Canberra long jumper Claire Roberts paid tribute to athletics legend Melissa Breen in an outfit that won her fashions on the field at the Stawell Gift carnival last weekend. Her outfit was a take on the same one Breen won the fashions on the field with a decade earlier.
The Stawell Gift is not only one of the world's most famous and prestigious foot races but it is also a major social event for the country town in western Victoria. That includes Ladies Day on Easter Saturday, featuring fashions on the field.
In 2012, Melissa Breen not only won the Stawell Gift women's race but also fashions on the field. So when Claire Roberts decided to enter the race - and the fashions on the field - she took her lead from Breen, who is now her gym coach. And keeping it in the family, Roberts' main coach is Breen's husband Matt Beckenham.
Claire, 18, wore a similar dress, fascinator and a faux fur shawl to Breen in jewel green tones. And she won, taking home $1000 which she plans to put towards her studies. The former Lake Ginninderra College student is studying health science as a path into medicine at the Australian National University.
She also competed in four races at Stawell. "It was such an amazing event and so much fun," she said.
Now retired, Melissa Breen was chuffed by Claire's tribute.
"She was very happy and said it brought back a lot of memories," Claire said.
And to cap off a big week, Melissa Breen and Matt Beckenham on Friday celebrated the first birthday of their daughter Emjay.
