Even with the penalty he should be able to clock 11.8 - usually a winning time.
He will have to run right up to Saturday's form as the Wangaratta field of 91 includes Lloyd la Beach and more than 20 with placings in major gifts to their credit.
Most dangerous to Porter may be la Beach, John Barton (6½), Joe Cull (9), Marc Arnold (5½) and Frank Seymour (7½).
L. G. McNamara who broke a yard in the Camperdown final on Saturday, may turn the tables on Jack McCunnie (7¼) in the Kyneton Gift today. Tom Simmons (4¼) and G. W. Robins (9) will be hard to beat.
PORTER 6 "IN,"
WINS GIFT
By DON PACKER
The Melbourne Argus
29th January 1951
FRANK PORTER, a 29-year-old clerk, ran 6½ yards inside even time to win the 130 yards Warragul Gift on Saturday.
He ran 11 7-10 sec. with a decided tail wind advantage.
Porter became outright favourite at 4/1 on for the final after he had clocked 11 8-10 in his semi-final.
He and Harry Tullett, winner of last Saturday's Noble Park Gift, were the virtual scratch markers off 6½ yards, in the final.
Limit man D. Smith led from C. Ogier and M. Adkins at the start, but the field bunched together at 50 yards where Adkins took the lead from Ogier and Smith.
Took lead early
Porter began to overhaul the field at 70 yards and hit the front with 30 yards to go from Adkins and Smith.
Tullett, one of the form runners of recent weeks, was the disappointment of the race, finishing at the rear of the field.
Porter also ran well in the 75 yards "Killarney" sprint, in which he was second to consistent D. Greene.
Champion middle distance runner Vin Cousins put up another classic performance to take second placing in the 880 yards.
Cousins,, who started from scratch, made a gallant effort to catch the ultimate winner L. Trotman in the straight, but failed by inches.
Results
130 yards Warragul Gift
Heat Winners:
H1 D McNally (10) 12.0
H2 F Porter (6½) 11.9
H3 M Adkins (8¼) 12.2
H4 H Tullett (6½) 12.0
H5 R Pitt (7½) 12.1
H6 D Smith (9½) 11.9
H7 C Ogier (9) 12.3
H8 S McGain (9¾) 12.0
H9 A Bolt (9¼) 12.0
H10 C Callaway (10)12.0
H11 E Whittaker (8¼) 12.1
H12 J Evans (8¼) 12.2
Semi finals
SF1 - 1 F Porter (6½); 2 J Ryan (9). 11.8
SF2 - 1 M Adkins (8¼); 2 H Tullett (6½). 11.8
SF3 - 1 C Ogier (9); 2 D Smith (9½). 11.9
FINAL
1 F Porter (6½)
2 M Adkins (8¼)
3 D Smith (9½)
Time: 11.7
Killarney Sprint (75 yds )
1 D Greene (10)
2 F Porter (4¼)
3 L Edwards (6¾)
Time: 7.1
Half-Mile Presidents Handicap
1 L Trotman (l6)
2 V Cousins (scr)
3 S Clover (28)
Time: 2-01
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE AGE REPORT on the same race.
PORTER MAY WIN WANGARATTA GIFT
The Age
29 January 1951
Mitcham clerk Frank Porter produced the best sprint run in professional ranks this season to win the Warragul Gift on Saturday. He clocked 6½ yards inside "evens". On that forn he looks a good thing for the rich Wangaratta Gift today.
Porter won the Warragul Gift in 11.7 secs. from 6½ yards. He will be penalised a yard for his win but must stand a great chance at Wangaratta. Even with the penalty he should be able to clock 11.8 - usually a winning time.
He will have to run right up to Saturday's form as the Wangaratta field of 91 includes Lloyd la Beach and more than 20 with placings in major gifts to their credit.
Most dangerous to Porter may be la Beach, John Barton (6½), Joe Cull (9), Marc Arnold (5½) and Frank Seymour (7½).
L. G. McNamara who broke a yard in the Camperdown final on Saturday, may turn the tables on Jack McCunnie (7¼) in the Kyneton Gift today. Tom Simmons (4¼) and G. W. Robins (9) will be hard to beat.
