Burbidge said considering it was the first Gift (for 18 years) everything went more or less to script and he’d already started thinking about possible improvements for next year.

“It went well from all reports,” Burbidge said.

“The Albury Sports Club was very happy as were the sponsors and I was very happy with how it went too.

“It will definitely be back on next year.”

Talking to the athletes after their races, Burbidge said there was no negative feedback while the Victorian Athletics League told him they were suitably impressed with how things went.

“It was the first time I’ve really seen it from an organiser’s point of view, but all the athletes said it went on just like a normal event,” Burbidge said.

“The Victorian Athletic League were reasonably happy, they said for a first time event it was very good.

“I think (Albury Sports Club) sold its canteen out a couple of times too.”

Talking about possible improvements for the Gift in the future Burbidge highlighted the Border and North East Footballers race and Little Athletics as key areas.

“I think we could make something big of this football race,” he said.

“That would be a starting point.

“We had eight people in it on Sunday but I think we could have multiple heats without a problem.

“Little Athletics as well ... we only had 50 kids this year and I’d be looking to have at least double that next year.

“We’re definitely looking at branching out further than just athletics too but we’ll have a couple of meeting with the council and the sports ground and see what we can come up with for the future.”

Burbidge said he still hadn’t heard official crowd numbers but said he was happy with the turnout.

Albury Tigers Football Club general manager Tynan Callesen said he’d been impressed with the first Albury-Wodonga Gift since 1994 and would like the race to stay at Albury Sports Ground.

“All went well for us,” Callesen said.

“We were pleasantly surprised.

“We are planning on renovating our ground later in the year ... but we’re definitely keen to be on board as the venue next year.”