SUPPORTING & ASSISTING WA ATHLETES & COACHES
Athlete & Coach Scholarship Fund is a registered project of the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF). Donations of $2 and over made to the ASF in support of the Wally Foreman Foundation are tax deductible. Donations may be made at any time during the year.
The UWA Athletics Club has been crowned 2018 Wally Foreman Corporate Canter champions after the event's debut at Optus Stadium as curtain-raiser for the weekend's Western Derby.
The Wally Foreman Foundation extends its sincere thanks to the West Coast Eagles for again hosting the Canter, which aligned with an AFL fixture for the first time in 2017.
The Corporate Canter - an annual light-hearted relay aimed at drawing out the friendly competition of the corporate sector - is the flagship event of the WFF.
A group of eight teams, vastly ranging in experience (from talented athletes to ocassional shufflers) and age (including a team of U15s) competed the 4x100m race along a wing of Optus Stadium, soaking in the atmosphere of the venue less than an hour from bouncedown of the West Coast-Fremantle match.
UWA streaked ahead of the field to finish clear winners, ahead of second-placed Keep On Running Floreat and third-placed Clayton Utz.
UWA's runners claimed the mounted Golden Baton to return to their club, while all competitors took home their green race batons as mementos of the occasion, before taking their seats to enjoy the game.
The race was shown on the stadium's large screens, with commentary provided by Macquarie Radio and West Coast on-ground announcer Karl Langdon and Foundation Board Member and ABC Grandstand's Karen Tighe.
Wally Foreman Foundation chair Glen Foreman said: "This was the best Canter yet and we sincerely thank the Eagles for again hosting us and giving participants such a unique and wonderful experience.
"Some of the participants had never been to the state's newest sports stadium, so to get to run on the ground - just minutes before bouncedown - was something pretty special.
"In addition to the Eagles, the Foundation is incredibly thankful to the participants themselves and I hope they enjoyed the opportunity as much as their smiles suggested they did.
"The funds raised through this even enabls us to support WA athletes and coaches who aren't covered by existing scholarships, continuing the cause that dad (Wally Foreman) championed before his passing.
"Thanks again to everyone - especially the Eagles, the participants and the Wally Foreman Foundation Board Members - who helped make the day the success that it was and we look forward building on that next year."
The Wally Foreman Foundation welcomes enquiries from organisations interested in submitting a team for inclusion in the 2019 Wally Foreman Corporate Canter.
Spaces fill quickly, so please contact event coordinator Sam Maxwell (sam@emageogroup.com) or Foundation chair Glen Foreman (foreman.glen@gmail.com) for nominations or further information.
WFF aspires to continue the work of respected sports broadcaster and administrator Wally Foreman, who was a strong and tireless advocate for West Australian athletes and coaches, before his passing in 2006 from a heart attack.
The Foundation, through its activities and the generous support of the community, raises funds to support athletes and coaches who are not covered by existing scholarships in their pursuit of sporting excellence.
The tremendous and ongoing support of organisations such as the Carbine Club, an inaugural and consistent benefactor, has helped the Foundation issue 42 scholarships since its inception, which are presented at the WA Institute of Sport annual awards.
Applications for this year's round of scholarships will open around September.
Athlete & Coach Scholarship Fund is a registered project of the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF). Donations of $2 and over made to the ASF in support of the Wally Foreman Foundation are tax deductible. Donations may be made at any time during the year.