CARRICK Gill-Vallance has won his first professional running race — and all at the hallowed turf of the Stawell Gift carnival.
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On Sunday the Albury 30-year-old, who only took up running seriously two years ago, ran down the front markers to win the 400-metre novice final.
Coach Adrian Fury said it wasn’t a bad place to break your duck.
“He has just continued to improve all season and at one stage gave the leaders about 40 metres headstart,” he said.
“That’s his first win but very much overdue.
“He was beaten 10 centimetres in a race at Ringwood as few weeks back but to be able to say you won your first race at Stawell is pretty impressive.”
Fury has had a strong summer with several breakthrough wins by his runners — Leigh Miller and Aaron Pengelly both broke professional running ducks with novice wins at Burramine and Wangaratta.