Steve Gamble hasn't been president of Dubbo Athletics Club too long but he's well aware how much this weekend's Little Athletics Region 3 State Qualifying Meet means to all involved.
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Athletics, like so many sports, was hit hard by COVID-19 last year with travel restrictions forcing a host of carnivals to be cancelled.
Competition hasn't been seen at Barden Park since February of last year but this weekend roughly 300 athletes from numerous clubs around the region will be in action.
That number is down in a big way on previous years as COVID is still impacting carnivals and only athletes from the under 9s to under 12s will compete in Dubbo.
"It's going to be fantastic to see some action and the track used," Gamble said.
"Obviously it's nowhere near the numbers of last year, it's about a quarter, but there's nearly 300 coming and it's the top two or three athletes from each club (in each event).
"The standard is still going to be very, very high and hopefully we'll see some records broken."
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There will be 25 athletes from the Dubbo club taking part, all hopeful of producing a performance good enough to earn passage through to the state championships.
The athletes coming will from clubs from as far as the Blue Mountains out to Cobar and Walgett.
The carnival is also the first to be run at Barden Park since Gamble took over in the local club's top job.
Gamble has been president since the start of the year, having previously only joined Dubbo Athletics Club in October of last year.
He laughed when saying he didn't expect to take on the president's job so soon after joining, but he was always eager to join and try and make an impact.
"I haven't been involved in an athletics club in almost two decades," he said.
"I know the current committee is very excited to see the kids get out there.
"I've been a part of a lot of associations and clubs since I was in my teens in Wagga and I always wanted to be a part of it (Dubbo Athletics Club).
"Now my daughter is involved in the club it was my ambition to be part of the committee and see how things are run and identify the potential of the club.
"But now I've been given a unique opportunity to take on the role in far better lights than things were 12 months ago."
Gamble wasn't too sure what to expect when he and his daughter got involved with the club last year but he's been thoroughly impressed by the work being done on the track and in the field.
He highlighted the impact of club coach Mark Penman as a major reason so many Dubbo athletes have achieved at the top level in recent times and said the local standard of competition is "outstanding".
"It's a testament to his passion towards the sport," Gamble added.
The action at Barden Park starts from 8.30am on Saturday and runs until roughly lunch time.
Finals will be held from 8am on Sunday.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
