THERE was a time when Marcus Arnold wondered whether Tom Burbidge’s full potential would be realised.

The Albury High School graduate, who was under Arnold’s tutelage for two years before leaving for Canberra, was constantly battling chronic injuries that threatened to derail his career.

“I was a bit concerned about it,” Arnold said.

“He’s had hip injuries, back injuries — and it meant he just couldn’t do the weight work he needed and he was on the fringe of breaking down all the time.

“No one could figure out what the problem was but as he matured he’s obviously discovered what the problems were.

“So knowing his background, I was proud to see him do what he did.”

What Burbidge did was become the first Border product to win the Stawell Gift since Wodonga’s Jarrem Pearce claimed the prestigious race as a 16-year-old in 2000.

Despite his doubts over Burbidge’s ability to reach full fitness, he never doubted he was a special talent.

“He always had a lot of talent and showed above average potential ... in fact he won his first two races (Maryborough’s 70m novice and the 70m Bright open) very impressively,” Arnold said.

“His main aim in life was to run 400m, which he does do very well ... and I reckon that 400m experience helped him win today.

“The white runner (second-placed Dale Woodhams) was coming at him at the 100m, but then he ran out of gas and Tom showed his abilities as a 400m runner to keep on coming.”

Arnold said Burbidge’s victory is further proof of the Border’s strong athletic history.

“The region has produced a huge number of Stawell Gift runners, Olympians and the like — from Jerram to Glenn Chapman, and then you’ve got Robert Ballard who ran second in the Stawell Gift and represented Australia at the Olympics.”

Arnold said the handicapper will make it hard for Burbidge to defend his Stawell crown in 2011.

“They’ll pull him back to about 5� metres now, and when you start getting back under six it becomes a very difficult mission,” he said.