Despard's win a good sign

THE Burnie Gift winner from 2013, Jacob Despard, says he hopes yesterday's victory in the PCCCT carnival equivalent at West Park is a good omen for this summer.

The Hobart runner became the youngest ever winner of the Burnie Gift almost two years ago when aged 16, a result which came just a few weeks after he won the PCCCT race.

Yesterday, coming off a mark of 3.5 metres in a field featuring Stawell Gift winner Andrew Robinson, Despard won easily in a time of 11.15.

2014 PCCCT Carnival at West Park, Winner of the men's gift Jacob Despard (white).from left, Anderw Robinson, Jacob Despard, Ross Lovell, Luke Whitney, Mitchell Gowen, and Tim Potter.

"I'm really happy with that," the Ray Quarrell-trained runner said post-race.

"Two years ago I won the Burnie Gift after winning this one in the lead-up, so it would be awesome to do a repeat."

Pleased with how his body was holding up, Despard said he was primed for the carnivals, and then the Australian championships in March.

"I reckon I'm probably running the fastest I've ever been running," he said.

"I feel pretty fit. I've got a few niggles but other than that, I've been managing the body well."

Kimberley Geelan made it a Hobart winning double yesterday when she won the women's gift final in a time of 12.13.

2014 PCCCT Carnival at West Park, Women's gift winner Kimberley Geelan.

"I ran a PB at interclub [on Saturday] in Hobart so I came here feeling pretty good," she said.

"I changed coaches last year and it's taken a year to re-work my technique."

Geelan, who placed fourth in the final of the Stawell Gift this year, said she had ambitions to win a big race such as the Latrobe or Burnie gift at the upcoming Christmas carnivals series.