Former world champion Gyngell returns to open carnival

But having just finished a heavy block of four weeks training, Gyngell said he was unlikely to be throwing any massive distances this weekend.

“We’ve got quite a long season from mid-January through to July so there is not much point throwing massive distances now because your liable to go off the boil,” he said.

“But I’ll throw a decent distance.”

Gyngell also endured a major disruption to his off-season preparation as a result of some serious burns he injured from a bonfire accident.

“I didn’t get into the circuit or the weights room until August/September so I lost all of my winter just about,” he said.

“I’m about two months behind where I ought to be but that’s fine, it’s pretty phenomenal that I’m back doing what I’m doing now given the burn injury.”

In 1986 he competed in the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland where he came away with a bronze medal, but reflecting on the experience he said he was probably to young to fully appreciate it.

“I was 22 and for all sorts of reasons, injuries and the lack of money in the sport, I retired too early and made a come back in 2002,” he said.

“So I never achieved my goals and I’m pretty much too old to get into open National representation.

“But competing is a great thrill, I wouldn’t be doing this now if I didn’t love to compete.”

The chance to meet people and encourage others to get involved in athletics is why he continues to remain in the sport.

“Dubbo to me is an opportunity to get away from Sydney and promote athletics in the regional areas,” he said.

“If that means a couple of kids stay in the sport and go onto further representation then I think I’ve done my job.”

A main feature of this year’s carnival will once again be the mens’ and ladies’ invitational 110m handicap sprint races.