WANGARATTA sprinter Gabbie Boulton put last year's disappointment behind her to romp to victory in the women's 120-metre gift final at Norm Minns Oval on Saturday night.
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Boulton, who was running off 10-metres, won comfortably from Melbourne's Karlee Bailey and Clare De Salis in a time of 14:27 seconds.
Her brother, Jack, finished fourth in the men's gift final later in the evening.
Boulton said she was eager to avenge last year's result when she finished 0.9 seconds behind the winner.
"I was pretty devastated after last year's race," Boulton said.
"To come back and win means a lot.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet but I'm really happy."
Boulton showed promising signs in her performances at St Albans last weekend and grew in confidence after storming to victory in Saturday's heat.
"I felt good," she said.
"After winning my heat by a decent amount I thought I would be among it.
"It's my first win so I'm really happy."
The 18-year-old will now turn her attention to running at Parkdale next weekend.
Boulton said her brother felt the pressure leading into the men's final where he finished fourth behind Pakenham sprinter and race favourite Jason Bailey.
Running off 7.25 metres, Bailey won in 12: 41 seconds with Jake Ireland and Max Punchihewa grabbing the minor placings.
"He (Jack) did all he could," Boulton said.
"He was very nervous with the pressure put on him by people and himself.
"He did well."
Bailey, who is coached by Todd Ireland, had the final in his keeping for most of the race to become the first runner since Paul Tancredi in 2015 and 2016 to win in successive years.
In other races, David Flood took out the 400-metre men's open with Albury's Mitch Palmer finishing fifth.
Danielle McDowell won the women's 400-metre open, Brendan Bailey was successful in the 300-metre masters and Max Procaccino emerged victorious in the 400-metre restricted.
Jason Blood (120-metre restricted), Ben Rofe (800-metre open), Mark Glassborow (120-metre masters), Michael Preece (1600-metre open), James Kerr (70-metre under 18 mixed) and Jack Newman (70-metre open) were also winners.
Wangaratta Sports Carnival co-ordinator Graeme Taylor said the crowd was up on.
"It was a good turnout," Taylor said.
"There was a bigger crowd than the last few years.
"It was our 99th carnival so next year will be big."
