NORTH-West runner John Howe won his second Rosebery gift yesterday as the 2013-14 Christmas carnival series kicked off at the West Coast mining town.
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Howe, of Preservation Bay, won the 2002 Rosebery gift and backed it up 11 years later after taking an extended break from the sport.
Running from a handicap mark of 7.5 metres, Howe ran strongly to win by about half a metre from Wynyard footballer Jorden Englund (9.25m) with Burnie's David McCrae third (8.5m).
Howe's winning time for the open 120m gift was 12.55 seconds.
Launceston's Andrew Robinson (1.25m), Highclere's Eddie Gates (6m) and Sheffield's Ashleigh Corbett (19.75m) also made the gift final.
``I won the gift in 2002 as a 17-year-old, but gave running away at 18 for about six seasons,'' Howe said.
``I came back about three seasons ago, but have had a few niggling injuries in the past couple of years, but I'm fully fit this year.
``I'm pleased with the way I'm running after winning the West Park gift last weekend and the Latrobe Gift is my next target and I'm going all out to win that.''
The open 200m event was won by Englund off 18m in a time of 20.83, from Robinson (4m) and Howe (13m).
Devonport's Nicole Perry took out the open 400m race off 66m in 48.69, with Burnie's Jacqui Dalwood second (73m) and Launceston's Darcy Lahey third (24m).
Dalwood won the open 800m from a mark of 135m from Perry (130m) and Hobart's Darren Brown (120m) in a winning time of 1:51.55.
The 1600m handicap went to 17-year-old gun Kale Adams (100m) in 4:09.07, from Brown (265m) and Dion Kenzie (140m).
The masters winner was Dick Archer, of Burnie.
The Rosebery Wheel was taken out by an international rider. Promising 18-year-old German cyclist Achim Burkart took line honours.
``It was a very good carnival particularly for local runners and cyclists who use it as a vital part of their warm-up for the big carnivals,'' Sports Carnivals of Tasmania president Mike Gunson said.