In a shock announcement on Thursday the organising committee stated that the Lithgow Flash Gift scheduled for next weekend has been cancelled due to insufficient entries.

The lack of entries has caused confusion in sporting circles as it has been the richest event for women sprinters on the Australian athletics scene, a female equivalent to the famous Stawell Gift.

Members of the organising committee held an emergency meeting this week to discuss the situation and to consider the viability of this year’s event.

Chairman of the Lithgow Flash Gift Committee, deputy mayor Ray Thompson, said later that to continue with a low key entry list would have been an unfair response to the generous sponsors who had supported the event since its inception in 2009.

“It was not an easy decision for the committee to make to cancel the event at this late stage but we had to think of what was best for our sponsors and the benefits to the community,” he said.

“With the low number of entries received from the NSW Athletics League we considered our options and felt it would be more beneficial for our community and our sponsors to cancel the event.”

Cr Thompson thanked the sponsors for their ongoing support.

In an indication that The Gift has possibly run its final race Cr Thompson said the committee would be speaking to the sponsors in regards to ‘supporting other community events that will be of greater benefit to the community’.

“I would also like to sincerely thank Lithgow Little Athletics, in particular Ray Stoneley and Charlie Healey, for all the assistance, guidance and support offered the carnival over the years,” he said.

“Their support has been greatly appreciated by the committee.”

The lack of entries is surprising in view of the fact that the placegetters in the Flash Gift (named in honour of Marjorie Jackson-Nelson) share in $70,000 prizemoney.

The main support event for male runners had $6000 on offer for the winner.